This low histamine coffee cooler is a light and flavorful treat. It’s something I came up with once I was able to add coffee back into my diet.

I love coffee! But at the beginning of my journey learning about both Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Histamine Intolerance, I realized it was making me much worse.

Coffee made me so jittery. I couldn’t sleep even when I drank decaffeinated coffee.

I would have diarrhea and acid reflux, too. Ugh.

And even though I tried, I could not find a coffee I tolerated.

So, I gave up my favorite drink for years.

You can imagine how sad I was and how much I missed it.

Have you had to give up coffee, too?

I thought I might never be able to enjoy coffee again. But then I found a solution! And it’s the main ingredient in one of my favorite indulgences—this Frozen Vanilla Coffee Cooler.

This recipe is:

• Low histamine
• Low oxalate  
• Low lectin  
• Low FODMAP 
• Dairy free
• Sugar free

We’ll get to the recipe. But first, let’s look at some of the reasons many people with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance struggle with most coffee.

Problems with Most Coffee and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance

When I started learning about MCAS, I didn’t know coffee was part of my problem.

Coffee was also one of my favorite drinks. So, I kept trying different coffee brands hoping I would find one that worked.

But I didn’t.

And even antihistamines and supplements like DAO (diamine oxidase), an enzyme that helps break down histamine, wasn’t enough.

Years after I gave up drinking coffee, I discovered why it had made me feel so bad.

 I eventually learned I needed a:  

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

It can be a struggle to find a coffee that fits just one of those needs…let alone all of them!

See, there are tons of chemicals in most coffee due to the processing.

Coffee beans are full of pesticides and fungicides. These are used in an effort to keep critters and mold down. But that also means you drink these chemicals with the coffee.

And most coffee ends up with mold in it still, anyway. Even organic. Yuck!

I also learned that coffee beans aren’t high histamine. But the coffee roasting process often uses fermentation or other processes that turn them into a high histamine drink.

Finally, I found most decaffeinated coffee actually contains quite a bit of caffeine. And they use even more toxic chemicals to pull the caffeine out.

As if that wasn’t enough, I made one more discovery about why coffee can cause so many problems for those with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance.

Let’s look at that next.

Another Hidden Source of Mold in Coffee

Did you know that your coffee might contain mold because of how it’s brewed? It’s true!

Coffee makers are a major source of mold!

This is because anywhere there is moisture, there can be mold. And you can’t fully clean inside a coffee maker.

Even the most expensive coffee makers can get mold.

The water reservoir in coffee makers is one of the worst places for mold growth. But also, for bacteria and yeast too.

With all of these things I was learning, my health started improving as I made changes, like giving up drinking coffee. So, it was worth it.

But I still missed it.

And I was still looking for ways to add foods.

And I found a solution to the coffee dilemma!

I’ll share that with you next.

A Mast Cell Friendly, Low Histamine Coffee Option

When I discovered Purity Coffee, I was able to add coffee back into my diet!

It probably doesn’t sound like a big deal if you don’t have any food restrictions.

But if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance, you know how exciting it is to be able to eat or drink something that you have missed.

Why did Purity Coffee make such a difference in being able to drink to coffee again? You want to understand this, so you know why not to use just any coffee in this recipe.

In fact, the ONLY way this coffee recipe will be OK for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance is if you use a coffee that is:

• Low histamine
• Mold free
• Organic

Purity Coffee is all of these things.

I love their philosophy, too. They make “every decision based on health.” They use conscious sourcing, processing, and roasting practices.

Their coffee is organic and free of mold and mycotoxins.

So that is really great in itself!

But at Purity Coffee there’s more. They are dedicated to the health benefits of coffee.

This is why they also roast the beans to increase antioxidant levels. Antioxidants can decrease inflammation. And they can even help with metabolism.

Purity Coffee allowed me to enjoy coffee again!

Because their processing is so clean, I don’t feel jittery or have any stomach upset when I enjoy a cup.

Now, I’m still sensitive to caffeine. So, I drink their decaffeinated coffee.

Purity Decaf is 99.9% caffeine-free. This is really different from other decaffeinated coffee, which can still have enough caffeine to make sensitive people jittery.

Purity Coffee decaffeinates their coffee with the Swiss Water method. So, they don’t need all the chemicals either.

You can read more about all the reasons I like Purity in The Secret to Coffee with MCAS.

Next, let’s look at how to brew mold free coffee so it stays mold free!

Mold Free Coffee Brewing

Remember how I mentioned that coffee makers are a common source of mold?

Mold can wreak havoc on mast cells and histamine levels.

