Sick of the waste? Here's what to do with coffee grounds.
If you love coffee as much as we do then you’ll invariably be left with the same problem that we are – what to do with coffee grounds. It’s a problem that’s worth considering. After all, around six million tonnes of coffee grounds are dropped into landfills worldwide every year. And if you’re finding it hard to conceptualise that amount (we are!), it’s about equal to the capacity of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. So… a lot.
Luckily there are many (many) ways to use your spent coffee grounds. Follow our tips to eliminate waste, and do something good for yourself and the environment. Check it out.
What To Do With Coffee Grounds
Composting
Composting is the first thing we often think about when it comes to coffee grounds. But fresh coffee grounds are high in caffeine, chlorogenic acid and tannins that are good for humans, but toxic to plants. So, in order to use it in your veggie patch it must detoxify by composting for a minimum of 98 days. But the good news is that properly composted coffee grounds are a cheap alternative to industrial fertilisers and soil conditioners, and can help your home and your community become greener.
Worm Farms
Worms can handle more acidic environments than gardens generally. So if you put your used coffee grounds out in the sun for a month, you can then give it to your worms who can break down the coffee for use on plants. It’s a quicker way to get the benefits of coffee grounds into your garden (and feed your worms!).
Natural Flea Repellent
If you have a pet, fleas can sometimes be a problem (especially in the summer). And commercial flea-removal products contain harsh chemicals and can have unwanted side effects. But fleas don’t like coffee and so used coffee grounds are sometimes used as a repellent.
You just need to rub the grounds throughout your pet’s fur after shampooing, then rinse off and dry your pet as usual. According to some, this has an added benefit of adding smoothness and shine to your pet’s coat!
You should check with your vet first to make sure this treatment is suitable for your pet. And don’t let your dog eat any of the grounds – coffee is toxic for dogs.
Hair Growth and Conditioner
When you’re wondering what to do with coffee grounds, remember they aren’t just for your pets. Used coffee grounds can strip out the residues that shampoo and styling products leave behind in your own hair, making it shiny and soft. And exfoliating your scalp with the grounds can help remove build-up and dead skin cells.
Most importantly, caffeine has been found to stimulate hair growth. So, if you’re looking a little thin, give it a go! Just grab a handful of coffee grounds and massage them into your scalp for a minute or two. Then wash and rinse as normal.
Natural Insect Repellent
Coffee contains diterpenes, which are toxic to insects and repel ants. Studies show that when coffee grounds are around, mosquitos were less likely to hatch, as well. So, don’t throw out those used grounds. Instead put them around your garden for natural insect control.
Cleaning Products
If you’ve ever touched used coffee grounds you can see why cleaning is the perfect answer for what to do with coffee grounds. They are coarse and abrasive, but all natural. That means they’re great for scrubbing surfaces or appliances that have ingrained dirt. Of course, they will be too rough for delicate items, so be aware of what you choose to use them on.
The caffeine in coffee grounds is also great at eliminating odours because it can absorb hydrogen sulfide molecules from the air. That means it can neutralise odours while you clean.
Meat Tenderiser
Coffee grounds contain acids and enzymes that can break down fibres in meat making it more tender and softer (and therefore delicious). To use you simply rub the coffee grounds onto the meat and let it ‘marinate’ for 30 minutes or so. You get the added benefit of a little bit of coffee flavour creeping in as well.
Beauty Products
Coffee has been used in beauty products since the ancient Egyptians first put it into a scrub. It reduces inflammation, boosts collagen production, improves blood circulation, removes dead skin cells, reduces puffiness, improves the skin's texture, reduces acne and gives youthful radiant skin. You can get these benefits at home by mixing coffee grounds with water, honey or coconut oil to make a full body scrub.
No need to wonder about what to do with coffee grounds? You’ve got so many options!
And if you know something that we don’t, let us know!