Previous studies found that coffee stiffens arteries and increases the probability of a heart attack.
The new research, partly funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), found drinking five cups a day was no worse for the arteries than drinking less than one.
Scientists at Queen Mary University divided the 8,412 participants into three groups. The first group had less than one cup per day, the second group had one to three cups and the last group had more than three.
Some people consumed 25 cups per day but the average in the third group was five cups a day.
Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the BHF, said the study “rules out one of the potential detrimental effects of coffee on our arteries.”
All participants underwent MRI heart scans and infrared pulse wave tests. The results held true after factors such as age, weight and smoking status were taken into account.
Dr Kenneth Fung, from Queen Mary University of London, said: “Despite the huge popularity of coffee worldwide, different reports could put people off from enjoying it.
“Whilst we can’t prove a causal link in this study, our research indicates coffee isn’t as bad for the arteries as previous studies would suggest.”
Previous research by the university of Southern Australia on 347,077 people between the ages of 37 and 73 in the UK found the risk of cardiovascular disease increased 22% for six or more cups of coffee per day.