Coffee’s benefits are widely known: it can increase brain function, help prevent heart disease and diabetes, lower the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases and may help burn fat. But its not just caffeine that provides this extra boost – its antioxidants also have positive impacts on our health – the more cups we drink the healthier we become!

As long as it doesn’t contain unhealthy milk and sugar, the occasional shot of espresso or cup of coffee should be safe for most people. A recent news story stated that up to 25 cups per day can even be beneficial, increasing levels of brown fat cells which have been linked with decreased body weight and inflammation.

Unfortunately, the research behind this story may have given readers false impressions. First off, it was a talk given at a scientific conference rather than peer reviewed paper, with only five participants included and no more than three cups consumed daily; these findings should therefore not be generalized across everyone who drinks coffee.

Be mindful that researchers only looked at people who drank black coffee; not those who consumed multiple varieties, which might have had an effect on results. Furthermore, scientists didn’t examine other possible influences such as diet, exercise and smoking habits which might have altered results.

Remember, our bodies all respond differently to caffeine consumption, making it impossible to determine the appropriate level for each individual. Instead, finding a balance between enjoying moderate coffee consumption with other strategies that keep our minds and bodies healthy – such as sleeping enough and eating well – may be key.

If you’re concerned about how much caffeine is in your daily routine, consider selecting coffee that uses beans grown at higher altitudes – these have been shown to contain more polyphenols and therefore antioxidants – available both online and at your local coffee shop. By drinking single origin organic or light roast coffee varieties like espresso with two shots contains about 125 milligrams – close to the 400 milligram daily threshold set forth by European Food Safety Authority recommendations for adults.