Coffee in the morning is one of the highlights of many people’s day.

Unfortunately, with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance, it can often be a trigger instead of something to enjoy! And neither low histamine coffee nor mold free coffee are on most people’s radar.

Many people who react to coffee assume it’s the caffeine. But if that were the case, switching to decaf would solve it.

Others try taking a histamine-degrading enzyme, diamine oxidase (DAO), hoping it will allow them to enjoy coffee without symptoms. Only to end up itchy, anxious, or reactive.

DAO alone usually isn’t enough, either.

While many coffees are high in histamine and caffeine can be a mast cell trigger, reactions often aren’t just about histamine or caffeine.

That’s because coffee quality, processing, and contamination can also affect how your body responds.

And yet, coffee can be hard to give up. Keeping some of our little joys is important.

Roasty, creamy, sweet or even straight black coffee is a simple pleasure that helps many of us start the day. Especially if you are a coffee lover.

But if it’s causing symptoms, what’s a person to do?

We have some ideas for you!

In this post you’ll read about:

• How mold, mycotoxins, and other contaminants sneak into coffee
• Why people with MCAS or Histamine Intolerance often react to coffee
• How clean low histamine coffee and mold‑free coffee can reduce reactions
• The many health benefits of high quality coffee
• What makes Purity Coffee different from most coffees on the market
• Tips for brewing and flavoring coffee without triggering symptoms

If you’re sensitive and have had to give up coffee or you are just curious about the potential health benefits (or health problems) of coffee, keep reading!

It’s important you know that this blog post is for educational and informational purposes. It’s not meant to treat any health condition or to be prescriptive for anyone.  If you have any medical condition, it is critical you work under the care and guidance of a licensed medical healthcare provider.  

The Hidden Mold Problem: Why ‘Mold Free Coffee’ Matters

When we went on a hunt for coffee for ourselves and our sensitive community, we discovered that there was an even bigger problem with most coffees out there… MOLD! 

Yuck!

Because Mold Toxicity is the #1 root cause of MCAS we see in the Mast Cell 360 practice, drinking moldy coffee certainly isn’t appealing.

Mold can lead to more mast cell activation and release of histamine.  

Have you wondered if you could ever have coffee again? We have.

And we are so glad we didn’t give up on coffee for good.

However, it did take us a while to find a truly low histamine, mycotoxin (mold toxins) free coffee.

Have you been missing great coffee?  

 There is a:  

• Mold free coffee 
• Low histamine coffee 
• Low acid coffee 
• Organic coffee 
• 99% decaf coffee 

Most of our team, and even many in our sensitive community have been drinking this coffee for years with no problems at all.  

Coffee can be a regular part of a low histamine diet.

But first, let’s look at why you want to be careful with most brands of coffee out there.  

Toxins in Coffee: What Makes Most Coffee Risky

Many people with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance already have a hard time detoxing.  

And most coffee is unfortunately full of toxins. Things like:

• Pesticides – 97% of all beans grown worldwide are treated with pesticides and chemicals! Of the remaining 3%, there is often no monitoring to tell if they are truly being kept clean and pesticide free. Residues remain on beans even after processing.
• Acrylamide – a naturally-occurring compound found in a variety of cooked, baked, fried, or roasted foods that has been linked to cancer in animal studies.
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – these can come from high-heat roasting processes in any food. They increase inflammation in the body, and they have been linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease.
• Aflatoxin B-1 – a mold-derived toxin found in green coffee beans. It is carcinogenic (cancer causing), immune suppressive, and can cause liver disease.
• Ochratoxin A – a mycotoxin produced by molds that grow on raw coffee beans. It is harmful to the liver and kidneys. And often comes from harvesting rotting coffee beans or unhealthy fermentation practices.

These contaminants can stress detox pathways and trigger mast cell reactivity, especially in a more fragile system.

TIP: Remember that anything fermented is typically also a high histamine food. And most coffee is fermented in ways that raise histamine levels significantly.

Next, let’s take a closer look at mold in coffee. 

Understanding Mold in Coffee Production

You may know that mold is a HUGE issue for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) or Histamine Intolerance. 

And mold is a BIG issue you have to consider when it comes to coffee.  

Because coffee is grown in warm, humid climates and often fermented after harvest, it’s prone to mold and bacterial growth if processing isn’t tightly controlled.

Yeast and bacteria are also often used to naturally process the coffee after picking.  

