To Mist, or Not to Mist?

Summary: In short, go ahead and mist! Coffee trees grow naturally in high humidity environments, so misting is a good idea UNLESS your house is cold and/or drafty OR if your house is extra humid already (due to hot weather or a humidifier).

Coffee trees are a tropical plant that enjoy high humidity and moist soil. The arabica coffee species originates in the montane forests of the Ethiopia highlands. Therefore, misting is a good idea and provides a number of benefits:

Benefits of Misting Your Coffee Trees

Mimics rain. Coffee also has a rainy season with more frequent rainfall after flowering. From May-September (summer), depending on the region.
Increases humidity in the air surrounding the plant. Even if just for a brief period.
Cools the plant down. The water evaporating off the leaves has a cooling effect.
Helps prevent over-watering. If you’re ever unsure whether or not to water, you can play it safe and opt to mist instead.
Gets dust off the leaves. Helps with photosynthesis, not just overall prettiness.
Gives you time to observe your plants. Allows you to lovingly scan them for signs of additional needs.

Tips for Misting

Mist in the morning. Like morning dew.

Mist the top few inches of soil as well. Helps aerate and hydrate the soil.

When NOT to Mist

If your house is cold and/or drafty. Coffee plants are very sensitive with respect to their environment.

If your house is extra humid already. Due to hot, humid climate or a humidifier.

Other Ways of Increasing Humidity Indoors

Group plants together. So they have better ambient moisture retention.
Top-dress the soil of containers. I like to use dried, crushed up leaves.
Invest in an electric room humidifier. Can really help during winter.
If you’re really desperate (as in, your coffee plant’s leaving are drying up so quickly you’re worried about losing the entire plant), you can try simulating a mini-greenhouse indoors using clear plastic bags. Be VERY careful if you do opt for this, though, because it works really well to capture moisture and if too much moisture develops it can quickly cause your plant to develop a mould that isn’t healthy for it. So the goal is to cover the plant’s leaves just enough to capture moisture, while still maintaining enough air flow (by not sealing the plastic all around the plant and/or ensuring there are enough holes in the plastic for the plant to breathe).