Creative Uses for Used Coffee Grounds

Coffee is undoubtedly one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, alongside water and tea. After all, there’s nothing better than a cup of hot coffee in the morning, especially if you know that the day ahead of you will not be the easiest.

While some people prefer instant coffee, others choose to brew it – and there’s nothing wrong with that, as everyone has their own preferences. However, they often don’t realize that they make a huge mistake in discarding coffee grounds left after brewing. Instead of throwing them away, use them! There are actually plenty of ways to utilize used coffee grounds – gardening, skincare, or haircare are just a few of them.

Want to learn more about them? Keep on reading, then!

How to Dispose of Coffee Grounds 

Coffee serves much more purpose than being a cult favorite beverage. Unfortunately, only a few know how to dispose of coffee grounds once they have been used.

Can Coffee Grounds Be Composted?

Yes, coffee grounds can be composted. Coffee grounds make great fertilizer when used in compost due to their naturally high nitrogen content. The use of coffee grounds also attracts microorganisms and improves plant structure.

Can Coffee Grounds Go Down the Sink?

While it is a common practice, putting coffee grounds down the sink is not wise. Unlike other food materials, which break down due to water, coffee grounds clutch together, making big lumps. These lumps then act as a hook, keeping other food from draining. It results in a foul smell and drainage issues, which can eventually lead to clogging.

Can Coffee Grounds Go Down The Garbage Disposal?

Just like the sink, it is not a good idea to let coffee grounds go down the garbage disposal. While the grounds may travel further in the garbage disposal and may even smell good while at it, eventually, it will get caught and cause clogging.

How to Reuse Your Coffee Grounds

While there are several uses for used coffee grounds, the first step is properly preserving them. If you are also wondering how to preserve your coffee grounds, here is what you have got to do:

How Long Do Coffee Grounds Last?

A properly stored coffee ground bath can last up to a month. However, to ensure stable shelf life, you need to ensure:

Keep them sealed: The first cardinal rule of storing coffee grounds for further use is to ensure they are properly sealed back. It is because the grounds react to oxygen and, if not sealed properly, will not have a stable shelf life.

Keep them dry: It is crucial to keep the coffee grounds packed and sealed. If the grounds are sealed before drying, the moisture trapped in a sealed container will cause molding. Once the grounds have molded, they will be unfit for use.

Keep on checking: Used coffee grounds generally last as long as a month if stored well. However, it is crucial to keep checking them to ensure they have not gone bad. As a rule of thumb, you should inspect your grounds weekly. If you find any mold on them or the grounds smell funny, dispose of them.

 Are Coffee Grounds Safe to Consume?

Yes, coffee grounds are safe to consume. In fact, they might even have several health benefits as well. Beyond the prospective health benefits, coffee grounds can also be used in several recipes to add an intense coffee flavor or even a nice aroma. However, before consuming coffee grounds in a way, it is crucial to ensure they are properly prepared. 

Prolonged consumption of unfiltered coffee grounds can cause severe health issues like high blood cholesterol. Therefore, make sure to use as few unfiltered coffee grounds as possible and follow the instructions for coffee grounds in a recipe.

Used Coffee Grounds Uses

Coffee is like a gift that keeps on giving. You can use the grounds for more amazing things once you have brewed the coffee and got your morning kick. Here are some of the most amazing uses for used coffee grounds:

Garden Fertilization

The first thing you can do with used coffee grounds in the garden is fertilize it with them. More often than not, the soil does not contain enough nutrients to make the plants grow healthily and at the right tempo. Even if it does, the plant absorbs them over time, leaving them depleted, which is why the garden needs to be fertilized.

Used coffee grounds are perfect for that, as they contain several minerals essential for plant growth, such as nitrogen or iron. Additionally, they can absorb heavy metals and prevent the soil from getting contaminated. To use coffee grounds as fertilizers, sprinkle them onto the soil around your plants.

Pests Repulsion 

Coffee grounds contain compounds that are toxic to insects, such as caffeine, which is why they can be used to repel bugs from your home. Just put them in bowls around your house or sprinkle them around your outdoor sitting areas. This method works on mosquitos, beetles, and fruit flies.

Compost 

Like any other organic plant material, coffee grounds are a perfect addition to your compost pile.