Third-party test results show yeast and bacteria residues are often left on the green, pre-roasted coffee beans.  

These yeasts and bacteria may also stay on the processing equipment. This can contaminate the next batch.  

In one study, 19 out of 23 green coffees contained mold when lab tested by a third-party. Green coffee mold is an industry problem.  

In another third-party test, mold was found to be growing in green coffee beans in 46 brands! 

Mold is one of the biggest triggers of MCAS. So, moldy coffee creates all kinds of issues for mast cells.  

Related Article: Mold Toxicity Symptoms

Mold releases mycotoxins that cause the mast cells to become defensive. As a result, mast cells release histamine and a lot of other chemicals that can cause a ton of health issues.  

Too much histamine release and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome can cause many problems.

Related Post: What Are Mast Cells? Mast Cell Activation Syndrome 101

So, what can you do? Keep reading to discover why our top coffee choice is Purity Coffee.

---

Looking for a low histamine and mold-free coffee that’s crafted for health every step of the way? We recommend Purity Coffee, especially for our sensitive community.

>>> Click here to shop Purity Coffee

Use coupon code MASTCELL360 at checkout for 20% off your first order!

---

Purity Coffee: What Makes It a Low Histamine, Mold-Free Option

What makes Purity Coffee different for people with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance?  

Purity Coffee stands out from other coffee brands for being triple-tested for mold, pesticides, and toxins. And for its low histamine and acidity.

The green coffee is also third-party tested to make sure they are mycotoxin-free beans.

So, it’s far less likely to trigger mast cells or cause histamine issues.  

Here’s a breakdown of some of the things we like about Purity Coffee. 

• Purity Coffee isn’t fermented – so it doesn’t have high histamine levels.  
• Purity Coffee double checks for pesticides – even though they only buy certified organic coffee beans.
  • They actually test for 310 different chemicals that can be found in coffee to make sure Purity Coffee is free of these. 
• Low levels of PAHs and acrylamides – the smokeless coffee roasting machines ensure levels are low. So, Purity Coffee doesn’t have those inflammation-triggering chemicals from high heat and smoke that could be causing your histamine reaction.  
• You don’t have to worry about contaminants – their rigorous harvesting, processing, and testing protocols ensure your coffee is clean!

Next, let’s take a look at why most coffee is higher in histamine content. 

Is Coffee High in Histamine? What Makes the Difference

Is coffee high in histamine?

The answer is: it depends on processing and additives.

It’s likely higher in histamine or to cause a histamine reaction, if your coffee has:  

• Mold  
• Been fermented 
• Natural sweeteners  
• Artificial sweeteners  

But Purity Coffee guarantees these histamine triggers aren’t there.  And their processing specifically keeps histamine low.

But most of our clients have more than just Histamine Intolerance. It’s common to have other food intolerances with MCAS and Mold Toxicity, too.

So, here’s how Purity Coffee fits into various diets. Purity Coffee is:

• Low FODMAP – it may be better for you if you struggle with:
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • SIBO
  • SIFO
  • Histamine Intolerance
  • Leaky Gut
• Low Oxalate – oxalates can contribute to a lot of health issues, kidney stones for example. And mold clogs up the same pathways that clear oxalates.
• Low Lectin – it actually has zero lectins
• Low Salicylate option – CALM: decaf is the only low salicylate option

Now you know that Purity is:

• Mold free coffee
• Low histamine coffee
• Low FODMAP coffee
• Low oxalate coffee
• Low lectin coffee
• And their decaf is low salicylate

It’s also fair trade and sustainably sourced!

Here’s one other benefit of Purity Coffee.

Low Acid Coffee 

If you’ve had issues with coffee and an “acidic stomach,” Purity Coffee may work much better for you.  

The reasons may surprise you! 

Studies so far have not connected acidity nor caffeine with stomach discomfort or reflux. 

Coffee is about as acidic as watermelon (5 to 5.5 pH). That’s about in the middle of the pH scale. The lower the number, the higher the acidity.  

So, if it was the acidity of a tomato (about 4.3 pH) or orange juice (about 3.7 pH) it would be more of a problem leading to “acidic stomach”.  

Further, decaf coffee caused the same issues as caffeinated coffee in studies. So, it’s not the caffeine that’s behind acidic stomach either. 

In other research, different coffees produced different results. The type of coffee, the roast, and the brewing method could make a difference.  

