Coffee is one of the most beloved beverages in the world. The aroma, taste, and caffeine hit provide a delightful boost to start the day. But what do you do with those leftover coffee grounds after brewing your morning cup? Don’t throw them away just yet! Coffee grounds are incredibly versatile with numerous uses around the home and garden. We’ve compiled the top 10 clever hacks to help you get the most out of leftover coffee grounds.
Fertilize Your Garden
Used coffee grounds make excellent fertilizer for plants and can be worked into soil or used as mulch. The grounds are high in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients that are vital for plant growth.
How to use:
- Simply sprinkle the wet grounds around the base of plants or work them into the top few inches of soil. This helps enhance moisture retention and adds organic matter.
- For mulching, spread wet grounds in a 2-3 inch layer around plants to suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature and slowly release nutrients.
- Bury about 1/4 inch below the surface and cover with dirt if using for seed starting mixes. The grounds provide nutrients while keeping damping off fungi at bay.
- Limit to no more than 20% volume of used grounds in potting soil mixes to avoid lowering pH levels too much.
- Coffee grounds fertilizer is especially beneficial for tomatoes, peppers, roses, azaleas, camellias, blueberries and other acid loving plants. The grounds help acidic soil conditions.
Make DIY Exfoliating Scrubs
Mix used coffee grounds with coconut oil or olive oil and sugar or sea salt for an invigorating skin scrub. The slightly abrasive texture helps exfoliate and smooth skin. The caffeine in the grounds also acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce cellulite.
How to use:
- Mix 1 part lightly rinsed coffee grounds with 2 parts sugar or sea salt and just enough oil to make a paste.
- For the face, use finer sea salt or sugar. For the body, use coarser crystals.
- Gently rub the scrub in circular motions before showering to slough off dead skin.
- Rinse thoroughly and follow up with a moisturizer. Store excess in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- For an aromatherapy boost, add a few drops of essential oils like grapefruit, lemon or peppermint.
Scent Homemade Candles
Coffee grounds can be used to make wonderfully scented homemade candles. Much better than buying artificially scented candles, you can create soothing natural aromas with the grounds.
How to use:
- Place 2-3 tablespoons of spent grounds in the bottom of a heatproof glass or jar.
- Roll a natural fabric wick and anchor in place in the center with a chopstick.
- Fill the rest of the jar with melted beeswax or soy wax.
- Allow the wax to fully cool before trimming wick to 1⁄4 inch.
- Light the homemade coffee candle whenever you desire a boost of aroma and energy.
Deodorize Fridges and Freezers
That eye-opening aroma of coffee can be harnessed to help freshen up not so fresh fridges, freezers and lunch boxes. The grounds will absorb stale odors leaving a neutral coffee scent behind.
How to use:
- Place wet coffee grounds in a small open container or baggy with holes poked in it.
- Set inside the fridge, freezer or lunch box for 24-48 hours allowing odors to be trapped.
- For a quick fix, wet the grounds slightly to help release the aroma before placing in the fridge.
- Replace every 2-3 days as needed until odors dissipate.
Make Coffee Ground Soap
Add a wakeup jolt to your shower routine with homemade coffee soap. The grounds provide gentle exfoliating properties to invigorate the skin and the coffee fragrance helps energize the senses.
How to use:
- Use 2 tablespoons of grounds per 1 pound of soap base. Mix with the melted soap base before pouring into molds.
- For cold process soap making, add the grounds to the oil/lye mixture after tracing. Mix well before pouring into molds.
- Let soap thoroughly harden for 2 weeks before using for best results.
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave off slices as needed. Rinse skin well after use.
Scrub Pots and Pans
Baked on food and stains are no match for slightly abrasive and acidic coffee grounds. They help scour pots and pans without scratching. The grounds break down food residue for easier cleaning.
How to use:
- Lightly dampen cold cookware.
- Sprinkle wet grounds generously over surface.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before scrubbing with a sponge or brush.
- Rinse thoroughly with water. Use in conjunction with dish soap as needed.
- Avoid using on non-stick pans as it could scratch the coating.
Freshen Your Breath
Harness coffee’s minty aroma and mildly acidic pH to help freshen breath. Swishing wet grounds around the mouth neutralizes odors and promotes saliva flow. Spit out the grounds after swishing.
How to use:
- Place 1 tablespoon of wet coffee grounds in your mouth.
- Swish around for 30 seconds to 1 minute before spitting out.
- The grounds will help scrape off residue and absorbed odors.
- Can be used after meals, first thing in the morning or anytime you need a quick breath refresher during the day.
- For extra fresh breath, sprinkle in a pinch of cinnamon or peppermint with the grounds.
Make Coffee Ground Compost
Composting leftover coffee grounds helps reduce waste while creating beneficial garden compost. The grounds add nitrogen, moisture and surface area for beneficial microbes to thrive.
