New study reveals: The coffee that rejuvenates you – and the one that may accelerate aging

A new study published in October 2026 in the journal NPJ Science of Food, based on 49,414 participants from the UK Biobank, found that filter coffee is associated with slowing biological aging and lengthening telomeres, while instant coffee is associated with accelerated aging and shorter telomeres. The researchers emphasize that this is only a statistical association.

A new study published in October 2026 in the journal NPJ Science of Food, based on data from 49,414 participants from the UK Biobank, found significant differences between types of coffee: drinking filter coffee was associated with a slowdown in physical and biological aging measures and lengthening of telomeres, while consumption of instant coffee was associated with accelerated aging and shorter telomeres. The study, led by researchers from Chongqing Medical University in China, analyzed coffee consumption habits of participants with an average age of 56 over several years, adjusting for variables such as age, smoking, lifestyle, physical activity, and addition of sugar or milk. Men who drank more than three cups of filter coffee per day showed a notable advantage in reducing the rate of biological aging. In contrast, drinking instant coffee was found to be associated with accelerated aging, especially among men, those aged 60 and over, and smokers who drank more than three cups per day. The researchers emphasize that this is a statistical association that does not prove causality, and the data were based on self-reporting, which is prone to errors.