Regular consumption of very hot tea or coffee may increase the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus by about three times, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center, based on the results of a study by researchers at the University of Oxford published in the International Journal of Cancer.
The researchers analyzed data from 977,282 adult residents of the United Kingdom from two large projects — the Million Women Study and UK Biobank. The average follow-up period was 14.2 years in the first group and 11.1 years in the second. During this time, 2,348 cases of esophageal cancer were identified, including 1,045 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 1,303 cases of adenocarcinoma.
Participants themselves indicated the temperature at which they preferred to drink tea and coffee — warm, hot or very hot.
Compared with those who preferred warm drinks, people who regularly drank them “very hot” had a 3.17 times higher risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. For the “hot” category, the risk was also elevated, although to a lesser extent. The scientists found no association between beverage temperature and the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
The number of drinks was a separate factor. Among people who consumed six or more cups of hot tea or coffee per day, the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was approximately 71% higher than among those who drank fewer than six cups, even after taking preferred beverage temperature into account.
At the same time, the study does not mean that coffee or tea themselves are carcinogens. The authors consider repeated thermal damage to the lining of the esophagus to be the most likely mechanism.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the consumption of beverages above 65°C as “probably carcinogenic to humans” — Group 2A — back in 2016. This refers specifically to the high temperature, not to the composition of the beverage.
The Oxford researchers note that approximately 13–17% of participants in the two British cohorts preferred their beverages “very hot,” while around 43–44% consumed six or more hot drinks daily.
According to the authors’ calculations, around 14% of cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in the United Kingdom could potentially be prevented if people who prefer very hot drinks reduced the temperature at least to the “hot” category.
At the same time, the results should be interpreted cautiously. The study is observational and shows a statistical association rather than proving a direct cause-and-effect relationship. In addition, beverage temperature was determined on the basis of participants’ self-assessment rather than measured with a thermometer.
The authors also emphasize that the absolute risk of the disease remains relatively low. Among nearly 1 million participants, 1,045 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were recorded over more than a decade of follow-up. Therefore, a threefold increase in relative risk does not mean that the disease will develop in every third person who regularly drinks very hot tea or coffee.
The most practical conclusion of the study is simple: there is no need to give up coffee or tea, but the drinks should be allowed to cool slightly before consumption.
The main proven risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma also include smoking and alcohol consumption. The International Agency for Research on Cancer emphasizes that these remain among the main causes of the disease in many countries.
Heavy rains in Brazil have degraded the quality of the new coffee crop and could lead to a shortage of high-quality Arabica beans on the global market, while futures for this variety have risen by approximately 35% since June, according to Bloomberg.
Brazil is the world’s largest producer of Arabica and accounts for about 45% of global production, so problems with harvest quality could affect the supply of premium coffee far beyond the country’s borders.
The main problem was extremely heavy rainfall during the harvest. In June, rains knocked a large number of ripe coffee cherries off the trees, after which they lay on waterlogged ground for several days, increasing the risk of fermentation, mold, and undesirable flavors.
According to Simao de Lima, president of the Expocacer cooperative—which unites more than 800 producers in the Cerrado Mineiro region in southeastern Brazil—the rains knocked down an average of about 20% of the coffee cherries, compared to the usual 5–7%.
Thus, this does not represent a 20% loss of Brazil’s entire harvest, but rather significant damage to the crop in one of the most important regions for the production of high-quality Arabica.
The situation was exacerbated by a second wave of rainfall in July. The rains fell on beans that had already been harvested and laid out to dry, forcing some producers to start the drying process all over again.
According to data from the meteorological company Vaisala, rainfall in certain areas of Brazil’s coffee belt in June and July reached 250–500% of the climate norm, and in some places, up to eight times more rain fell than usual.
Quality issues are already affecting the market. Arabica futures have risen by about 35% since June, offsetting a significant portion of the price decline since the beginning of the year.
In the physical market, high-quality Brazilian coffee is selling at a premium of up to 15 cents per pound compared to futures in New York.
The reduction in the volume of coffee meeting the delivery standards for Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) certified warehouses in the U.S. and Europe could prove particularly significant.
In a typical year, approximately 30–35% of the Cerrado Mineiro region’s production meets ICE requirements. Following this year’s rains, de Lima estimates that this share could drop to 10–15%. Meanwhile, coffee stocks in ICE-certified warehouses are already approaching their lowest levels of this century.
This could intensify competition among international roasters for high-quality beans. Bloomberg notes that Brazilian Arabica is used, in particular, by companies such as Starbucks, Lavazza, and Illy.
However, it is still too early to speak of a general coffee shortage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects that in the season beginning in October, global coffee supply will exceed consumption by approximately 10 million bags, which would be the largest surplus in six years. One of the main factors is expected to be record production in Brazil itself.
Therefore, the market’s main problem lies not so much in the total volume of coffee as in the availability of high-quality Arabica. Major producers can partially offset the shortage by adjusting the composition of their coffee blends and sourcing beans from other regions; however, for the premium segment, the situation could lead to further increases in purchasing and retail prices.
Weather remains an additional risk for the market. Reuters notes the intensification of the El Niño phenomenon, which in the 2026–2027 season could further increase volatility in the markets for coffee, cocoa, and other tropical agricultural commodities.
