We have had reports of allergic reactions to packaging Dennis.   Apparently caused by the use of latex for sealing.

Hi Dennis
I have a long history of trying to get a good cup of coffee. Thought I'd share a few of my commonly used techniques.
 
I buy organic but I always rely on a quick but very energetic wash under running cold water with the beans in a sieve. I grind them in a table top grinder and keep them in it but you could have a go with a mortar and pestle. I have one made from stone with loads of fossil shrimps in it!
I avoid anything that is dried/powdered as I have problems with the sulphite preservatives used for dried food. If you can't find a wholesaler/marketer who will sell you beans from a sack try opening the packet with scissors without disturbing the seals. If anything has got onto the beans from the packaging it should wash off again. I use the glass steel filter coffee pot but I don't think they use latex when boiling water is concerned. With tea I put leaves and water in the mug and then microwave it for three minutes. You could test your system on different foods to see which part of the process is causing the problem. I use the same equipment to make quantities of vegetable soup that I can freeze. Also humous from ground chickpeas. Both have plenty of chillies and other tasty ingredients for variety.
 
This is all normal for me. The trick is to make large volumes and freeze it. I still get a variety of side effects from coffee but I think that they are due to things in the coffee itself but I enjoy a cup at the weekend and put up with the consequences.
 
Hope this gives you some ideas!

Thanks John,  
 
I didn't think of cutting the bag past the seal, I'm looking for some stainless steel kitchen shears I guess, I've give up finding scissors with out "Comfort Grip" handles...grr.  Coffee maker, I used to use a Yamma Vaccum pot, but it does have rubber not sure if it really would come in contact with the water.  Also the filter thing on that was a joke, I know some people online where using old 50's Corey rods instead.   So I just moved onto a french press.  
 
Tea, I used to buy loose leaf tea online but it's just to expensive now... the only other passable  tea in the states is imported form the UK Yorkshire tea (didn't care for Pg tips)  the only thing that bugs me about Yorkshire it sits in the box unwrapped so possible some exposure to what ever adhesive the box is held together with.
 
Food wise I avoid everything and I do mean everything...I live on organic white basmatti rice, organic brown rice pasta  and used to be able tolerate chicken but lately the only protein I can tolerate is grass fed ground beef.    
I was eating organic french fires here and there but I break out in a nasty rash up and down my arms from potatoes,  possible cross reactive protein to latex?  I know I saw a list online somewhere about cross reactive proteins.

I have to drink decaf coffee and not for my latex allergy purposes but I can only drink Kenco green topped decaf. I have no problem with it re my latex allergy.