The Type Of Coffee That Will Help You Live Longer

While we're often warned about the drawbacks of consuming too much caffeine, it turns out that coffee may be just the thing to increase our lifespan. A 2017 meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests that coffee consumption may be linked to a decreased risk of developing certain cancers, heart disease, liver issues, type 2 diabetes, and more. While coffee, in general, is shown to provide a wide range of potential health benefits, experts suggest there may be one type of coffee in particular that holds the key to living a long and healthy life.

Out of anywhere in the world, Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California are home to the humans with the longest lifespans (via Well+Good). In particular, 1% of the inhabitants of Ikaria live beyond 90 years of age, which far exceeds the mere 0.1% of Europeans who live into their 90s, according to research published in Vascular Medicine. With coffee-drinking being a regular part of daily life in Ikaria, experts have studied how Ikaria coffee may offer special benefits in the way of longevity.

Author and longevity expert Dan Buettner explained the positive effects Ikaria coffee can have on the body to Well+Good. "Ikarian coffee, or Greek coffee, is lightly roasted and finely ground," Buettner told the publication. "The fine grind delivers more concentrated antioxidants, which is one key health benefit. Ikarian coffee is also boiled instead of getting brewed and filtered, which extracts more of the healthy compounds in the coffee." With less caffeine than an American cup of joe, research published in Vascular Medicine also found that those who drank Greek coffee on a daily basis had improved cardiovascular and blood health over those who drank alternate kinds of coffee.

For those looking to create this unique java beverage at home, Buettner instructs coffee-lovers via Well+Good to combine water and Ikaria coffee grounds directly in a saucepan together. Then, stir the mixture until the grounds have thoroughly dissolved and bring it all to a slow boil. The presence of foam on the coffee's surface indicates it's ready to be poured. Empty the foam first into a mug and pour in the coffee second. Once the grounds have settled, your coffee is ready to sip!