How to use:
- Mix used coffee filters and wet grounds into compost piles, bins or directly into garden beds as a side dressing.
- For compost piles, limit to no more than 20% volume as too much nitrogen can unbalance the carbon/nitrogen ratio.
- May need to add additional browns like dried leaves if adding a lot of wet grounds to balance moisture.
- Cover piles to retain nitrogen and moisture in dry climates.
- Stir and turn compost regularly to aerate. Avoid compacting.
Fade Hair Dye
To gently transition color treated hair to a more natural hue, used coffee grounds help fade and neutralize artificial pigments. The grounds deposit a small amount of natural brown pigment while gently scouring hair over time.
How to use:
- Combine 2 tablespoons each of coconut oil, coffee grounds and shampoo in a small bowl.
- Apply mixture to dry hair and let sit 20 minutes before washing out in the shower.
- Use weekly, scaling back to monthly once desired shade is reached.
- Comb thoroughly before and after to distribute grounds evenly and rinse out.
- Limit use on blonde and bleached hair unless aiming for a darker result.
Repel Garden Pests
Used coffee grounds can be employed as a natural garden pest deterrent. Ants, slugs and snails dislike crawling over the dry, abrasive texture of spent grounds. The caffeine and oils also help mask the scent trails insects follow.
How to use:
- Sprinkle dry grounds in a 1-2 inch thick layer around garden beds and potted plants prone to pests.
- Reapply after heavy rain or watering.
- Place grounds in plastic lids near problem areas. Elevate lids on small sticks/ pebbles to prevent pests from crawling underneath.
- To tackle existing infestations, spray a mix of grounds and water directly onto pests.
- Always test on a small area first in case grounds affect individual plant species tolerance.
Conclusion
As you can see, leftover coffee grounds have endless uses around the home, garden, for personal care and more. Their mildly abrasive texture combined with absorbent properties, nutrient content and energizing aroma make the grounds a versatile helper. Harnessing the natural benefits of coffee grounds reduces waste while saving money. With a little creativity, you can find the perfect way to put your leftover coffee grounds to work. Give these clever coffee ground hacks a try after your next cup of joe.
FAQs About Reusing Coffee Grounds
Can used coffee grounds be used directly in gardens?
Yes, used coffee grounds can be applied directly to garden beds and potted plants in moderate amounts. They provide nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Limit to using grounds to a 20% ratio in potting mixes. Avoid using too much as the grounds can lower pH and impact nutrient availability.
How long do leftover coffee grounds last?
Wet used coffee grounds will start to mold after about 5 days. For storage longer than that, spread out the wet grounds on newspaper or a baking sheet until completely dry. Then store the dried grounds in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks before use. The grounds lose potency over time.
Is it safe to use coffee grounds on skin?
Yes, it is generally safe to use leftover coffee grounds on skin. They provide gentle exfoliation without scratching skin like salt or sugar. Avoid using on sensitive or broken skin. Do not apply grounds near eyes. Rinse skin thoroughly after using a coffee scrub. Discontinue use if any irritation occurs.
Can used coffee filters be composted?
Absolutely! Coffee filters, both paper and reusable mesh ones, are completely compostable. They break down readily and provide added browns and carbon to balance nitrogen-rich grounds. Compile used filters with wet grounds and add to compost piles or directly to gardens as a nutrient boost.
Are coffee grounds toxic to worms in compost?
No, coffee grounds are not toxic to worms or pets. However, too much nitrogen from wet grounds can cause excess heating during composting which could potentially harm worms. Monitor heat and stir piles regularly if adding a lot of coffee. Limit coffee grounds to 20% of compost by volume for optimal worm health.
What plants like used coffee grounds?
Many plants thrive with used coffee grounds including tomatoes, peppers, roses, azaleas, blueberries and hydrangeas. Veggies like the nitrogen for foliage growth while acid-loving plants like coffee’s lower pH. Always test on a small area of new plantings first before amending large areas. Monitor plants for signs of overdoing coffee grounds.
Can you use expired coffee grounds?
Expired coffee grounds may start to lose their freshness and aroma after a few months but are still safe to use. The nutrient content and exfoliating properties remain beneficial. Use slightly larger amounts of expired grounds to make up for diminished flavor and fragrance. Avoid moldy or rotting grounds.
Does brewing method change the uses?
The brewing method does not significantly alter leftover grounds uses. Grounds from drip coffee makers, French press, pour over, Aeropress, etc. can all be employed. Cold brew coffee grounds tend to have less acidity due to lower water temps. Hotter brewed grounds provide more warming aromas. Either works!
Should you rinse coffee grounds before use?
It depends on the application! For body scrubs, soaps and other skin contact uses, lightly rinse grounds to remove any lingering oils. For fertilizer, composting, and other uses, do not rinse as the residual oils help adhere grounds and provide benefits. Use dry, fresh grounds for odor absorbing benefits.