Research on the topic is, generally, pro-coffee. People who drink coffee in moderation may reap longevity benefits like reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, dementia, and all-cause mortality, according to Johns Hopkins. And a 2018 study that followed 500,000 participants’ daily coffee habits found that drinking a few cups of decaf or caffeinated coffee each day greatly reduced the risk of death.
Hone Health shares the exact brews that longevity experts opt for.
Peter Attia: French Press Coffee
Top longevity doctor and Outlive author Peter Attia, M.D., has changed his mind on several of his protocols like intermittent fasting and heat therapy. But there’s one thing he won’t budge on: his daily French press coffee.
Research suggests that compounds like kahweol and cafestol exist only in unfiltered varieties of coffee, like French press coffee and espresso. These compounds may have neuroprotective benefits against conditions like dementia and Parkinson’s.
“Animal studies comparing coffee to caffeine indicate that caffeine in isolation cannot replicate all of the neurological benefits of the whole beverage,” Attia writes in a blog. “Many of these compounds demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic, and antimicrobial properties, each of which may contribute to enhancing neurocognitive function.”
David Sinclair: Sugar-Free Coffee
While biologist and Lifespan podcast host David Sinclair, Ph.D., is a big fan of matcha green tea, he still opts for a daily morning sugar-free black coffee to boost his energy.
Sinclair eschews sweeteners, but adds a splash of milk to his brew. Some research suggests this may increase the anti-inflammatory properties in coffee because the amino acids in milk improve the bioavailability of coffee’s polyphenols.
Mark Hyman: Dalgona Coffee
Got a major sweet tooth? Unlike Sinclair, longevity doctor Mark Hyman, M.D., doesn’t skimp on the sugar. Instead, he enjoys his own healthier rendition of frothy, Dalgona coffee (a milk-based beverage topped with coffee foam) every morning.
He uses Four Sigmatic’s Instant Coffee with Lion’s Mane, a mushroom which a study in the Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research suggests may support cognitive function and mental clarity.
“I love that the combination of coffee and lion’s mane gives me energy that is much longer-lasting, along with a better sense of focus and calm,” Hyman writes in a blog. “Instead of that jittery feeling and without the late-morning caffeine crash.”
Hyman’s Dalgona Coffee Recipe:
- 2 packets Four Sigmatic Instant Coffee with Lion’s Mane
- 1 tablespoon monk fruit sweetener
- 1 tablespoon hot or cold water
- 6 to 8 ounces non-dairy milk
Use a mixer to whip together coffee, sweetener, and water until frothy. Pour milk into a glass, and dollop the froth on top. Mix and enjoy.
