A decade-long survey of over half a million Britons by Biobank found those who consumed three cups a day were 12 per cent less likely to die than non-drinkers.
They were 17 per cent less likely to die of heart disease and 21 per cent less likely to die of stroke, the study found.
However, the health benefits did not apply for instant coffee drinkers or for those who drink more than three cups a day.
The new study was conducted by a team of academics at Semmelweis University in Hungary and Queen Mary University of London.
Dr Steffan Petersen, from Queen Mary’s, said the results showed that coffee consumption in moderate amounts “is not cardiovascularly harmful and may even be beneficial”.
He added: “To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest volume of research to date focusing on the cardiovascular effects of coffee consumption.”
Over a fifth (22 per cent) of participants were non-coffee drinkers while 58 per cent drank up to three cups a day. The remaining fifth (20 per cent) consumed at least three cups or more.
A quarter of the group drank instant coffee, which contains more caffeine and antioxidants as well as acrylamide – a substance linked with increased risk of cancer.
Volunteers were followed for 11 years and were aged 56 on average. None of the participants had heart disease at the beginning of the study.
Dr Zahra Raisi-Estabragh, a co-author of the study from Queen Mary University of London, said: “Most of the participants drank either ground or instant coffee.
“Ground coffee in moderate amounts was associated with lower mortality risk - but this benefit was not found amongst the regular instant coffee drinkers.
“The reason behind this may relate to the different production process of the ground and instant forms as they contain different additives.”