So, you will also want to change up your brewing process to keep your coffee as clean as possible. This is because coffee makers are really bad for growing mold inside them.

I use a pour over coffee method now. This method ensures that I avoid a regular coffee maker that can grow mold.

Pour over also can give coffee better flavor and boldness. Many experts think this method brews the best cup of coffee!

It’s also really easy. Just boil water. Add coffee to the filter. Pour a small amount of water over the grounds to let them “bloom” for 30 seconds. Then slowly pour the rest of the water over the coffee.

Pour Over Coffee Maker

Here is a pour over coffee maker like the one I’m using.

The process of slowly making the coffee with the pour over method can be quite meditative and calming.

I also get whole beans and grind them fresh. You can grind up enough for a couple of weeks. Just store the extra grounds in the freezer.

Coffee Grinder

Here is the coffee grinder that I use.

Now that you know how to brew mold free coffee, let’s look at what else makes this coffee cooler low histamine.

Ingredients in This Low Histamine Coffee Cooler Recipe

It’s necessary to start with an organic, pesticide and mold free, low histamine coffee. But the rest of the ingredients are important in keeping the histamine content low, too.

Decaf Purity Coffee

Calm is Purity Coffee’s decaffeinated option.

It is 99.9% caffeine free. And low salicylate!

All of their coffees are low histamine, low oxalate, and low lectin. But Calm is the only low salicylate choice.

And, while the other ingredients in this recipe are higher salicylate, those with salicylate issues might be able to enjoy a simple cup of brewed coffee with grass fed cream (if you tolerate dairy).

Calm is also what I suggest my sensitive clients in the clinic start with.

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Note: You’ll need to pick out a 5 count of single serve coffee sachets (offer excludes Protect). I suggest starting with the decaf: CALM

Native Forest Coconut Milk

Almost every coconut milk I’ve seen uses a thickener, like xanthan gum. Many thickeners are mast cell triggers.

Native Forest Simple Coconut Milk doesn’t contain any thickeners. It is just organic coconut milk and water. And it’s delicious!

Raw Ground Vanilla

I like to use vanilla powder instead of vanilla extract.

Vanilla extract usually contains alcohol. And alcohol is high histamine. While most recipes use only a small amount, if you are very sensitive that may even be too much.

Vanilla powder is usually better tolerated and lower histamine!

Organic Stevia

I avoid sweeteners like white and brown sugar on my low histamine diet.

Increases in blood sugar can cause inflammation. And inflammation increases mast cell reactivity and histamine levels.

Stevia doesn’t raise blood sugar levels the way sugar, honey, or even maple syrup do. So, it can be a good alternative.

Monk Fruit Drops

Monk fruit is also a natural sweetener that doesn’t spike your blood sugar.

I’ve tried a lot of different brands. Some of them taste burnt or have additives like erythritol.

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol you can find in some sweeteners. It can cause gas and bloating for some people. And studies show it may increase blood clot formation.

These Monk Fruit Drops don’t contain erythritol and it tastes like caramel! And a little goes a long way.

All of the quality ingredients in this recipe are things I usually keep on hand and use in so many things.

When I was able to add coffee back, it was in sips. But with time I could enjoy a whole cup. And then I started experimenting to see what fun recipes I could come up with.

I love making this special low histamine coffee cooler drink.

It takes a few hours for the coffee cubes used in this recipe to freeze. So, I like to make a whole batch of them to keep in the freezer. Then I can whip this up anytime!

It’s a great way to start your day. Or end a meal.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

What to Serve with Your Low Histamine Coffee Cooler

• Low Histamine Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Low Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP option
• Rutabaga Fries (like a shake and fries!) – Low Histamine, Low Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP, Low Salicylate
• Cassava Flour Blueberry Muffins – Medium Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low Salicylate

What’s your favorite way to enjoy low histamine coffee? 

More Treats to Enjoy with a Cup of Low Histamine Coffee

• Healthy Carrot Cake – Low Histamine and Low Lectin, Medium Oxalate
• Baruka Nut Vanilla Mousse – Low Histamine, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP, and Low Salicylate, Medium Oxalate
• Low Histamine Scones – Low Lectin and Medium Oxalate
• Low FODMAP Cranberry Crumble Bar – Low Histamine, Low Oxalate, Low Lectin, and Low FODMAP

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References 

HappyForks. (n.d.). Recipe analyzer. https://happyforks.com/analyzer 

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

Della Corte, K. W., et al. (2018). Effect of dietary sugar intake on biomarkers of subclinical inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies. Nutrients, 10(5), 606. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10050606 

Erythritol and cardiovascular events. (2023, March 28). National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/erythritol-cardiovascular-events