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8 Things To Do With Used Coffee Grounds
Sick of throwing out used coffee grounds? You don't have to!
Published November 29, 2021
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Asharita D'Silva
Coffee experts@Era of We
Brewing your own coffee leaves you with an inordinate amount of used coffee grounds. What do you do with this used coffee? Rather than just dumping it in the trash, you can actually try reusing ground coffee.
Can You Reuse Coffee Grounds?
If you brew coffee at home, leftover coffee grounds are a real hassle. It often feels too wasteful to just throw them out, especially if you brew a lot of coffee. Reusing ground coffee is a great way to reduce your coffee waste while also solving some pesky household issues. Can you reuse coffee? Maybe not to drink, but you can absolutely reuse coffee grounds in creative and unexpected ways.
8 Ways To Reuse Coffee Grounds
1. Reuse coffee grounds in your garden
This is the most common tip for reusing ground coffee- add it to your gardening routine! How do you use coffee grounds in the garden? Used coffee grounds are a great natural fertilizer and can be composted for extra nutrients. Adding used coffee grounds to your compost can even reduce greenhouse gas emissions from your composting pit! There’s no need for a list of plants that like coffee grounds- they all do! Used wisely, coffee grounds can revitalize your garden.
2. Coffee grounds are great for your skin
The coarseness of coffee grounds makes them a great exfoliator for your skin. You can make a simple body scrub by mixing used coffee grounds with a nourishing oil like coconut oil and a bit of sugar. The caffeine in the coffee grounds can also stimulate surface blood flow which reduces the appearance of cellulite, reduces puffiness, and energizes the skin.
3. Use it as a natural deodorizer
Coffee grounds are rich in Nitrogen, which makes them great for your garden but also for neutralizing unpleasant odors. The nitrogen in the coffee cancels out the Sulphur in bad odors for a quick fix. Used coffee grounds can be placed in your refrigerator, in the kitchen, in trash cans, or around the house to soak up unwanted smells and keep your home smelling fresh
4. Cook with coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are acidic, which makes them an usual but effective method for tenderizing meat. The acids in coffee break down the proteins in the meat to give you a softer and juicier consistency. Just add a pinch of coffee to your meat marinades for more tender meat. You can also reuse brewed coffee in baked goods, especially anything with chocolate.
5. DIY pest control
Used coffee grounds have a strong and distinct smell which acts as a natural deterrent to many pests and insects. Some compounds in coffee are also poisonous to pests. You can sprinkle the used coffee grounds around the house or place bowls of used coffee grounds in strategic areas. Used coffee grounds are effective at repelling mosquitos, beetles, fruit flies, etc.
6. Make cleaning easier
If you have particularly coarse coffee, the grounds can be used to give your pots and pans a new shine. Used coffee grounds can work wonders on tough food stains- simply use them to scrub. You can also use it on surfaces, sinks, etc. Just be careful not to use used coffee grounds on anything porous as it can leave hard stains.
7. Turn up your haircare routine
Much like skincare, used coffee grounds are also great for your hair. You can incorporate the coffee grounds into a gentle scalp scrub or use it as a rinse to add shine and color to darker hair.
8. Store it for winter
If you drink more coffee in the winter, then you’ll be happy to know that coffee grounds are great to reuse in the winter. First, you can use it to make cleaning your fireplace easier. Sprinkle coffee grounds over the ashes before sweeping to prevent dust clouds and a bigger mess. Second, you can reuse coffee grounds to de-ice pavements and driveways. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen which melts ice faster and it also provides more friction on surfaces. Reusing coffee grounds is more environmentally friendly than salt, so stock up!
How To Get Rid Of Coffee Grounds In Drain
So you’ve tried every tip to reuse coffee grounds and still have some left over? You might be tempted to dump them down the drain but not so fast! Coffee grounds are notorious for clogging drains so exercise a bit of caution while getting rid of coffee grounds. Instead of trying to dump coffee down your sink, shower, toilet, or another drain, try to reuse it as much as possible. And if you really can’t reuse your coffee grounds, then throw it in the trash and not down a drain.
Reusing ground coffee is perfect for reducing your household waste while reaping some amazing benefits. Do you have any tips for reusing coffee grounds? Drop a comment and let me know!
About the author
Asharita D'Silva
Join me in discovering the wonderful world of coffee! As a writer, coffee is my fuel and newfound passion. I love writing about new coffees, sustainability, and coffee culture around the world. I'm always discovering new things about coffee and the industry, which I share with the great community here at Era Of We.
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