Americans use 12 MILLION pounds of coffee each year. That’s a lot of coffee grounds going to waste.
Coffee grounds are a versatile and eco-friendly resource that can be reused in a variety of ways.
From gardening to beauty treatments, coffee grounds have many practical uses that can help reduce waste and save money. Not only do coffee grounds make a great fertilizer, they also can be used for exfoliating, as a pest repellent, and even as a natural dye.
Whether you’re a coffee drinker or a gardener, reusing coffee grounds is a simple and effective way to reduce your environmental impact.
With this guide, you’ll learn about some of the best ways to reuse coffee grounds and make the most of this valuable resource.
Fertilize Your Garden
Coffee grounds can be a great fertilizer for your garden, as they are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential nutrients for plant growth.
How to use coffee grounds as fertilizer in your garden:
- Mix coffee grounds into the soil: Before planting, mix coffee grounds into the soil. You can use coffee grounds as a top dressing or mix them into the soil at a ratio of about 20% coffee grounds to 80% soil.
- Use as a compost: Add coffee grounds to your compost pile along with other organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps. The coffee grounds will help to speed up the decomposition process.
- Use as a mulch: Spread used coffee grounds around the base of your plants as a mulch. This will help to retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth.
- Make a liquid fertilizer: Steep coffee grounds in water overnight, strain and use the liquid as a fertilizer.
Coffee grounds are acidic, so it’s best to avoid using them with plants that prefer neutral or alkaline soil, like most vegetables and flowers, but coffee grounds are great for acid-loving plants like blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, azaleas and roses.
Ward Off Slugs
Coffee grounds can be used as a natural pest repellent in your garden, particularly for slugs. Slugs are known to be repelled by the sharp edges and caffeine content of coffee grounds.
There are two ways to use coffee grounds to repel slugs:
- Create a ring of coffee grounds around individual plants or around the entire garden bed. The caffeine content of the coffee grounds will repel slugs and keep them away from your plants.
- Steep coffee grounds in water overnight, strain and spray the liquid on the leaves of your plants. Slugs will avoid the strong smell of coffee.
Clean The Fireplace
Coffee grounds can be an effective and natural way to clean a fireplace. The gritty texture of the coffee grounds helps to scrub away soot and ash, while the acidity of the coffee helps to break down and loosen tough stains.
Allow the fireplace to cool completely before cleaning. Sprinkle coffee grounds on the soot and ash that have accumulated on the fireplace walls, floor, and hearth. Using a stiff-bristled brush, scrub the coffee grounds into the soot and ash. The coffee grounds will act as an abrasive and help to remove the stains. After scrubbing, use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to remove the coffee grounds and debris.
Improve Your Skin
The caffeine in coffee has anti-inflammatory properties and can help to reduce puffiness and redness. The grounds themselves can be used as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
Try these methods to use coffee grounds to improve your skin:
- Make a face scrub: Mix coffee grounds with a little bit of honey or coconut oil to create a gentle exfoliating scrub. Gently massage the mixture into your skin in a circular motion, then rinse with warm water.
- Use as a spot treatment: Dab a small amount of coffee grounds on a blemish or dark circles under your eyes. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse with warm water.
- Use as a cellulite treatment: Mix coffee grounds with coconut oil or olive oil and massage into problem areas. The caffeine in the coffee grounds can help to improve the appearance of cellulite.
- Add to your bath: Add a cup of coffee grounds to your bath water for a relaxing and exfoliating soak.
Eat It
Coffee grounds can be used to create a flavorful rub for steak. The coffee grounds add a rich, smoky flavor to the steak and can help to tenderize the meat.
In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of coarsely ground coffee, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper.
Rub the mixture onto the steak, making sure to cover both sides evenly.
Let the steak sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the rub to penetrate the meat and for the flavors to meld together.
Cook the steak as usual.
Exfoliate
A coffee ground exfoliator is an easy and natural way to exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin. The gritty texture of the coffee grounds helps to scrub away dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. The caffeine in the coffee grounds can also help to reduce puffiness and brighten the skin.
In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of coarsely ground coffee, 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of coconut oil.
In the shower or bath, massage the mixture onto damp skin, focusing on rough areas like elbows, knees, and feet.
Gently rub the mixture in circular motions for 1-2 minutes. Rinse the mixture off with warm water and pat dry.
Cut Through Grease
The gritty texture of the coffee grounds can help to scrub away food particles and stains, while the acidity of the coffee can help to break down grease and grime.
Sprinkle coffee grounds on a damp sponge or scrubber and use it to scrub the dishes.
For tough stains, make a paste with coffee grounds and a little bit of water, and apply it to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.
