One study, presented last week to the Society for Experimental Biology, appears to show an appreciable benefit in the muscle strength of mice who’ve been given caffeine.

The second of the two studies suggests that a moderate intake of caffeinated coffee is associated with a decreased risk for a common skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma.

The National Institutes of Health made a splash in May this year when their research noted a relationshipbetween coffee consumption and a decreased risk for mortality[.]

We’ve also learned that coffee can protect your heart, reduce the risk of prostate and breast cancer, and curb the risk of fibrosis among those with fatty liver disease. The research even extends to the bustling, steamy shops from which we procure our daily java fix: studies show being surrounded by a moderate amount of noise can actually make you more creative.

With the evidence mounting in favor of coffee, it’s hard not to pump your fist and declare your daily four-shot latte justified. True enough, it’s worth remembering that most of these studies show correlations at best, and some of them don’t even involve humans. The case for coffee isn’t exactly slam-dunk for sure – but then again, science never is.