Could it be the quality? There’s reason to believe so. After all, toxins, molds, and pesticides are common in low quality coffee. 

Coffee that has been sitting on supermarket shelves for a long time could also be a problem. This will raise histamine levels even further.  

Add to that, coffee has its own natural oils that can become rancid over time. Rancid oils can form toxins and are bad for your body.  

Purity Coffee is different, though. Because it is USDA organic and toxin-free.  

If you’ve had problems with coffee in the past, but love coffee, Purity Coffee is worth a try.  

Lowest Decaf Coffee

And if you’re working on your sleep or you feel decaf is safer to start with, Purity Coffee has a 99.9% decaf coffee.  

Most decaf brands still can have some caffeine.

So, with most coffee, a cup after dinner isn’t a good idea, due to the effects of caffeine. It can keep you up at night or give you the jitters. 

Additionally, most coffee brands use toxic methylene chloride to remove caffeine.

More toxins! This is something you want to avoid. Especially if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance.  

But Purity uses the Swiss Water Process, a chemical-free method that preserves flavor and antioxidants.

This method manages water, temperature, and exposure time to gradually remove the caffeine. It is about a 10-hour process, which is why a lot of coffee companies don’t want to use this safer way to remove caffeine.  

Watch our interview with the founder of Purity Coffee, Andrew Salisbury, for more information and a community Q&A!

Decaf Purity Coffee is a great place to start if you want to bring coffee back into your life.  

But, if you are used to drinking caffeinated coffee, their regular coffee is very good as well.  

Now let’s take a look at the many potential benefits of healthy coffee!

Health Benefits of Purity Coffee 

Sometimes, coffee is thought of as just a drink or even junk food rather than a health food.  

But some coffees have really great health benefits for your wellness! You need low histamine coffee and mold free coffee to not negate the positive.

And the great news is, if you tolerate coffee, Purity Coffee can deliver overall health benefits without triggering flares of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance.  

Again, that’s because Purity Coffee is low-histamine, mold free, and chemical-free. (It’s also paleo and keto friendly!) 

Here’s a quick summary of the benefits.  

Purity Coffee has:

• High antioxidants  
• Inflammation-lowering properties  
• Brain protective properties  

Let’s look at these one by one…  

Purity Coffee is High in Antioxidants

Antioxidants are good at healing things for the body. 

Purity Coffee is very high in these types of antioxidants:  

• Chlorogenic acids  
• Ferulic acid  
• Flavonoids  
• Isoflavones  

Let’s look at how these antioxidant properties support your health.  

Chlorogenic acid is often taken as a supplement in the form of green coffee extract.  

Studies show chlorogenic acid can help lower inflammation. It can also help protect nerve cells from damaging stress.  

When you drink coffee, this chlorogenic acid gets changed in your gut into ferulic acid.  

Ferulic acid helps increase glutathione levels. Glutathione helps you detoxify mold and chemicals. It also fights inflammation.  

The flavonoids in brewed coffee include the same ones found in green tea: epicatechin and epigallocatechin. These are often taken as supplements.  

But did you know coffee also contains quercetin? Quercetin has many health benefits, including antihistamine and mast cell supporting properties.   

Purity Coffee May Lower Inflammation

According to research, drinking coffee can lead to a longer lifespan.  

Even one cup of coffee a day over 4 years could reduce the risk of dying over that time by 16%, according to research.  

In studies where people drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee each day, the risk of death was 19% lower.  

This is likely due to coffee’s ability to lower inflammation, reduce insulin resistance, and protect the brain over time.  

And this even applies to decaf.  

There are hundreds of compounds in coffee (regular and decaf) that may promote good health.

Here are a few more:  

• Trigonelline  
• Deterpenes – such as cafestol and kahweol  
• Polyphenols – including chlorogenic acids, caffeic acid, and other free radical reducing compounds 
• Magnesium – up to 7mg per cup!
• Chlorogenic acids

Coffee is actually the major source of beneficial chlorogenic acids in the standard American diet. A typical cup provides 70-350 mg /100 ml of it.  

This leads to the next point.

Purity Coffee is Brain Protective

Again, chlorogenic acids help lower inflammation and protect nerve cells against damage from stress.  

Coffee can also lower your risk of developing diabetes.  

A study of caffeine-free coffee found that 3 to 4 cups of coffee each day reduced risk for type 2 diabetes 30%.  

