From espresso to instant, coffee is part of the daily routine for millions. Now research suggests the brew could be linked to a lower chance of developing or dying from chronic liver disease. Chronic liver disease is a major health problem around the world. According to the British Liver Trust, liver disease is the third leading cause of premature death in the UK, with deaths having risen 400% since 1970. The new study is the latest to suggest drinking coffee could bring benefits, with previous work suggesting it may help stave off liver cancer, and reduce the risk of alcohol-related liver disease. “It confirms in a large UK cohort that coffee drinking is protective against severe liver disease,” said Prof Paul Roderick, a co-author of the study from the University of Southampton. Writing in the journal BMC Public Health, Roderick and colleagues report how they analysed data from 494,585 participants in the UK Biobank – a project designed to help unpick the genetic and environmental factors associated with particular conditions.