One study shows that drinking eight or more cups of very hot coffee or tea increases the risk of esophageal cancer by 5.6 times.

Research from the National Cancer Institute suggests that very hot drinks such as coffee and tea can significantly increase the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Drinking up to four cups a day of hot beverages increases the risk by 1.6 times, and eight or more cups can lead to a 5.6-fold increase in risk. Hot drinks can cause damage to cells in the esophagus, increasing the risk of cancer, and researchers recommend reducing their temperature to minimize the risks.