Steady Matcha

Will Quitting Coffee Lower Your Blood Pressure?

By Steady Matcha Editorial · Founder, Steady Matcha

Published June 21, 2026

This page covers health-related topics. Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider for medical questions.

Quitting coffee can modestly lower blood pressure, particularly in people who are caffeine-sensitive or have hypertension. Caffeine causes a temporary blood pressure spike of 3 to 14 mmHg within 30 minutes of consumption. Regular coffee drinkers develop partial tolerance to this effect, but the spike persists to some degree. The effect of quitting varies significantly by individual. This is general information, not medical advice.

Does coffee raise blood pressure?

Yes, temporarily. Caffeine causes a blood pressure spike by stimulating the adrenal glands to release adrenaline (epinephrine), which constricts blood vessels and increases heart rate. A 2012 meta-analysis in the Journal of Hypertension found that caffeine consumption raised systolic blood pressure by an average of 3.7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.4 mmHg in the short term.

Regular coffee drinkers develop partial tolerance to this effect over time, but the blood pressure spike does not fully disappear with habitual use. People who are caffeine-sensitive, have hypertension, or are taking blood pressure medications may experience more pronounced effects. This is general information, not medical advice.

Caffeine raised systolic blood pressure by an average of 3.7 mmHg and diastolic by 2.4 mmHg - Journal of Hypertension meta-analysis, 2012

Will quitting coffee lower blood pressure?

For people who are caffeine-sensitive or have hypertension, quitting coffee can produce a modest reduction in blood pressure. The effect is most pronounced in people who have not developed full tolerance to caffeine's blood pressure effects.

However, the long-term relationship between habitual coffee consumption and blood pressure is complex. Several large observational studies have found that habitual moderate coffee consumption (3 to 4 cups per day) is not associated with increased cardiovascular risk in most healthy adults. If you have hypertension or are concerned about blood pressure, consult a healthcare provider before making significant changes to your caffeine intake. This is general information, not medical advice.

Moderate coffee consumption (3 to 4 cups per day) is not associated with increased cardiovascular risk in most healthy adults - American Heart Association, 2021

Is matcha better than coffee for blood pressure?

Matcha may be a better option for people concerned about blood pressure for two reasons. First, it contains roughly half the caffeine of a standard cup of coffee (approximately 70mg per 2g serving vs 95 to 200mg in drip coffee), producing a smaller blood pressure spike. Second, matcha contains L-theanine, which has been shown to reduce the cardiovascular stress response to caffeine.

A 2019 study in Nutrients found that L-theanine significantly reduced physiological stress responses, including heart rate and blood pressure, compared to caffeine alone. For people who are caffeine-sensitive or have hypertension, switching from coffee to matcha may provide a meaningful reduction in caffeine-related blood pressure effects. This is general information, not medical advice.

L-theanine significantly reduced physiological stress responses including heart rate and blood pressure - Nutrients, 2019

Matcha contains approximately 70mg caffeine per 2g serving - USDA FoodData Central, 2024

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Frequently Asked Questions

References

  1. The effect of caffeine on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Journal of Hypertension (2012)
  2. L-theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses - Nutrients (2019)
  3. American Heart Association - Coffee and Heart Health - American Heart Association (2021)
  4. USDA FoodData Central - Matcha - USDA (2024)
Part of: How to Quit Coffee Without the Misery

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