Myth 3: More than two cups a day is bad for you

Social media posts give wildly different ‘safe’ limits for coffee, but official guidance is clear. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advises that up to 400mg of caffeine a day is safe for healthy adults, with single doses of up to 200mg. During pregnancy, the NHS advises no more than 200mg a day.

As a rough guide, a mug of instant coffee contains about 100mg of caffeine and a mug of filter coffee about 140mg. Coffee shop drinks, especially large sizes or those with extra shots, can contain considerably more.

A major review in The British Medical Journal, which pulled together more than 200 meta-analyses, found that three to four cups of coffee a day was associated with the greatest reduction in health risks overall, with no clear harm for most adults at usual intakes (the exceptions were pregnancy and women at risk of fracture).

Customers should also remember that caffeine comes from other sources too, including tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate and some OTC painkillers and cold remedies.

The verdict: For most healthy adults, three to four cups of coffee a day falls within safe limits. The ‘right’ amount depends on the person, their caffeine sources and their health.