How Hot Is Too Hot? Oxford Study Links Very Hot Tea and Coffee to Oesophageal Cancer
A new Oxford University study of 977,282 people has found that drinking tea or coffee at very high temperatures may triple the risk of oesophageal cancer compared with warm beverages. Experts explain what temperature counts as 'too hot,' how it damages the food pipe, and simple ways to make your daily cuppa safer.
Drinking tea or coffee at very high temperatures on a regular basis may be linked to a greater risk of developing oesophageal cancer, also known as food pipe cancer, according to new research from the University of Oxford. The study analysed data from 977,282 middle-aged men and women, making it one of the largest studies to examine the connection between hot drinks and this type of cancer, and found that people who reported drinking their beverages very hot had around three times the risk of developing the disease compared with those who drank warm beverages. However, experts have stressed that oesophageal cancer remains relatively uncommon, so the increase in risk does not mean that drinking a hot cup of tea will cause cancer.
What Temperature Is Considered Too Hot
The study classified drinks at 65 degrees Celsius or above as very hot. At this temperature, a beverage may feel extremely hot while drinking and can potentially cause repeated irritation or injury to the lining of the food pipe.
A freshly brewed drink can be much hotter than this. Water coming directly from a fully boiled kettle can reach around 100 degrees Celsius, and once poured into a cup, tea or coffee may still remain around 90 to 95 degrees Celsius.
Experts recommend waiting a few minutes before drinking a freshly prepared hot beverage. There is no universally agreed waiting time, since the cooling rate depends on the amount of liquid, the cup, room temperature and whether milk has been added. Study Shows Why Younger Generations May Be More Cancer-prone.
How Hot Drinks Can Affect The Food Pipe
The oesophagus is the tube that carries food and drinks from the mouth to the stomach. When extremely hot liquids pass through it, they can cause thermal injury to the cells lining the food pipe.
Repeated exposure to very hot beverages may lead to irritation and damage over time. Scientists believe that this repeated injury, along with the body's process of repairing damaged cells, could potentially contribute to changes that increase cancer risk. IIT Bombay Researchers Develop Improved Method To Harvest Lab-Grown T-Cells for Advanced Cancer Therapies.
Researchers say more work is still needed to understand exactly how temperature, frequency of consumption and the type of beverage affect this risk.
Drinking Several Hot Beverages A Day May Also Matter
The study also found that consuming six or more hot drinks a day was associated with a higher risk. This does not mean that everyone who drinks several cups of tea or coffee will develop cancer, as other factors can have a much stronger influence on a person's risk.
Smoking and alcohol consumption are among the important established risk factors for oesophageal cancer. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding tobacco remain much more important steps for reducing cancer risk.
Adding milk may lower the temperature of tea or coffee slightly, but researchers caution that a milky drink can still be too hot if it is consumed immediately after preparation.
How To Make Your Tea Or Coffee Safer
People do not necessarily need to give up tea or coffee altogether. The simpler approach is to avoid drinking them while they are scalding hot, allowing the drink to cool until it feels comfortable to sip.
It is also worth paying attention to takeaway drinks, particularly when ordering an extra hot beverage, as some commercially served coffees can reach temperatures considerably higher than what most people find comfortable.
Warning Signs Of Oesophageal Cancer
Oesophageal cancer can sometimes cause symptoms that may initially be mistaken for common digestive problems. Possible warning signs include persistent heartburn, indigestion, difficulty swallowing, pain in the throat or chest and unexplained weight loss.
Having these symptoms does not necessarily mean a person has cancer, but persistent or unusual symptoms should be discussed with a doctor.
The new findings suggest that something as simple as allowing tea or coffee to cool before drinking could potentially reduce one avoidable source of irritation to the food pipe. However, experts emphasise that the overall risk of oesophageal cancer remains low, and that avoiding smoking and reducing alcohol intake are among the most important ways to lower the risk.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2026 04:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
