Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Calculating Temperatures

Introduction

Having your kettle reach boiling below your target temperature can be surprising, but it doesn't always mean that something is wrong. It may actually be related to the elevation of where you're brewing.

For every 500 feet/152 meters in elevation gain, the boiling point for water decreases by approximately 1.1°F/0.5°C. This means that while your kettle will boil at the normal 212°F/100°C at sea level, it will happen at a lower temperature the higher up you are. The chart below outlines the relationship between boiling point and elevation.

Based on standard sea-level atmospheric pressure (courtesy, NOAA):

It's important to note that higher elevations don't shift the temperature range down; they cap how high you can heat.

For example, if your boiling point is 200°F at elevation, heating to 199°F (one degree under boiling) isn't the same as heating to 211°F at sea level, which would also be one degree under boiling. Instead, 200°F becomes the upper limit of how high the water can heat before it begins evaporating, and all the other temperatures stay the same.

Calculating Temperatures

If you're unsure of what your current elevation is, try the free elevation calculator here.

If you'd like to calculate the boiling temperature based on a specific altitude, click here.

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