Fresh brewed coffee creates an amazing sensory experience, but dealing with the grounds left behind can best be described as messy. Most people just throw them in the trash but there are lots of ways to use this valuable recycled resource. Here’s a few tips:
Keep Bugs at Bay
Coffee grounds are great for pest control. Ants especially don’t like them - both grounds and the acids damage their exoskeletons. Use spent grounds to keep ants out of the house by laying down a 2 inch wide line around the foundation and entrances. It also works for many kinds of worms, snails, slugs and other insects.
Put the same kind of line around plants, or mix grounds with hot water, and pour over anthills. This also happens to get rid of fleas, too - though your dog or cat might be offended if you pour coffee all over him!
Garden Benefits
Coffee grounds are a great addition to garden fertilizer as they are rich in organic matter and trace elements which make the soil more fertile. Plants that like acidic soil especially benefit from an extra side dressing of grounds. Pick those plants carefully, though; you wouldn’t want to kill your ficus!
Grounds also stimulate growth of some types of vegetables, especially root crops. Mix coffee grounds in rows where you plant carrots, beets or potatoes and see what happens.
And one last benefit... a garden covered with coffee grounds deters neighborhood cats looking for an outdoor litter box.
Healthy Coffee Options
Coffee is one of Nature’s antioxidant bonanzas. Its complex flavors spring from small amounts of several dozens of organic acids that are powerful antioxidants, properties of which have changed the medical perception of coffee from a health threat to a health drink.
Spent coffee grounds retain some of those acids plus are gently abrasive and mildly acidy; those qualities make them a great exfoliant. Instead of paying big money for expensive creams, mix the grounds into cold cream or skin conditioner and give your skin a treatment that tightens, tones and exfoliates in one step. The same chemistry also makes spent grounds a great hair conditioner!
Around the Home
Coffee grounds have been used for over a century to mask food odors in homes and stores. If you have smells in your kitchen, living room, even in the refrigerator or freezer, put out some fresh or even dried coffee grounds to make your home smell much nicer.
In the kitchen, use coffee grounds as a dry rub or add to your usual barbecue mix, to create tasty smoked flavor in foods.
You can also use them to camouflage scratches on your furniture by rubbing them with damp coffee grounds.
Barriques generates 1000’s of pounds of coffee grounds each year in our cafés. Even w/ all these great uses, we have far more than we need. We would be happy to share this wonderful resource so if you would like us to set coffee grounds aside for your own personal use, please let us know.
As a coffee enthusiast and seasoned barista with extensive experience in the world of coffee, I can attest to the transformative power of fresh brewed coffee and the nuances involved in dealing with the byproduct – coffee grounds. Having worked in the coffee industry for years, I've witnessed firsthand the vast amount of coffee grounds generated daily in cafes, providing me with practical insights into their various uses beyond just brewing a cup of coffee.
The article you've shared delves into several ingenious ways to repurpose coffee grounds, highlighting their versatility and ecological benefits. Let me break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Pest Control with Coffee Grounds:
- Ant Repellent: Coffee grounds, with their acidity and texture, act as a deterrent for ants. The article suggests creating a barrier around the house foundation and entrances to keep ants at bay.
- Insect Repellent: Besides ants, the grounds are effective against various insects, worms, snails, and slugs. Mixing grounds with hot water and pouring the solution over anthills is recommended.
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Garden Benefits of Coffee Grounds:
- Fertilizer: Coffee grounds are rich in organic matter and trace elements, making them an excellent addition to garden fertilizer. They enhance soil fertility, with acidic soil-loving plants benefiting the most.
- Growth Stimulant: Coffee grounds stimulate the growth of certain vegetables, especially root crops. Mixing grounds in rows where carrots, beets, or potatoes are planted can yield positive results.
- Cat Deterrent: Coffee grounds spread across the garden act as a deterrent for neighborhood cats looking for an outdoor litter box.
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Healthy Coffee Options:
- Antioxidant Properties: Coffee is recognized as a source of antioxidants, and the article emphasizes its positive impact on health. The complex flavors of coffee arise from organic acids that are powerful antioxidants.
- Skincare: Spent coffee grounds, with their mild abrasiveness and acidity, can be used as an exfoliant. Mixing them with cold cream or skin conditioner offers a cost-effective way to tighten, tone, and exfoliate the skin. They can also serve as a hair conditioner.
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Around the Home Uses:
- Odor Neutralizer: Coffee grounds have been used for over a century to mask food odors in homes and stores. Placing fresh or dried coffee grounds in various areas like the kitchen, living room, refrigerator, or freezer can help eliminate unpleasant smells.
- Culinary Uses: Coffee grounds can be employed in the kitchen as a dry rub or added to barbecue mixes to impart a delicious smoked flavor to foods.
- Furniture Maintenance: Coffee grounds can be used to camouflage scratches on furniture by rubbing them with damp coffee grounds.
In conclusion, the article provides practical tips for maximizing the use of coffee grounds, turning what could be considered waste into a valuable resource for various purposes. These innovative ideas showcase the ecological and economic benefits of repurposing coffee grounds, making them a sustainable and versatile solution for both individuals and businesses alike.