Usually, it is recommended to have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25 or 30 to 1, as that’s when the compost breaks down quickly and without intense smells. Unfortunately, most kitchen waste is high in nitrogen, which means that you have to add brown material, such as sawdust or dry leaves, to balance it out. Coffee grounds have a ratio of 20-25 to 1, which makes them a perfect choice for compost.

 Flea Removal 

Fleas are very common among domestic animals, especially dogs. Unfortunately, very often, the treatment is not only expensive but also time-consuming. While some products available on the market help remove them, in many cases, they contain chemicals that can have adverse side effects on your pet’s health.

Thankfully, however, fleas don’t seem to be fans of coffee, so you might want to consider using used coffee grounds as a natural treatment against them. Just rub the used coffee grounds through your pet’s fur after shampooing.

Also, keep in mind that while coffee grounds can be used as a form of treatment, they are not as effective as prescribed medication. As such, a visit to the vet might be inevitable if it doesn’t work.

 Odor Neutralization 

As we already established, coffee grounds contain nitrogen. Aside from being an important element in the plant’s growth process, it also helps absorb and eliminate odors.

If there were some spoiled or fragrant foods in your fridge or freezer lately, they probably left a smell that is not so pleasant. To neutralize it, put a bowl of coffee grounds in it. Additionally, you can use coffee grounds to remove smells like garlic or onion from your hands when you’re done cooking.

You can also place used coffee grounds in old socks – they can serve as portable air fresheners. Put them in your gym bag, shoes, bedroom drawers, or any other place that you feel needs deodorizing.

Last but not least, you can get a little more creative and make your own garbage disposal deodorizing tablets. All you need are used or fresh coffee grounds, Epsom salt, baking soda, and water. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and add water. Stir the mixture and form little balls out of it. Place the tablets on parchment paper until they are dry and store them in a mason jar somewhere close to the kitchen sink.

Skin Exfoliation 

Coffee grounds contain coarse particles that help remove dead skin cells and dirt from the skin, which means that they are a perfect ingredient for a body scrub.

Using them is pretty simple – just mix used coffee grounds with some water or coconut oil and use your hands to scrub the mixture directly onto your body and face. You can also add a little bit of honey and use it as an exfoliating lip scrub.

Besides, the caffeine that coffee grounds contain has antioxidant properties, meaning that it can help protect your skin from damage caused by the sun. It also increases blood flow, which contributes to improving the skin’s overall health.

Cellulite Reduction 

Cellulite is a skin condition that affects most adult women – it is estimated that between 80 and 90 percent of them have it. The most common places for it to appear are buttocks and thighs – the condition makes the skin look dimpled and lumpy.

Cellulite happens when deposits of fat push through the connective tissue under your skin. Using coffee grounds topically (in a specific place or area) can help break down the fat and increase blood flow to that particular area, both of which decrease cellulite’s appearance.

Just mix coffee grounds with a little bit of water or coconut oil, and scrub the area affected by cellulite for 10 minutes. Repeat the process two times a week.

 Natural Dye 

Have you ever spilled coffee on yourself? If yes, then you probably know that it can leave a stain that is almost impossible to get rid of. Well, you can use that fact to your advantage and create an affordable and all-natural dye that you can use on materials like cotton or paper.

Coffee grounds can also be used to darken your hair color – it is an excellent alternative to hair dyes that you can find in stores, as they can contain chemicals that are not good for your health and, in extreme cases, can even cause cancer.

Remember that if you used coffee grounds to dye a piece of yarn or fabric that you will, later on, wear or use for knitting or sewing, you need to wash in it cold water with mild laundry detergent before you can use it. 

Meat Tenderization 

Meat often has tough consistency due to the muscle fibers and proteins that it contains. By tenderizing meat, you help break them down and soften the meat’s texture.

Coffee contains two types of meat tenderizers – natural acids and enzymes, which makes it quite effective for meat tenderization. What’s more, the coffee’s acidic nature can enhance the meat’s flavor.

There are two ways in which you can use coffee grounds for meat tenderization. With the first method, you add used coffee grounds to the meat rub recipe and apply the rub two hours before you plan on cooking the meat. The grounds will form a dark and crispy crust on it. 

The second way involves rebrewing the grounds to make coffee, letting it cool down, and using it to marinate the meat in the fridge for up to a day before cooking.

 Scratched Wood Furniture Repair 

Wooden furniture tends to scratch – and while there are plenty of products that minimize the appearance of the imperfections available in stores, you might want to try using used coffee grounds first.