Break Down Residue On Your Hair
Coffee grounds can be used as a natural exfoliant to break down residue and build-up on your hair. The gritty texture of the coffee grounds can help to scrub away product buildup, oils, and dandruff.
Wet your hair and scalp and massage in a quarter-size amount of coarsely ground coffee.
Gently massage the coffee grounds into your scalp in a circular motion, using your fingertips to work the grounds through the length of your hair.
Leave the coffee grounds on your hair for 5-10 minutes.
Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water, making sure to remove all of the coffee grounds.
Follow up with your regular shampoo and conditioner routine.
Trap Roaches
Place coffee grounds in a trap in areas where you have seen roaches or where they are likely to travel, such as near food sources, in cupboards, or under sinks.
Roaches are attracted to the smell of coffee, and the coffee grounds can act as a bait for them.
Make Garbage Disposal Cleaners
Running coffee grounds through your garbage disposal can help to remove any built-up grease or grime in the disposal.
Turn on the garbage disposal and pour in a cup of coffee grounds. Let the disposal run for a minute or two to grind up the coffee grounds. Run cold water for a minute or two to flush out any remaining debris.
Melt Sidewalk Ice
To use coffee grounds to melt ice on the sidewalk, you can scatter the coffee grounds on top of the icy surface. The coffee grounds can act as a mild abrasive and help to create traction on the ice, making it less slippery. Additionally, the coffee grounds contain a small amount of acid, which can help to break down the ice and melt it more quickly.
Make A Face Mask
To make a face mask using coffee grounds, mix used coffee grounds with a small amount of honey or yogurt to form a paste. Apply the paste to your face, avoiding the eyes and mouth, and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and follow with your usual skincare routine. The coffee grounds can help exfoliate the skin and the honey or yogurt can help moisturize.
Fix Scratches on Dark Wood
Coffee grounds can help fill in scratches on dark wood.
Mix 1/4 cup used coffee grounds, 1/4 cup warm water, and 1/4 cup vinegar and let the combination sit for one hour before using.
Rub the mixture on the wood until the scratch is no longer visible. Wipe away any excess wetness.
Banish Cellulite
Some people claim that massaging used coffee grounds into the skin can help improve the appearance of cellulite by increasing blood flow and exfoliating the skin.
Mix used coffee grounds with a small amount of coconut oil or olive oil to form a paste. Gently massage the paste into the affected area using circular motions. Rinse the area with warm water and follow with your usual skincare routine.
Unclog Drains
Coffee grounds and baking soda can help break down and remove any remaining debris in the pipes.
Slowly pour a mixture of 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of used coffee grounds down the drain. Follow with 3 drops of dish soap and a pot of boiling water. The clog will rinse away.
Trap Odors
Coffee grounds naturally absorb odor and can be used as a replacement for chemical-filled air fresheners.
Simply put some ground coffee into pantyhose and tie off the top to make a car or drawer air freshener.
Compost It
Composting used coffee grounds is a great way to add valuable nutrients, such as nitrogen, to your garden soil. Coffee grounds can replace manure in compost to provide the bacteria necessary for breaking down the organic matter into dirt.
Add the coffee grounds to your compost pile or bin, mixing them with other organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps.
Make sure that the coffee grounds are well mixed with the other materials and that the pile or bin is moist but not waterlogged.
Turn the pile or bin regularly to aerate the materials and help them break down.
Make Coffee Ground Candles
Making candles using coffee grounds is a fun and unique way to recycle used coffee grounds. Here’s a basic recipe you can use to make coffee ground candles:
Ingredients:
- Used coffee grounds
- Soy wax flakes
- A candle wick
- A double boiler or a heat-proof container and a saucepan
- Essential oils or fragrance oils (optional)
Instructions:
- Measure out the amount of soy wax flakes you need for your candle. You’ll need about 1 pound of wax flakes for every 2 cups of coffee grounds.
- Melt the wax flakes in a double boiler or heat-proof container over low heat.
- Once the wax is melted, add the coffee grounds and stir well.
- If you want to add a fragrance, add essential or fragrance oils to the melted wax and coffee grounds mixture and stir well.
- Carefully pour the mixture into a heat-proof container, such as a mason jar, and place the candle wick in the center.
- Allow the candle to cool and harden completely. Once the candle is set, you can trim the wick to your desired length.
- Enjoy your new coffee ground candle!
Dye Paper Or Fabric
Coffee grounds can be used as a natural dye for fabrics, yarns and other materials. The color achieved from using coffee grounds can vary depending on the type of fabric and the strength of the coffee. It’s best to use a natural fabric such as cotton, linen or silk, as synthetic fabrics may not absorb the color as well.
