Many of us can’t imagine life without a cup (or three) of coffee in the morning. You might feel the same way about your beloved glass (or two) of wine at night. Luckily, there’s lots of research out there suggesting that both drinks might even be good for you. But which one is the real magic elixir? Let’s find out.
CALORIES PER SERVING
Coffee: 8 ounces, 2 calories (assuming no milk and sugar)
Wine: 5 ounces, 127 calories
WHAT AMERICANS WILL PAY AT A RESTAURANT OR CAFE
Coffee: $3.28 for regular coffee, but around $5 for barista-prepared specialties
Wine: Nearly half of survey respondents pay under $10 per glass on a weeknight.
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ANNUAL VOLUME CONSUMED IN UNITED STATES
Coffee: 21.2 gallons per capita
Wine: 2.82 gallons per capita
ANNUAL VOLUME CONSUMED IN MASSACHUSETTS
Coffee: With more than 1,100 Dunkin’ outlets across the state, use your imagination.
Wine: 4.46 gallons per capita, more than anywhere except D.C., New Hampshire, and Vermont
POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF MODERATE CONSUMPTION
Coffee: Lower risk of heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, liver cancer, gallstones
Wine: For some people, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, stroke
WARNING LABEL
Coffee: A 990-calorie Frozen Caramel Coffee Coolatta from Dunkies is never going to be good for you.
Wine: A new Harvard study finds 1 serving of alcohol a day can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF OVERCONSUMPTION
Coffee: Addiction, sleeplessness, fast-talking, stained teeth, frequent urination, heart palpitations in extreme cases
Wine: Addiction, sleepiness, splitting headache, poor decision making, really poor decision making, job loss in extreme cases
OFF-LABEL USES THAT WILL NEED FURTHER STUDY
Coffee: A 2014 German study claimed caffeine could fight baldness — but you’ll have to apply it to your head.
Wine: A 2002 Spanish study said people who drank fewer than 14 glasses of wine weekly were 40 percent less likely to catch a cold.
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WHAT HARVARD UNIVERSITY HEALTH GURU WALTER WILLETT SAYS
Coffee: “The health risks of coffee are remarkably few; insomnia is the main side effect.”
Wine: “I would choose the glass of wine, as its benefits are stronger. However, I say this as a male over 60, and we are at higher risk of heart disease than women or younger adults.”
THE VERDICT
Coffee: We have a winner! A top federal nutrition panel just endorsed adult consumption of up to 3 to 5 servings a day.
Wine: Wine is wonderful, perhaps just not magical for everyone. (And please don’t even consider drinking 3 to 5 servings a day.)
Sources: USDA; Consumer Reports; Zagat; Wine Market Council; Wine Institute; Dunkin’ Donuts; Business Insider; QUARTZ; “Differential effects of caffeine on hair shaft elongation . . .”; “Intake of wine, beer, and spirits and the risk of clinical common cold”; Walter Willett; wonkblog