Are energy drinks worse for your heart than coffee? No clean answer exists yet, and the studies differ in kind. The energy drink studies cited here are small, short-term or mechanistic, and the coffee evidence comes from meta-analyses and observational studies cited by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. What is clearer is the label: depending on the can size, an energy drink can carry more caffeine than a cup of coffee, and many also contain sugar and other stimulants such as guarana. Here is what the research says, with the numbers, so you can weigh it yourself.
Are energy drinks worse for your heart than coffee?
The most direct comparison is a small 2015 endothelial function trial. Six volunteers, around 25 years old on average, drank three energy drinks on different days, and 16 volunteers drank a cup of coffee. Researchers measured endothelial function, which reflects how well the inner lining of the blood vessels is working, before each drink and at 1.5 and 4 hours afterward.
| Drink in the 2015 trial | Serving | Caffeine | Result at 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bull | 250 ml | 80 mg | Significant improvement |
| 5-hour Energy | 57 ml | 230 mg | Significant improvement |
| NOS | 355 ml can | 120 mg | No significant change |
| Coffee | 473 ml cup | 240 mg | No significant change |
Two energy drinks significantly improved that measure at 4 hours, while the NOS drink and the coffee did not change it significantly. The trial’s authors concluded that caffeine does not appear to be the component responsible for those differences. Note the coffee in this trial was a 473 ml cup with 240 mg of caffeine, larger and stronger than the 80 to 120 mg standard cup the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute cites. A trial that measures blood-vessel function over hours is not a study of heart attacks or long-term risk.
What does the research say about coffee and heart risk?
As of November 2026, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute’s coffee and heart disease page (last updated 28 Feb 2026) says that moderate coffee, under five cups a day, has a neutral or potentially positive effect on cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. It cites a 2023 meta-analysis that found no significant association between coffee and coronary heart disease, and a 2014 meta-analysis that found 3 to 5 cups a day was associated with a 15 percent lower cardiovascular disease risk. It also cites a 2025 study in which people who drank coffee only before midday were 31 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who drank it throughout the day. The researchers suspected sleep was the reason.
Brewing matters too. The institute says French press and boiled coffee contain more cafestol and kahweol, which may raise total and LDL cholesterol, so it suggests limiting unfiltered coffee if your cholesterol is high. It also says people who do not drink coffee should not start for heart benefits alone. For more on this, read coffee and heart health.
What does the research say about energy drinks and the heart?
A 2019 review of blood-clotting effects in Food and Chemical Toxicology says energy drinks may change platelet reactivity, as coffee can, but the effect depends on many factors. Some studies in in-vivo models point to energy drinks having pro-aggregatory effects, which the review says may be associated with an elevated risk of thrombosis (blood clots). Other studies point to coffee reducing platelet activation. The review’s own title calls these hypothetical mechanisms.
The Victor Chang institute notes that energy drinks can contain more caffeine than coffee depending on their size, and that they often contain high amounts of sugar and stimulants such as guarana, which it says may affect heart health. CardioVascular Health Clinic, in a blog post dated May 14, 2026, says most formulations often carry 150 to 300-plus mg of caffeine per serving, and calls the combination of caffeine, taurine, guarana and ginseng a “stacking effect.” It also says rapid drinking brings a sharper rise in heart rate and blood pressure. Those are the clinic’s claims. For the caffeine side of the comparison, see caffeine in coffee tea and energy drinks.
Is 400 mg of caffeine a day bad for your heart?
CardioVascular Health Clinic’s post says general caffeine guidelines commonly suggest up to 400 mg a day for healthy adults when consumed gradually. That is a population reference, not a personal safe limit. As of November 2026, the Victor Chang institute says research suggests the safest level is two to five cups of coffee a day, or no more than 400 mg of caffeine, and that tea and energy drinks count toward that total. Both figures are general guidance, and individual tolerance varies. The institute says people sensitive to caffeine or prone to palpitations may need less.
How many coffees equal a Red Bull? In the 2015 trial, one 250 ml Red Bull held 80 mg of caffeine. That is at the low end of the 80 to 120 mg the institute gives for a standard cup, so by those figures one Red Bull roughly matches one standard cup. Check the label on the can you buy, because sizes and caffeine amounts vary.
What are the signs of heart problems?
CardioVascular Health Clinic lists the signs of overstimulation from caffeine as palpitations or irregular heart rhythms, dizziness or lightheadedness, chest discomfort or pressure, and shortness of breath. It says these show up at higher doses or in more sensitive people. The Victor Chang institute adds that coffee may trigger palpitations and that caffeine can cause temporary rises in blood pressure, which may matter for people with high blood pressure.
If chest discomfort or shortness of breath comes on, get medical help right away rather than waiting for it to pass.
Can energy drinks cause heart problems in teens?
The clinic says energy drink use is highest among adolescents and young adults, and that a lower body mass means a standard drink delivers more stimulant per pound. It also points to faster drinking and frequent use for studying, gaming, shift work and sport. The 2015 trial’s volunteers averaged about 25 years old, so its results say little about teenagers specifically.
What is still not known?
The energy drink studies cited here are small, short-term or mechanistic, and the coffee evidence comes from meta-analyses and observational studies cited by the Victor Chang institute. As of November 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov lists a recruiting study of 60 planned participants on how coffee affects energy expenditure and caffeine metabolism. A ClinicalTrials.gov registration for the coffee study describes the study; it is not a result. Long-term heart outcomes from regular energy drink use are not settled yet. Heart failure and cholesterol effects from energy drinks are separate questions, and a clinician is the right person to ask about them.
How do you choose between them?
Start with the label on your can or the size of your cup, then add up the whole day. The clinic notes that coffee is usually sipped over time, while energy drinks are often drunk quickly. Here is a short checklist:
- Check the caffeine and sugar on the label, and note the can size.
- Count every caffeinated drink, including tea, soda, energy drinks and pre-workout products.
- Watch milk, sugar and syrups in coffee, which the institute says can offset its possible heart benefits.
- If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or palpitations, talk with your doctor before you change how much caffeine you drink.
To go further on the coffee side, read is coffee actually healthy for you, which covers benefits, risks and caffeine safety in one place.
By CoffeeWeekly.com Editorial Team