6 Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds
After brewing the perfect cup of joe, what do you do with your coffee grounds? Unlike tea, you can’t rebrew coffee (it loses all of its strength and flavor), but that doesn’t mean you need to throw your grounds away. In fact, finding new ways to reuse them isn’t just creative—it’s a simple step toward reducing waste and caring for the planet.
Here are 6 ways to repurpose your coffee grounds:
1. Gardening
You’ve probably heard of this hack already, but in case you didn’t know, coffee is rich in nitrogen. Add it to your compost or even directly to your garden soil, and you’ll have a natural and organic fertilizer. Similarly, coffee is a natural insect repellent, so you can protect your greens from unwanted visitors, like snails and ants. Simply sprinkle dried coffee grounds around your pots and planters, and you’ll have a natural barrier protection.
Similarly, coffee is a great, natural way to keep pesky mosquitoes from invading your afternoon outdoors. Dried coffee grounds burn like incense–a steady smoke without a flame. Fill up a container–whether it be a tin can or an old candle holder–with dried coffee grounds, add a couple of drops of lighter fluid or cooking oil, and light it like a candle!
3. Dish Scrub
Coffee grounds, especially when they’re coarse, are a great tool when it comes to scrubbing dried food from dirty dishes or even your stovetop. No need to buy plastic or metal scrubbers. Just add a bit to your sponge, and voilá! Get rid of all that crusty grime, while at the same time getting rid of any unpleasant smells.
4. Odor Absorber
That’s right, your coffee doesn’t just smell great, it helps with other smells. Have you ever been to a candle store with containers of coffee beans around? Those aren’t there just because they look cool (which they totally do!). They’re just as functional as they are aesthetic: they act as a palate cleanser for your nose, allowing you to appreciate different scents without them interfering with each other.
Coffee can neutralize odors, meaning it can also get rid of bad smells. Much like baking soda, you can leave an open container of dried coffee grounds in the back of your fridge to neutralize the different food smells mingling. You can also make small mesh bags of coffee grounds and leave them in smelly shoes or gym bags. Another great use of coffee’s odor neutralizing abilities is to clean your hands after chopping strong-scented veggies, like garlic or jalapeños. After you’re done, simply scrub your hands with some dried coffee grounds as you wash.
5. Body Scrub
Coffee doesn’t just wake you up, it can also make your skin glow! Use your leftover coffee grounds to make a body scrub that will make your skin feel softer than it ever has. This scrub is a great organic exfoliating scrub that can encourage blood flow and remove any dead skin.
Here is a recipe for a great base coffee and sugar body scrub:
Ingredients:
½ cup shea butter
½ cup dried coffee grounds
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ cup brown sugar
10 drops of essential oil
In a double boiler, mix together the coconut oil and shea butter. Add and combine the coffee grounds and sugar, then the essential oil of choice. Remove from heat and stir until you have a smooth consistency.
Coffee extract is the perfect way to add a coffee flavor to any baked good without brewing a whole pot. And it’s so easy to make! Mix together 2 cups of vodka with ¼ cup of coffee grounds and let it sit for a few weeks. After a month, it will look like a regular cup of joe and be ready to use!
When reusing coffee grounds, it’s best to dry them first. This helps prevent mold when you’re storing them and makes it easier to handle. One method to dry your coffee grounds is to let them sit on the counter or in the sun, spread out in a thin layer on a baking sheet. Another is to place that baking sheet in an oven heated at the lowest setting for about an hour.
Every little reuse makes a big impact. Whether you’re scrubbing, scenting, or gardening, repurposing your coffee grounds is a small act of care for the earth—and a great excuse to enjoy another cup. Got a creative reuse hack of your own? We’d love to see it! Tag us @ampersand.coffeeroasters and show us how you give your coffee grounds a second life.