Truly pure whole bean coffee has the potential for being:  

• Anti-tumor (anti-cancer, especially colon, prostate, and liver cancers)  
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-allergenic (in cell studies)  
• Anti-diabetic  
• Liver-protecting  
• Performance-enhancing  
• Mood-lifting
• Energy-promoting  
• Metabolism-boosting  
• Brain health-improving  

These effects have been seen in cell, animal, and human studies.  

A cell study on low-grade green coffee and brewed coffee even showed some anti-allergenic potential.  

After reading about all the great potential health benefits of coffee, you may be wondering about another question that often comes up in our MCAS and Histamine Intolerance community.

What about coffee enemas?

Let’s look briefly at what you need to know about that. And why you want a really high quality, clean coffee like Purity.

Using Mold-Free Coffee in Enemas: A Note on What to Consider

If you’re curious about coffee enemas, it’s important to know that quality really matters.

For those with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance, the liver often needs extra support. Coffee enemas can help by stimulating bile flow and aiding detoxification.

Some people find them calming because coffee enemas can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and stimulate the vagus nerve, which supports relaxation and healthy digestion.

But they can also be too strong for sensitive systems. That’s why it’s important to do things in the right order and at the right time for you.

Related Post: Coffee Enemas with MCAS

And choosing a mold-free, low histamine, and pesticide-free coffee such as Purity is essential if you decide to explore this practice.

A clean, tested coffee helps reduce toxin exposure while supporting gentle liver and nervous system balance.

So, whether using coffee for enemas or as a drink, choosing the right coffee matters.

Purity Coffee offers several low histamine, mold-free options, each with its own flavor profile and level of roast. Here’s a quick look at the coffees we have found most supportive and enjoyable.

Purity Coffee Review of Taste and Options 

Our Purity Coffee review is two thumbs up for health benefits and taste! 

Our team members think Purity Coffee is rich with a smooth taste.

And even friends we have shared it with who don’t have MCAS or histamine issues to worry about, and drink store-brands and cafe coffees, thought it was good!

Purity’s specialty-grade coffees come in several options, and they are always adding new ones!

While we have not tried these specific options, they do have coffee pods (like K-cups) and a cold brew, too. And we’ve heard whispers that an espresso is on the way.

These are our 5 favorites.

Calm: Decaf Coffee – The Best Coffee Option to Start With, also the Only Low Salicylate Coffee

CALM: Decaf uses a chemical-free natural water process that removes 99.9% of caffeine. That also retains high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 

If you have Salicylate Intolerance, this is the only low salicylate option!

Note: Most sensitive people do best with CALM: Decaf to start out with. And, as with anything, it is often best to start small and work up slowly.

BALANCE: 2/3 Decaf Medium Roast Coffee

BALANCE: Medium Roast is a unique ²/₃ decaffeinated medium roast coffee. This coffee maintains high antioxidant levels with less caffeine.

The next step up if you’re tolerating decaf well and a little further along in your health journey.

EASE: Dark Roast Coffee

EASE: Dark Roast is high in antioxidants. It’s lower in acidity and has prebiotic benefits ideal for supporting gut health and overall wellness.  

If you are further along on your health journey, you may enjoy some of Purity’s caffeinated blends.

FLOW: Medium Roast Coffee

FLOW: Medium Roast is high in antioxidants.  

Like all of their blends, this original medium roast USDA Organic Certified, Smithsonian Bird Friendly, and Rainforest Alliance Certified.  

PROTECT: Ligh-Medium Roast Coffee

PROTECT: Light-Medium Roast is sourced and roasted specifically for liver care, metabolic vitality and the highest level of antioxidant activity.

This one contains more Chlorogenic Acid Lactones (CGA) of all Purity coffees. CGA have antioxidant activity and may have positive effects on the brain. 

Brew Tips and Fun Ways to Enjoy Low Histamine Coffee

Remember you read earlier to start slow? That’s often helpful with anything new when you have MCAS!

So, starting with a weak brew and just a sip or 2 might be helpful.

And you’ll want to be sure you’re not adding toxins or mold with your brewing method, too.

Best Brewing Tips for Low Histamine and Mold-Free Coffee

Automatic coffee machines are popular.

But coffee machines have a lot of places that are wet and hard to clean. And that can lead to mold. This alone may be part of why you react to coffee.

Be sure to use a plastic-free coffee maker like a French press or this glass pour over coffee maker.

