INTRODUCTION
Coffee, an infusion of ground, roasted coffee beans, is reported to be among the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Although coffee is lauded for its aroma and flavor, its caffeine content likely plays a role in its popularity. In fact, coffee is a complex chemical mixture reported to contain more than a thousand different chemicals, including carbohydrates, lipids, nitrogenous compounds, vitamins, minerals, alkaloids and phenolic compounds.1 The majority of studies on the health effects of coffee consumption in humans are observational. Concerns about potential health risks of coffee and caffeine consumption raised by epidemiological research in the past were likely exacerbated by associations between high intakes of coffee and unhealthy behaviors, such as cigarette smoking and physical inactivity.2 More recently, coffee consumption has been associated with reductions in the risk of several chronic diseases.3–5 However, in many cases, conflicting findings and concerns about methodological issues have made it difficult for health professionals and the public to interpret the available evidence on