In the best news we’ve heard all day: It turns out drinking coffee is not only a necessity to make us nice, productive humans, it also has serious health benefits. 

A major study, which surveyed over 20,000 middle-aged men and women over a 10-year period, concluded that drinking four (yes, you read that right) cups of coffee per day will help to prevent an early death.

The study found that people who drank coffee regularly had mortality rates almost two thirds lower than those who didn’t.

Over the decade, around 1 in 60 participants died, with researchers noting that those who drank coffee regularly had the lowest death rates, The Independent reports.

Lead author Dr Adela Navarro of the study at Hospital de Navarra in Spain said: “I would advise drink plenty of coffee, it could be good for your heart. I think it’s a good idea to have about four cups a day.”

“I think it’s the polyphenols (a form of antioxidant), they have an anti-inflammatory effect,” he continued.

However, the British Heart Foundation was quick to dash our caffeine-filled hopes and dream, telling The Independent: “The best way to minimise your risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death is to concentrate on an overall healthy lifestyle – eat a balanced diet, stay active and don’t smoke – rather than lining up the lattes.”

Our conclusion? A bit of all of the above, including a strong soy flat white (or two).

This article originally appeared on Marie Claire

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