Whoever opens their eyes first in our house gets the privilege of brewing the morning coffee. When it’s me, before I do anything else, I turn the kettle on in the kitchen. Then, I go about opening up the plantation shutters and shades in each room to welcome in the new day. Next, I’ll head to my craft room to turn on my computer and print the daily L.A. Times Jumble and Crossword puzzles. By then, it’s time to begin the process of pouring the now boiled water into our insulated Gint container with a plastic holder sitting on top. Lined with a Melitta filter containing ground Dark Sky coffee beans, I will inhale the distinct aroma of French roasted richness rising before me. When the kettle is empty, I’ll insert the Gint’s lid, then pour myself a full cup and beeline to the family room with my mug, puzzles, and pencil in hand. Once situated in my comfy recliner, I will take that first sip of joe and my senses will fully awaken. Ah coffee.
While I adore tea, coffee is my morning go-to. Maybe it’s yours, too. According to the Joe’s Garage Coffee, 66% of all Americans say they drink at least 2 cups per day. Not only is that a lot of coffee, but it’s a tremendous amount of coffee grounds, too. If you brew your coffee at home, what do you do with the left over dregs? Toss them perhaps? I have to admit, I did that for years, even decades. My thought was, the beans are used, so they’ve fulfilled their purpose, right? Well, not so fast. Used coffee grounds have many uses as I’ve discovered. So, maybe like me, you should consider giving them a new lease on life.
From my journal: October 15, 2022, Newbury Park, California
“Our new compost tumbler is easy to use…food scraps, coffee grounds, even leaves can go in it...”
Always happy to learn new ways to recycle, I was glad to learn coffee grounds could be added to our compost bin. Not only that, they are actually good for breaking down organic matter and add minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium to the pile of scraps. This enriched compost can then be mixed into garden soil which helps absorb heavy metals and retain water, thereby keeping the soil moist for longer. Good all around!
How about using the spent granules to get rid of unwanted odors? Containing nitrogen and carbon compounds, grounds remove stinky smells. Fill an empty cream cheese tub with coffee residue, poke holes in the lid, then place it in your fridge or freezer to keep noisome aromas at bay. Or pack an old sock with the dried sediment and toss one into your car, drawers, even gym bag. It’ll keep these areas as fresh as a daisy! And did you know that you can scrub your hands with grounds to eliminate raw onion smells? Try it, it really works!
I love a good all-natural beauty treatment and coffee grounds deliver on this front, too. Mix them with a little water, coconut oil, or olive oil, apply to your skin, then gently wash them away. The coarse texture of the granules is a perfect exfoliant. And don’t stop at your skin, you can use it on your hair, too. The caffeine in the grounds is believed to help your hair grow. Rubbing some onto your scalp may stimulate blood flow to that area. And it exfoliates product build up on your scalp, as well! Just be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly afterwards.
I don’t grow mushrooms, but if I did, I could add coffee sediment to the dirt they’re planted in because shrooms grow best in soil that is nutrient rich. And we all know now that grounds contain minerals and micronutrients galore! I don’t fish, but if I did, I could reuse granules to boost my bait power. By mixing a cup of used grounds with worms, they will stay healthier for longer, and you may just end up catching the fish of your dreams!
Two other uses for coffee sediment are more up my alley. Instead of using commercial dyes, you can color paper and fabrics with the brewed remnants to give them a vintage look. Or cover stains on clothes and linens by soaking them in a strained mixture made from grounds and water. You can also create sepia watercolor paintings with them. And my favorite way to reuse spent granules? Add three tablespoons to a vanilla ice cream recipe. Churn for 45 minutes, then enjoy this coffee-infused treat. Delish!
The next time you brew a cup or pot of coffee and are about to discard the grounds, stop, and think. Do you have a garden you can add them to? Do you need an all-natural exfoliant? Do you need healthy bait to catch fish? With so many good ideas, there are certainly grounds for reuse!
A Journal Journey 