Greek Coffee Histamine Information

Greek coffee, in essence, consists of finely ground coffee beans and water. As such, it does not inherently contain histamine or known histamine liberators. However, caffeine—a stimulant present in coffee—might influence histamine levels. According to research, caffeine has a paradoxical effect on histamine (Monti, 1995). In moderate amounts, caffeine can inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells by binding to the adenosine receptors, potentially lowering histamine levels. Conversely, high amounts of caffeine can cause mast cells to degranulate, releasing more histamine. Moreover, the effects of caffeine on histamine levels are highly individual and influenced by other factors, such as stress. Some sensitive individuals with histamine intolerance may find that even moderate doses of caffeine can increase their symptoms. Though Greek coffee is a traditionally unadulterated drink prepared without additives, the preparation method may have a role in influencing its histamine content. Research suggests that high-temperature food processing and extended cooking times could potentially increase histamine content in food (Kovacova-Hanuskova, 2015). However, it should be noted that there is no specific research directly linking the consumption of Greek coffee to histamine levels. Additional studies are needed for more conclusive results. References: Monti J.M. (1995) Effects of the Interaction between Histamine and Caffeine on Waking. In: D'Agostino G., Radulovacki M., Kostopoulos G.K. (eds) Sleep, Neuronal Plasticity and Brain Function. Current Topics in Neuroendocrinology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. Kovacova-Hanuskova, E., Buday, T., Gavliakova, S., & Plevkova, J. (2015). Histamine, histamine intoxication and intolerance. Allergologia et immunopathologia, 43(5), 498–506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aller.2015.05.001