Espresso and Moka Coffee May Lower Fatty Liver Disease Risk

A new Italian study suggests that drinking espresso or moka coffee daily may be linked to a lower risk of fatty liver disease. Here’s what researchers found and why more research is still needed.

Could your daily cup of coffee do more than wake you up?
A new Italian study suggests that drinking espresso or moka coffee every day may be associated with a lower likelihood of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Researchers found that the association became stronger as coffee intake increased, with the greatest benefit observed among people drinking four to six cups daily. However, because the study was observational, it cannot prove that coffee itself prevents liver disease (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Italian style coffee consumption and metabolically dysfunctional-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): a cohort population study in Southern Italy

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What Is MASLD?

MASLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver in people who have one or more metabolic risk factors, such as:

• Overweight or obesity
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Insulin resistance

The condition has become one of the most common liver diseases globally and may progress to liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer if left untreated.

How Was the Study Conducted?

Researchers analyzed data from 1,079 adults in southern Italy who regularly drank coffee.

Participants reported how many cups of Italian-style coffee (espresso or moka) they consumed each day. Other brewing methods, such as filtered coffee or instant coffee, were not included.

Researchers then evaluated whether coffee intake was associated with MASLD after adjusting for multiple factors, including:

• Age
• Sex
• Body mass index (BMI)
• Blood pressure
• Smoking
• Mediterranean diet adherence
• Education
• Daily calorie intake
• Sugar and milk added to coffee
• Blood sugar status
• Cholesterol levels

What Did Researchers Find?

Compared with people drinking less than one cup daily, researchers observed:

Overall, each increase in daily coffee intake was associated with a lower likelihood of MASLD after statistical adjustments.

Why Might Italian Coffee Be Different?

Unlike filtered coffee, espresso and moka coffee are prepared using pressure-based extraction methods that retain higher amounts of naturally occurring compounds such as:

• Chlorogenic acids
• Cafestol
• Kahweol
• Trigonelline
• Melanoidins

Researchers suggest these compounds may have:

• Antioxidant effects
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Antifibrotic activity
• Benefits for fat metabolism
• Potential effects on insulin sensitivity

These biological mechanisms could partly explain the observed association with better liver health, although they have not been proven to prevent MASLD in humans.

Coffee’s Growing Reputation for Liver Health

This study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that coffee consumption may benefit liver health.

Previous studies have linked coffee with:

• Reduced liver fibrosis
• Lower risk of chronic liver disease
• Reduced progression of fatty liver disease
• Better metabolic health

The current study is unique because it focused specifically on Italian-style coffee, rather than coffee in general.

Does This Mean You Should Drink More Coffee?

Not necessarily. Researchers emphasize that this was an observational study, meaning it found an association rather than proving that coffee directly protects the liver.

People who drink more coffee may also differ in other lifestyle habits that influence liver health.

The authors also note that certain groups, including children, adolescents, pregnant or breastfeeding women, older adults, and people with anxiety or sleep disorders, should be cautious about caffeine intake.

What Are the Study’s Limitations?

The researchers acknowledged several important limitations:

• The study cannot establish cause and effect.
• Coffee intake was self-reported.
• Physical activity was not measured.
• Participants were all from southern Italy, which may limit generalizability to other populations.
• The study only evaluated espresso and moka coffee.

Further long-term and randomized studies are needed to confirm whether coffee directly reduces the risk of MASLD.

The Bottom Line

A large Italian study suggests that daily espresso or moka coffee consumption may be associated with lower odds of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). While the findings add to growing evidence supporting coffee’s potential role in liver health, they do not prove that coffee prevents fatty liver disease. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular physical activity, and a balanced diet remain the cornerstone of MASLD prevention.

Reference:

1. Italian style coffee consumption and metabolically dysfunctional-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): a cohort population study in Southern Italy – (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2026.1797230/full )

Source-Medindia