Rumor Refutation：Can Drinking Coffee Long-Term Really Cause Cancer?

The human esophagus is very fragile, and excessively hot beverages can burn the throat.

Long-term inflammation caused by such burns can increase the risk of tumors. Frequent consumption of overly hot beverages can induce cancer in different parts of the esophagus, mainly two types:

• Squamous cell carcinoma, which accounts for about 90% of global esophageal cancer cases。
• Adenocarcinoma (a malignant tumor arising from the submucosa of the esophagus or the cardiac glands), which accounts for 10%.

In this assessment by the World Health Organization, very hot beverages were also classified as Group 2A carcinogens (probable carcinogens), along with high-temperature fried foods and red meat.

To protect the esophagus, it is advisable to keep food temperatures below 60°C.

Scientific experiments have found that temperatures below 60°C provide some protection for the oral mucosa as well as the esophageal and gastric mucosa.