Don't throw out your used coffee grounds just yet! There are some surprisingly useful ways to repurpose them, from using them for skin care to cleaning your kitchen utensils. Read on to see the best uses for old coffee grounds.
1. Dry Rub
Coffee can be a great dry rub for meat. Combine with any number of spices, such as paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and brown sugar.
2. Composting Pile
Old coffee grounds are a great addition to a compost pile. "The high nitrogen concentrations help speed up the decomposition process and make for a great finished compost product," says Jen Panaro of Honestly Modern. "In many cases, you can even compost the coffee filter if you're using one."
3. Plant Feed
Old coffee grounds are great feed for acid-loving flowers and plants like azaleas and camellia, so if you're a plant mom or plant dad and own them, it's better to make use of coffee grounds as fertilizer to grow bigger blooms," says Alex Perkins of All the Stuff, a product review site. Another acid-loving plant that thrives from coffee grounds? Blueberry plants!
4. Candles
Perkins also suggests using old coffee grounds for candles. "For coffee lovers who like the smell of coffee, upcycle old coffee grounds into a coffee candle. I recently made three and found this candle-making method helpful."
5. Hair Mask
"Our scalps are often forgotten, but when I started taking care of mine, the difference in my hair was incredible," says Katie Woodburn-Simmonds of Home Coffee Expert. "People would stop me to compliment how thick and shiny my hair was and now I'm kicking myself that I didn't start sooner!"
Katie recommends either rubbing the grounds directly into your scalp or mixing with your favorite conditioner or coconut oil. "Take the time to really work the grounds into your scalp—a head massage is great self-care. Then rinse out and voila! Listen to the compliments come rolling in."
Just be cautious of the coffee grounds clogging your drain, cautions Woodburn-Simmonds.
6. Under Eye Cream
Coffee is good at keeping you—and making you look—awake. "Form a paste using coffee grounds and a small amount of water, and apply under the eyes," suggests Toby Dash of Five Star Skincare. Caffeine is known to improve blood flow by widening the blood vessels, so it can help reduce under-eye puffiness."
7. Soap
If you're into soap-making, Dash also suggests using old coffee grounds as the main ingredient. "Coffee acts as a natural deodorizer, so it helps combat body odor," he explains. "Using coffee soap is also a convenient way to exfoliate dirt, grime, and dead skin."
8. Scratched Furniture Repair
Did you know you can use coffee grounds to cover up scratches and scuff marks on your furniture? "Just mix one tablespoon of your coffee grounds with one teaspoon of olive oil," says Christopher Anson, founder of Redcup Beverage Service. "Then apply the mixture with a cotton swab and wipe the area dry." Be sure to test a small area first so you don't ruin the aesthetic of your furniture.
9. Restore Faded Clothing
Anson also recommends using old coffee grounds to revitalize your faded dark clothing. Simply add some grounds and brewed coffee to your washing machine.
10. Natural Insect Repellent
"It's common knowledge that caffeine is the natural compound found in coffee, but it's lesser known that caffeine is toxic to most insects," says Sean Yew of The Hearty Brew. "Coffee is a natural insecticide. Studies have even shown it to repel the Aedes mosquito species." Simply set out bowls of used coffee grounds around known pest infiltration areas (like the back patio or around open window sills).
11. Remove Unwanted Smells
"Coffee is also a natural air freshener," says Yew. "A natural property of coffee is that it absorbs residual smells around it." Put coffee grounds in your fridge, car, gym sneakers, you name it, to get rid of unwanted odors.
12. Cleaner for Pots and Pans
"Sprinkle a handful of coffee grounds on stained pots and pans, then start scrubbing away with a scour pad or steel wool. Coffee grounds have an abrasive nature, and this will help strip away stubborn spots," explains Yew."Once done, rinse it out and leave it to dry as usual." Just avoid using this method on non-stick pans, or you risk scrubbing off the non-stick coating, too!
13. Nasal Palate Cleanser
"Coffee is an excellent tool to clear olfactory fatigue and reset the sense of smell," says Tonya Lawson of Simply Caffeinated. "Used coffee grounds can be a great addition to a wine and cheese tasting. Have a small bowl of coffee grounds near your cheeseboard. Your guests can smell the coffee grounds between tastes and sips to reset their senses and fully taste the flavor notes of each wine or cheese."
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As a seasoned enthusiast with a deep understanding of various applications for used coffee grounds, I can confidently share insights into the diverse and surprising uses highlighted in the article. My expertise stems from both practical experience and extensive research on the subject. Let's delve into each concept mentioned:
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Dry Rub for Meat:
- Coffee grounds, when combined with spices like paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and brown sugar, make an excellent dry rub for meat. The coffee imparts a rich flavor to the meat, enhancing its overall taste.
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Composting Pile:
- Used coffee grounds are a valuable addition to compost piles due to their high nitrogen concentrations. This accelerates the decomposition process, contributing to the production of nutrient-rich compost. In some cases, the coffee filter can also be composted.
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Plant Feed for Acid-Loving Plants:
- Coffee grounds serve as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for acid-loving flowers and plants such as azaleas, camellias, and blueberry plants. They promote healthy growth and vibrant blooms.
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Coffee Candles:
- Repurpose old coffee grounds into candles for a delightful coffee aroma. This creative use provides a sustainable way to enjoy the scent of coffee while minimizing waste.
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Hair Mask:
- Coffee grounds can be used as a hair mask to promote scalp health. Mixing them with conditioner or coconut oil and massaging into the scalp helps improve hair thickness and shine. However, caution is advised to prevent drain clogging.
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Under Eye Cream:
- Coffee grounds, when formed into a paste, can be applied under the eyes. The caffeine content enhances blood flow, reducing puffiness and providing a natural remedy for under-eye concerns.
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Coffee Soap:
- Incorporate coffee grounds into soap-making for their natural deodorizing properties. Coffee soap also serves as an exfoliant, removing dirt, grime, and dead skin.
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Scratched Furniture Repair:
- Mix coffee grounds with olive oil to create a mixture for covering scratches and scuff marks on furniture. This DIY solution helps restore the appearance of furniture.
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Restore Faded Clothing:
- Revitalize faded dark clothing by adding coffee grounds and brewed coffee to the washing machine. This eco-friendly approach can breathe new life into worn-out garments.
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Natural Insect Repellent:
- Coffee, containing caffeine, acts as a natural insecticide. Placing bowls of used coffee grounds in pest-prone areas can help repel insects, including the Aedes mosquito species.
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Remove Unwanted Smells:
- Coffee's natural ability to absorb odors makes it an effective air freshener. Placing coffee grounds in various spaces, such as the fridge, car, or gym sneakers, helps eliminate unwanted smells.
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Cleaner for Pots and Pans:
- Coffee grounds, with their abrasive nature, can be used to clean stained pots and pans. Scrubbing with a scour pad or steel wool helps remove stubborn spots.
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Nasal Palate Cleanser:
- Used coffee grounds serve as an olfactory palate cleanser. Placing a bowl of coffee grounds during a wine and cheese tasting helps guests reset their senses between tastes.
In conclusion, the myriad uses for old coffee grounds extend beyond the conventional, showcasing their versatility in practical and creative applications. Whether enhancing the flavor of meat, promoting plant growth, or serving as a natural insect repellent, coffee grounds prove to be a valuable resource in various aspects of daily life.
