Very hot drinks may cause cancer?

In news that will make you re-think asking for your flat white “extra hot”, research has found steamy beverages could increase the risk of developing cancer.

When it comes to tea, coffee and other drinks, try sticking to below 65 degrees says The World Health Organisation cancer agency, who this week announced anything above that temperature is probably carcinogenic.

This classification puts drinking very hot liquids in the same risk group as exposure to substances such as lead, gasoline and exhaust fumes.

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It’s not all bad news though.

Coffee lovers can rejoice after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reversed its previous finding that coffee is “possibly carcinogenic” and pointing to some studies showing it may actually reduce the risk of certain types of cancers.

"These results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one probable cause of oesophageal cancer and that it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible," said IARC's director, Christopher Wild.

So the next time your barista plonks a lukewarm latte down in front of you, be thankful. He might actually be doing you a favour.