Background: In patients with chronic HCV-related liver damage, coffee is associated with a reduced risk of progression and of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Aim: This prospective trial is aimed at assessing the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of coffee on evolution in cirrhosis and HCC. Trial design/methods: Forty patients with HCV-related hepatitis will be recruited and randomized into two groups: the first will consume 4 coffee cups/day/1 month, while the second will remain coffee "abstinent". At day 30, the two groups will be switched over and exposed to coffee or not for a second month. Before entering the study (time 0), during coffee exposure and during abstinence we will evaluate the following parameters: liver function tests, viral load, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (a marker of oxidative DNA damage), telomere length, apoptosis and collagen deposition.