Tea and coffee producer Monomakh PJSC (Kyiv Oblast) increased its revenue by 21.9% to 1.51104 billion UAH in January–June 2026, but saw its net profit decline by a factor of 3.4 to 24.43 million UAH.
According to the company’s semi-annual report filed with the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC)’s disclosure system, gross profit rose by 29.2% to 484.75 million UAH, while operating profit fell by 41.6% to 84.4 million UAH.
The company’s assets for the first half of the year decreased by 6% to 1.7752 billion UAH, equity by 5.7% to 609.87 million UAH, and total liabilities by 6.1% to 1.16534 billion UAH.
According to the report, revenue in the second quarter rose by 18.0% to 685.42 million UAH, while net profit fell 2.8-fold to 9.52 million UAH.
The company specified that in the second quarter it produced and sold 1.39 thousand metric tons of products, with export revenue accounting for 11% of total sales.
PJSC “Monomakh” was founded in 2000. It produces packaged tea and coffee products under the LOVARE, “Monomakh,” “Three Elephants,” “Tea Masterpieces,” “KAIF,” Ferrara, and “Coffee Masterpieces” brands. The average number of employees is 567. The ultimate beneficial owner is Taras Barabash.
In 2025, the company increased its revenue by 22%—to 2.77 billion UAH—but saw its net profit decline by 40%—to 181.84 million UAH.
Drinking up to five cups of caffeinated coffee a day is generally safe for most adults and may be associated with a reduced risk of several cardiovascular diseases, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA).
The document was published on July 20, 2026, in the scientific journal Circulation. Its authors analyzed the results of studies on the effects of caffeine on blood pressure, cholesterol levels, heart rhythm, and the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes.
For most adults, consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is considered safe. This corresponds to approximately three to five standard cups of black coffee, each about 240 ml. However, the actual caffeine content can vary significantly depending on the type of coffee beans and the method of preparation.
According to the AHA, drinking two to four cups of coffee a day is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. In some studies, the lowest risk of coronary heart disease was observed in people who drank two to three cups a day.
Regular consumption of coffee without sugar, syrups, or cream is also associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, researchers emphasize that the benefits may be due not only to caffeine but also to other bioactive compounds in coffee that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Adding large amounts of sugar, sweet syrups, cream, and other additives can reduce the beverage’s potential benefits. The authors of the review also do not recommend extending the findings about coffee to energy drinks. High doses of caffeine and the additional ingredients in energy drinks can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart rhythm disturbances.
The method of coffee preparation also matters. Unfiltered coffee—including espresso, French press coffee, and Turkish coffee—contains cafestol, which may contribute to an increase in levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol. When a paper filter is used, the content of this substance is significantly reduced.
However, experts do not consider five cups to be a one-size-fits-all recommendation for everyone. The response to caffeine depends on age, genetics, metabolic rate, medications taken, and overall health. For some people, even a small amount of coffee can cause a rapid heartbeat, anxiety, high blood pressure, or sleep disturbances.
Most of the data analyzed comes from observational studies, so while they show an association, they do not prove that coffee itself directly prevents disease. The American Heart Association notes the need for additional randomized controlled trials.
Source: ScienceAlert
Coffee prices fell on Thursday amid expectations of a high harvest in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee supplier.
Arabica futures fell 0.2% to $3.0785 per pound at the end of trading in New York yesterday. This is the lowest price in five months.
Brazil’s new coffee crop, which will begin harvesting in a couple of months, could reach a record 75.8 million bags, Reuters reports, citing a forecast by EISA. One bag weighs 60 kg.
EISA expects the Arabica coffee harvest to amount to 48 million bags and the Robusta harvest to amount to 27.8 million bags.
Espresso in Ukraine has become more expensive again: in 2025, a cup of coffee cost an average of 41 hryvnia, which is 17% more than a year ago, according to the results of the Espresso Index study by Poster POS, conducted for the OpenDataBot service.
According to the study, the price of espresso in Ukraine has doubled since the start of the full-scale war, when a cup cost 21 hryvnia.
As of the end of December, the most expensive coffee in Ukraine is drunk in Lviv — 47 hryvnia per cup, Odessa — 45 hryvnia per cup, and Dnipro — 43 hryvnia per cup.
For the third year in a row, the cheapest coffee is in Khmelnytskyi — 33 UAH/cup, and it is also affordable in Zaporizhzhia and Kropyvnytskyi — 35 UAH/cup.
Over the course of the year, it has risen in price the most in the frontline Sumy region — by 26%. Last year, Sumy region was among the regions with the cheapest coffee.
There is currently no data available for the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Luhansk region.
The Espresso Index is an economic indicator used to measure the cost of a standard serving of espresso in different cities around the world. It can be useful for comparing price levels and the cost of living in different places. This indicator helps to assess the difference in prices for the same goods and services in different countries and reflects purchasing power and inflation, according to Poster POS.
Ukrainian restaurant automation company Poster POS is a Ukrainian restaurant automation company that develops accounting software for the HoReCa system, which is installed on tablets. More than 50,000 establishments use the developer’s services.
