With such a strong showing across ethnicities, Veronica Setiawan, lead author of the study, said it was likely the results applied to other ethnic groups.

“This study is the largest of its kind and includes minorities who have very different lifestyles,” Setiawan said. “Seeing a similar pattern across different populations gives stronger biological backing to the argument that coffee is good for you whether you are white, African-American, Latino or Asian.”

She summed up the results as there being an “association” with coffee and living longer.

“We cannot say drinking coffee will prolong your life, but we see an association. If you like to drink coffee, drink up!

“If you're not a coffee drinker, then you need to consider if you should start.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently abandoned its long-held view that coffee was a possible carcinogen, revising its advice to say that regular coffee drinking could reduce the risk of liver and uterine cancer (while pointing out that drinking very hot drinks could contribute to throat cancer).

Then again, lovers of black coffee could be psychopaths, so the risk is yours.

Images: iStock

This research reveals your coffee addiction has a major health benefit