Except for conflicting evidence about coffee & risk of coronary disease, coffee & tea are not linked to major causes of death. Using Cox models, the authors studied relations in 128,934 persons to 4501 subsequent deaths. Use of both beverages was related to a lower risk of suicide, progressively lower at higher coffee intake. If coffee increases coronary risk, this is balanced by unexplained lower risk of other conditions, notably cirrhosis & suicide. (30 refs.)