You may also be interested in their Pocket Purity. These are single serve coffee sachets full of ground coffee, like tea bags.

The Pocket Purity sachets work well for those who don’t have a coffee grinder or who have pain or fatigue that mean you need some shortcuts in your routine.  

It’s about as close as you can get to instant coffee. But this coffee tastes much better and is far healthier!

Fun, Low-Histamine Ways to Flavor Your Healthy Coffee Cup

Many common add-ins are high histamine or triggering for sensitive systems.

So, if you don’t love your coffee black, you’ll want to be careful with the usual sweeteners and creamers.

But we have some options for you!

Some of our favorite add-ins for Purity Coffee are: 

• Coconut milk – a great substitute for high histamine milks (both plant milks and dairy). Be sure to get a brand without gums like guar gum or xanthan gum. 
• Monk fruit powder – use a pinch of this sweetener to make your coffee a little sweet
• Monk fruit drops – use a few drops to sweeten your coffee and give it a hint of caramel flavor
• Stevia – use 1 drop of this plant based sweetener to sweeten your coffee
• MCT oil for a boost of healthy fats – you’ll often see people who are eating keto do this. It doesn’t really change the flavor. 

You might also enjoy these delicious coffee recipes:

• Low Histamine Vanilla Mint Coffee
• Low Histamine Frozen Vanilla Coffee Cooler

>>> Click to Shop Purity Coffee and get 20% off your first order with code MASTCELL360  

Use coupon code MASTCELL360 at checkout for 20% off your first order! You can get free shipping with any US purchase over $60 too.

Have you found a low histamine, mold-free coffee that works for your sensitive system?

Are you curious to try Purity Coffee? Let us know in the comments below!

Some links in this website are affiliate links, which means Mast Cell 360 may make a very small commission if you purchase through the link. It never costs you any more to purchase through the links, and we try to find the best deals we can. We only recommend products that we love and use personally or use in the Mast Cell 360 practice. Any commissions help support the newsletter, website, and ongoing research so Mast Cell 360 can continue to offer you free tips, recipes, and info. Thank you for your support! 

References  

Awwad, S., Issa, R., Alnsour, L., Albals, D., & Al-Momani, I. (2021). Quantification of caffeine and chlorogenic acid in green and roasted coffee samples using HPLC-dad and evaluation of the effect of degree of roasting on their levels. Molecules, 26(24), 7502. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247502 

FoodData Central. (n.d.). Fooddata Central Search Results. Coffee. Retrieved December 19, 2022, from https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171890/nutrients 

Freedman, N. D., Park, Y., Abnet, C. C., Hollenbeck, A. R., & Sinha, R. (2012). Association of coffee drinking with total and cause-specific mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(20), 1891–1904. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1112010 

Hwang, S. J., Kim, Y.-W., Park, Y., Lee, H.-J., & Kim, K.-W. (2013). Anti-inflammatory effects of chlorogenic acid in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated raw 264.7 cells. Inflammation Research, 63(1), 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-013-0674-4 

Independent Laboratory tests. Purity Coffee. (n.d.). Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://puritycoffee.com/pages/independent-laboratory-tests

Martins, M. L., Martins, H. M., & Gimeno, A. (2003). Incidence of microflora and of ochratoxin a in green coffee beans (Coffea Arabica). Food Additives; Contaminants, 20(12), 1127–1131. https://doi.org/10.1080/02652030310001620405 

Micco, C., Grossi, M., Miraglia, M., & Brera, C. (1989). A study of the contamination by ochratoxin a of green and roasted coffee beans. Food Additives and Contaminants, 6(3), 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1080/02652038909373788 

Nuhu, A. A. (2014). Bioactive micronutrients in coffee: Recent analytical approaches for characterization and quantification. ISRN Nutrition, 2014, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/384230 

Ramalakshmi, K., Rao, L. J., Takano-Ishikawa, Y., & Goto, M. (2009). Bioactivities of low-grade green coffee and spent coffee in different in vitro model systems. Food Chemistry, 115(1), 79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.11.063 

Soliman, K. M. (2002). Incidence, level, and behavior of aflatoxins during coffee bean roasting and decaffeination. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(25), 7477–7481. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf011338v 

Studer-Rohr, I., Dietrich, D. R., Schlatter, J., & Schlatter, C. (1995). The occurrence of ochratoxin A in coffee. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 33(5), 341–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-6915(94)00150-m