What is a healthy amount of coffee to drink that won't create a mild physical dependence?

Caffeine: The answer depends on a persons ability to metabolize drugs and their unique ability to be prone to dependence of substances etc. Weight and overall health and any underlying conditions can play a role as well. Generally speaking, it is caffeine that is the problematic drug with coffee consumption, so it is best to avoid caffeine and drink decaff, than you would have no issues and concerns.

Caffeine addiction: One can become physiologically habituated to caffeine by drinking only 1-2 cups of coffee per day. You would notice this if you used coffee daily for awhile, and then stopped suddenly. Caffeine withdrawal leads to headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, foggy-headed thinking, etc.