Overheard a barista say she adjusts her pour-over based on the humidity that day

I was grabbing a cup at this little shop near my house in Denver when I heard the barista tell a customer she changes her grind size depending on how humid it is outside. I never once thought about weather affecting my morning brew, but I tried it yesterday when it was drizzly and yeah, my cup came out way smoother. Anyone else factor in humidity or am I overthinking this whole thing now?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_davis1mo ago

I read an article in a coffee magazine a few months back that mentioned some roasters actually include a "humidity factor" in their brewing guides. The science behind it is pretty simple - when it's humid, the coffee grounds clump together more because they absorb moisture from the air, which messes with how water flows through the bed. That barista was probably grinding a touch coarser to compensate. I tried it myself last summer during a particularly muggy week in Denver and noticed a definite difference. The trick is you have to adjust back when the air dries out, or you'll end up with a weak cup.

martinez.karen1mo ago

Huh, I always thought humidity stuff was just people being extra, but you two are making me rethink that. I had a few weeks last summer where my pour overs were all over the place and I couldn't figure out why. Did you notice a big difference with just a small grind change?