In high-risk locations, such as East Asia, coffee drinking may play a higher preventive impact in the incidence of esophageal cancer. Drinking highly hot beverages may be a cause of esophageal cancer, according to a number of experimental and clinical investigations. The association between coffee consumption and risk of esophageal cancer has been investigated in several studies, but results are inconsistent. A meta-analysis of 12 cohort studies found that people who drink more than 3 cups of coffee per day have a 14% increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. However, results from case-control studies were not consistent with this finding. Coffee contains caffeine which can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, causing some people to develop gastritis. Irritation of the stomach may increase your risk of developing conditions such as esophageal cancer. People who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may find that coffee increases acid levels in the stomach, worsening symptoms of heartburn and esophagitis. Heavy coffee drinking has been linked to increased risks of cancers of the bladder, prostate, and colon/rectum. More research is needed to determine if there is an association between coffee drinking and esophageal cancer risk.