Drinking a cup of coffee to start the day is one of the most common habits around the world with many people enjoying its stimulating effect and rich flavour. “Coffee has long been established as having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties which appears to have a protective effect on chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, dementia and even cancer among others,” says Dr. Garima Aggarwal, consultant nephrologist and transplant specialist at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru.

According to Aggarwal, research in the past has shown a lower risk of kidney diseases among self-reported coffee drinkers. However, she adds, “Measuring the impact of coffee on health is not that simple – because coffee itself contains several chemical compounds, some good and some bad for the kidneys. The amount of these compounds in the blood depends on various factors like – type of coffee bean used, brewing method, roast, quantity consumed and also a person’s genes.”