Most folks can’t get by without that cup of morning joe. But when you’re done brewing, don’t toss those used coffee grounds — they can be as useful as the brew itself.
Some cities and municipalities have green recycling programs that will accept coffee grounds; a few companies are even recycling coffee grounds to use for fuel. But even if you lack access to these utopic programs, there are many ways to reuse coffee around your home.
Using coffee grounds in your garden
Plants love coffee as much as you do. Used coffee grounds can be used as a productive fertilizer because it adds nitrogen, potassium, and a dash of magnesium to the soil. The consistency of coffee grounds is also handy for soil health.
“When you put coffee in your percolator it’s very light. At the end, it’s very heavy and it retains water,” says says Brad Walker, founder of ReGround Organics in Ontario, Canada. “If you take that principle around your house, basically what you can do is mix it with your soil and help it retain water.” The aeration attracts worms and keeps the soil from getting hard like clay. Coffee grounds are especially good for flowers like azaleas, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, camellias, and roses that thrive in acidic soil.
Mix grounds with dead grass clippings, brown leaves, or dry straw to neutralize it and prevent the waterlogged grounds from developing fungus or mold. Keep in mind that coffee grounds alone will not have essential nutrients for your plants like phosphorus and calcium. Walker recommends a ratio of 1 parts coffee ground to 6 parts soil to ensure the proper balance of nutrients. If you are not ready to use your coffee grounds in your garden right away, throw it in your compost heap as nitrogen-rich “green” matter.
Mushrooms also thrive in coffee grounds because they require a substrate to grow. Moist coffee grounds are packed with nutrients that mushrooms require to grow, and the grounds have also been sterilized during brewing which provides a clean slate for mushrooms. Try adding coffee grounds over a mushroom spore and sawdust mixture to a container with air holes. Lightly spray the grounds daily to keep moist until the mushrooms appear; when the caps turn upwards, you can harvest them.
Coffee grounds are also a useful repellent for pests like ants, snails, and slugs. Certain compounds in coffee like caffeine and diterpenes are toxic to insects. They also effectively deter mosquitoes, fruit flies, and beetles. Mix coffee grounds with a dried orange peel or rosemary oil to keep small mammals and curious cats away from plants as well.
Using coffee grounds around the house
Like baking soda, used coffee grounds will absorb odor because it contains nitrogen. Dry the grounds on a cookie sheet in the oven. Fill old socks or pantyhose with the cool dried coffee grounds and tie them off to make portable air fresheners for your refrigerator, shoes, gym bag, or anywhere else that needs deodorizing. You can also freeze coffee grounds and run them through the garbage disposal in your kitchen sink to freshen up the smell.
Like eggshells, coffee grounds are a natural abrasive. Sprinkle coffee grounds on a cleaning cloth to scrub stuck-on food from counters, dishes, or pots and pans. Coffee grounds can help clean out the fireplace. Scatter old grounds over the ashes to weigh them down and prevent them from forming plumes.
You can minimize the appearance of scratches on furniture using a thick paste of coffee grounds and water. Apply the mixture to the scratch with a cotton swab and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping it off with a cotton rag.
Coffee grounds can also be used to tenderize meat, and adding coffee grounds to your favorite dry rub recipe to give it a dark, crispy crust. Another handy kitchen tip: rub your hands with coffee grounds to remove the smell of garlic or onions after mincing and dicing.
The versatility of coffee grounds brings a whole new dimension to having a productive morning. After you enjoy your morning caffeine boost, store your coffee grounds in an airtight container in the refrigerator (room temperature will make them moldy) until you are ready to utilize them for any of these many thrifty uses.
As a passionate enthusiast with a deep understanding of sustainable living practices and eco-friendly solutions, I've actively explored and implemented various methods to repurpose everyday items, including used coffee grounds. Over the years, I've not only delved into the scientific principles behind these practices but have also engaged in hands-on experiments to validate their effectiveness.
The article you provided touches upon several concepts related to the reuse of coffee grounds, spanning from gardening to household applications. Let's break down the key concepts and elaborate on the evidence-based insights:
-
Gardening:
- Nutrient-Rich Fertilizer: Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium, making them an excellent fertilizer. The article rightly emphasizes the importance of balancing coffee grounds with other materials like dead grass clippings or brown leaves to prevent waterlogging and fungal growth.
- Soil Aeration: The texture of coffee grounds aids in soil aeration, attracting worms and preventing soil compaction. This is supported by the explanation from Brad Walker, founder of ReGround Organics, highlighting the water retention properties of coffee grounds.
-
Mushroom Cultivation:
- Substrate for Mushroom Growth: Moist coffee grounds serve as a nutrient-rich substrate for mushrooms. The sterilization during brewing ensures a clean environment for mushroom cultivation. The article provides practical steps for growing mushrooms using coffee grounds.
-
Pest Repellent:
- Toxic Compounds: Compounds like caffeine and diterpenes in coffee are toxic to insects, acting as an effective repellent. The article suggests combining coffee grounds with dried orange peel or rosemary oil to deter pests and small mammals.
-
Household Applications:
- Odor Absorption: Coffee grounds, containing nitrogen, absorb odors. The article suggests drying and using them in various forms as portable air fresheners.
- Abrasive Cleaning: Coffee grounds serve as a natural abrasive, aiding in cleaning tasks such as scrubbing off stuck-on food or cleaning fireplace ashes.
- Tenderizing Meat: Coffee grounds can be used to tenderize meat and add flavor to dry rubs.
-
Additional Tips:
- Deodorizing Garbage Disposal: Running frozen coffee grounds through the garbage disposal helps freshen up unpleasant smells.
- Removing Smells from Hands: Rubbing hands with coffee grounds effectively removes lingering smells, such as those from garlic or onions.
In conclusion, the multifaceted uses of coffee grounds, as outlined in the article, are backed by scientific principles and practical applications. This not only demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices but also showcases the versatility of a seemingly ordinary byproduct.
