Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the world. Many adults drink it before work in the mornings. Even some teenagers and pre-teens run to their local Starbucks before school every day to get their order before jumping onto the school bus. The United States’ National Coffee Association (NCA) concluded in January of 2025 that coffee has officially surpassed bottled water as “the most consumed beverage in America” with two-thirds of American adults drinking it daily. There are around 263.5 million adults in the U.S., meaning that around 174 million American adults drink coffee regularly. However, adults are not the only Americans who drink coffee; it is becoming one of the most consumed beverages by a younger audience as well. Seventy-three percent of children in the U.S. drink caffeine, and 37% of children between the ages of 13 and 18 drink coffee on the regular. This popularity has led to a major question that many Fieldston students have when they start drinking their daily cup of joe: Is coffee a healthy drink?
The NCA is the U.S. ‘s only nationally funded coffee association. They write in an article published in December of 2024 that, “It’s Official: Coffee Is Healthy.” They explain that the FDA’s legal definition of “healthy” is a beverage with less than 5 calories per ounce. They conclude that, as a result, “coffee drinkers live longer, healthier, happier lives.” This statement is misleading, as most of the health risks in drinking coffee are from the caffeine intake, and not the calorie intake. Additionally, the NCA is funded by businesses in the coffee industry that pay dues to be members of the NCA. They also make money by selling their market research, such as the National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report, which provides funding. These two ways of income lead to data and reports that may not be fully accurate. Coffee companies will not want to buy data that shows how unhealthy coffee might be, and they definitely will not want to join an association that preaches the health risks of caffeine. In all, using the NCA for credible health information on coffee might not be the most accurate, and using outside studies is the best way to find accurate information.
One of these credible sources is the American Academy of Pediatrics, an association dedicated to providing credible information for the health of children. They are funded by: “membership dues, revenues from continuing medical education activities and publications and unrestricted support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies.” These sources of income leave little room for bias in their means of study: those who provide them with money solely want accurate information. An article written by Mark Corkins, a Chair member of the AAP Committee on Nutrition, states multiple reasons why caffeine isn’t necessary for kids under the age of 18, and that, in multiple scenarios, it can be outright harmful. Corkins explains how “Caffeine is a stimulant that boosts alertness, energy, and brain activity,” but that children “are more sensitive” to it’s affects. Because of this, there is a long list of possible side effects that excessive coffee drinking can cause: fast or irregular heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, rapid breathing, anxiety, nausea, restlessness, diarrhea, and sleep loss. These effects can have a wide range of effects on daily life, like making school more difficult, harming the quality of sleep and even causing depression. This large amount of possible side effects may scare kids who drink coffee regularly; however, these side effects are generally present in cases where children have experienced similar issues before and are quite rare. Additionally, these factual symptoms are often roped into less factual myths, like the idea that coffee might stunt one’s growth. Corkins concludes that, “Families should keep food, drinks and medicines with caffeine out of reach.” This safely concludes that coffee, although not the direct cause, can be a reason for health problems; however, these health issues stem from prior health issues, so it isn’t the main contributor.
What is interesting about coffee, however, is that the right amount of caffeine usually won’t harm teens, and many of the common myths are not actually true. In an article by Connecticut Children’s, a children’s health company, Andrew Carlson, a board-certified physician, mentions how caffeine consumption in moderation is completely fine for teens, “Your teen can have the occasional cola or iced tea—and be fine. Balance is much more realistic than a strict approach, but there are some general rules: Keep it reasonable, 100 mg or below. That’s like drinking one 8-ounce cup of coffee. Stop all caffeine consumption by early afternoon to avoid sleep struggles.” This together shows that when consuming coffee in moderation, like one cup of coffee before lunch, a teenager will be completely fine and won’t have any negative side effects.
Overall, coffee has many possible side effects that could harm teen drinkers. It can reduce the quality of sleep, increase blood pressure and cause many other health problems. However, this only happens when caffeine is consumed in large amounts and at unhealthy times. If a teen were to only drink one cup of coffee before lunch, side effects are extremely rare and occur most often in teens who have existing health problems. To conclude, coffee is not a perfect beverage, and it does have its downsides; however, compared to other caffeinated drinks, it isn’t nearly as bad. Some commonly consumed products, such as energy drinks like Monster and Celsius, will cause more health issues for a teen with no prior health problems because of the higher amount of caffeine and sugar they contain compared to coffee. Additionally, these energy drinks are marketed towards kids with their bright, colorful packages and intensely sweet flavors, showing that the companies thrive off of youth caffeine dependency. Caffeine isn’t healthy for kids, and parents should try to keep kids’ daily caffeine intake to a minimum. However, when comparing coffee to other commonly consumed caffeinated beverages, it is the best by a long shot and isn’t something to cut out of your daily routine if you follow the proper health guidelines.
