Coffee was long blamed for dehydration, cardiovascular harm and even life-threatening effects. One reason for its poor reputation was research from the 1970s: coffee drinkers in those studies were often also heavy smokers, and researchers did not always separate the effects of the two habits.
Chahan Yeretzian, founder of the Coffee Excellence Center at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, says some harms attributed to coffee may actually have been caused by smoking. In his view, better statistical separation of those factors has shown that coffee consumption itself is associated with more positive effects.
The drink’s reputation also has historical roots. In Switzerland, coffee was once disparaged as a “Turkish drink” and was banned about 200 years ago. A coffee police sought out people who drank it illegally and fined them. Coffee was seen as foreign to Christian culture; imports competed with local interests, and coffee houses challenged established power structures. Myths claimed it damaged the stomach, caused impotence or led to paralysis.
The report says up to five cups a day may promote health when consumed without sugar or high-fat milk. It links coffee’s antioxidants with protection against ageing and cancer and says caffeine can support concentration. Caffeine levels vary by preparation: a regular or large filter coffee contains the most; capsule espresso has more caffeine per millilitre but is served in a smaller amount; instant coffee contains about half as much caffeine as filter coffee.
Café crème is Switzerland’s most popular coffee style, while cold brew is also gaining attention. For cold brew, coffee steeps in a refrigerator for about 24 hours. Yeretzian compared it with Café crème in his laboratory and found similar antioxidant levels. The main difference was aroma: cold brew smelled fruitier and more intense, with those notes lingering longer after a sip.