Start by making a thick paste (mix coffee grounds with water). Then, using a cotton swab (q-tip), rub the paste into the scratch and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Wipe with a cotton rag once the time is up. 

The process helps buff off the scratch and makes it less noticeable by dying the exposed wood a darker color. Sometimes, you might have to repeat it a few times – just remember to wait (preferably a few hours) before applying another layer.

 Under-Eye Circles Treatment 

Most people have had dark circles under their eyes at least once. There are many things that can cause them, including poor circulation, fragile blood vessels, or skin quality.

While some creams are available in drugstores that promise reduction of under-eye circles, why not try some natural remedies first, such as used coffee grounds? Caffeine not only has anti-inflammatory properties, but it also stimulates blood circulation in the area around your eyes, which can help reduce the dark circles and the swelling.

Create a paste by mixing coffee grounds with water or coconut oil. Apply it under your eyes and keep it on for more or less 10 minutes. Once time is up, rinse it. Repeat the process every day if needed.

 Icy Road Sanding 

During winter, roads and sidewalks become covered in ice, which is dangerous not only for the vehicles but also for pedestrians. In most cases, sand would be used to make the pavement less slippery – however, many people don’t know that coffee grounds can be used as a de-icer.

While they will not melt the ice as sand would, they do add traction. Also, most people drink coffee anyway, which means that this cold-weather utility will not add extra costs to your budget.

Fishing 

Fishermen often add a few spoons of used coffee grounds to their worm bin, as it keeps the fish bait alive for longer – coffee grounds act as food and provide the worms with quite comfortable bedding.

 What’s more, some fishermen noticed that they caught more fish when they used worms that were kept in coffee grounds. This led to a discovery that is now a common belief – fish, especially bass and trout, like the smell of coffee grounds.

Cut Flowers 

Without a source of nourishment, cut flowers will die pretty quickly. That’s why most florists advise adding a bit of flower food or fertilizers to their water – and if those are unavailable, then sugar or flat soda work, too, as they provide a nitrogen boost.

Since coffee grounds are a natural plant food, you can use them without worrying about whether they will ruin your flowers. Simply add one tablespoon of used coffee grounds to the water, and remember to change it every day to prevent mould or other issues from arising.

Clean Your Fireplace

Coffee grounds are abrasive and have antibacterial and antiviral properties, making them exceptional cleaners. They can easily remove even the hard-to-remove buildup in the fireplace, and their ground texture helps prevent the ash from spreading.

Stimulate Hair Growth and Strip Buildup

Several factors can cause buildup on the scalp, resulting in dandruff or an itchy scalp. The buildup and dandruff clog the pores on the scalp, which further causes hair loss issues and even serious fungal infections in some cases. However, this issue can be resolved with a good coffee hair mask or hair scrub. You can use it directly to gently massage your scalp and then raise it off or mix it with your other hair products. You can even create coffee products using coffee grounds to best suit your hair type.

 Grow Mushrooms

Unlike popular belief, mushrooms are not easy to grow as they grow only in specific conditions. They cannot grow in normal soil, requiring substrate, underlying substance, or layer. Because of their high nutrient value, coffee grounds are a substrate for growing mushrooms.

Incorporate Into Your Cooking and Brewing

Coffee grounds are a great addition to several dishes and brews. They add immense flavor to dishes like chili or marinades and give a very earthy flavor to brews like beer. You can follow a recipe or freehand your way into making a new dish.

 Make Homemade Coffee Candles

If you’re a coffee lover who savors every aspect of the experience, you know just how captivating the aroma of a fresh brew can be. Many of us have wished for that comforting, barista-like scent to fill our homes. Well, with coffee grounds, you can make that dream a reality by crafting your own coffee-scented candle. The process is simple—just grab a candle-making kit and use coffee as your signature fragrance.

 Create Dye

Coffee has a very rich earthy brown pigment, which can be used to create an all-natural dye. The dye can be used on clothes, paper, and even easter eggs. As the dye is all-natural, you can safely use it around kids, pets, or people allergic to synthetic dye.

The Bottom Line 

As you can see, used coffee grounds can be pretty useful, so throwing them away wastes potential. You can use coffee grounds for many more things – the ones we mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg.

And if you aren’t a coffee drinker but still would like to take advantage of the properties of used coffee grounds? Well, you can always ask local coffee shops, as they usually have plenty of those they will willingly give away. Think about it.