- New research from China’s Kunming Institute of Botany found that roasted Arabica coffee beans contain compounds that may help slow the breakdown of carbohydrates, potentially aiding future diabetes research.
- The study identified three specific coffee-derived compounds that inhibit the α-glucosidase enzyme, a target for some type 2 diabetes medications.
- While scientists stress that coffee isn’t a treatment for diabetes, the findings build on growing evidence linking coffee’s natural compounds to better blood sugar control.
There’s a lot to love about coffee. Beyond being delicious, numerous studies have highlighted its health benefits, including potential support for gut health and a possible reduction in the risk of frailty in old age. And in 2025, scientists gave us one more reason to savor that morning cup when they discovered it contains compounds that could one day be used to manage type 2 diabetes.
In February of last year, researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences published a study in Beverage Plant Research examining Arabica beans and whether roasted coffee contains substances that could help manage blood sugar.
In their study, the researchers explained that when you eat carbohydrates, your body uses an enzyme called α-glucosidase to help break them down. Some medications used to manage type 2 diabetes work by slowing that same process, so sugar enters the bloodstream more gradually after a meal. In this coffee study, the researchers wanted to see whether roasted coffee contains compounds that could do the same.
The team gathered some green Arabica beans from China’s Yunnan province, then roasted them to a “moderate” level based on color. Next, they extracted an oil-like extract especially rich in coffee’s natural diterpenes, the compounds that give it that oily sheen. From there, they separated the extract into 19 smaller portions to see what was inside and whether any of those portions could slow α-glucosidase. They not only found previously unknown coffee compounds but also found that three of them clearly slowed the α-glucosidase enzyme, which is why the researchers think they’re worth a closer look for diabetes-related research later on.
Still, it’s far too soon to say, “Drink coffee to manage your type 2 diabetes.” These latest findings show only that compounds in roasted coffee can inhibit this specific enzyme in the lab; they don’t show whether those compounds have the same effect in the human body, or even how much of the compound is in a regular brewed cup of coffee. That said, the work echoes other research exploring potential links between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes risk.
For example, another research analysis published in 2025 reported that both caffeinated and decaffeinated black coffee may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes thanks to polyphenols in the beans. Those compounds, the researchers noted, could help do everything from modulate blood sugar levels to suppress general inflammation. And really, the impact is significant. In the observational studies included in that analysis, higher coffee intake was associated with a roughly 20–30% lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Again, coffee isn’t a cure or treatment for type 2 diabetes. However, studies like these highlight the significant potential of food and science. At the very least, it provides a charming reason to quietly say “thanks” to your next cup.
Reviewed by
Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC: Lauren is an award-winning registered dietitian and three-time book author, with more than 22 years in the field.
