Reuse Coffee Grounds – 15 Smart Ways To Repurpose Used Coffee Grounds

How to reuse coffee grounds? If you're a passionate coffee drinker looking for inspiration, tips and ideas on how to use coffee grounds in the home, you've come to the right place!

Most people probably throw coffee grounds directly into the organic waste garbage can - although they are very much in line with the idea of saving resources and avoiding waste. Zero Waste Lifestyle still really versatile and usable. For example, the remains that end up in the coffee filter from the coffee beans are ideal for a variety of applications in the garden, kitchen or bathroom.

In this article, I would like to give you the best tips for using coffee grounds in your everyday life. Let's go!

Advantages: Why is coffee grounds so useful and versatile?

Every German citizen consumes an average of about 169 liters of coffee per year.₁ In addition to many awake and alert people, this also leaves each year about 20 million tons of nutrient-rich coffee grounds back.

You're also passionate about drinking bean-to-bar coffee and even follow inspiring coffee blogs like Coffeeness? Instead of throwing the coffee grounds (like most people) in the garbage, you should then its effect still use for the most diverse things in the household - and at the same time also save money through sustainable behavior.

What can coffee grounds do? The remains of coffee beans are rich in Phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen and also Caffeine and act, for example, odor-neutralizing, antimicrobial and, due to the grain, also as an exfoliant. The Antioxidants in the coffee base are even able to prevent aging skin - and due to the high level of Melanoids can, for example, inhibit the growth of germs and, for example Making food last longer.

16 application ideas for home: How to reuse coffee grounds?

In the following, I would now like to move on with you to the possible coffee grounds applications in everyday life. Use the tips and ideas as a constant source of inspiration and just try them out little by little.

1. coffee grounds as fertilizer in the garden

In the usual waste product of ground coffee slumbers any amount of Nitrogen. It makes coffee grounds so incredibly useful as a natural plant fertilizer. Also the Tannins and Antioxidants in coffee grounds have a stimulating effect on plants.

In addition, the pH of the soil becomes slightly acidic, so almost all garden plants, especially Blueberries or hydrangeas, are particularly happy. Only the apple tree, blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries, currants and a few other fruit plants can not tolerate him.

A nice side effect of coffee grounds in the garden is also that earthworms are attracted to them, and the Additionally loosen soil. Simply work the dried coffee bean residue into the soil and benefit from increased plant growth.

2. peeling from coffee grounds

Another of many coffee grounds uses is as an exfoliant. The Grinding particles namely, together with the contained Caffeinestimulates blood circulation and has a draining effect.

In no time, the coffee grounds scrub makes your skin soft and tender. Simply grab a small jar, add the revitalizing coffee grounds and add a teaspoon of almond or olive oil and mix it a little. Then just spread it evenly on your skin and rub it in. After rinsing, you will already feel the effect.

3. make natural soap from coffee grounds yourself

With a few simple tricks you can make yourself a natural soap with exfoliating effect from coffee grounds. It is odor neutralizing and can even counteract foot and nail fungus.

For your homemade coffee soap you need besides the coffee grounds only Sodium hydroxide, olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil and water.

4. repair scratches in the wood with coffee grounds.

If you find noticeable scratches in relatively dark wood furniture, you can use coffee grounds and a little water to darken and smooth them out. Simply mix the two together to form a paste and carefully rub the appropriate area with it - ideally with a reusable cotton pad, so that there is no waste.

Then simply wipe the rest off the wood again. After that, the spot should already be much less noticeable.

Tip: If you feel like building your own environmentally friendly furniture from old wooden planks, you are welcome to take a look at the DIY Furniture Blog by. There you will learn, for example, how to make a Build dining table from oak planks yourself simply by following your heart.

5. remove odors with coffee grounds

Coffee grounds have an odor-neutralizing effect and are therefore also wonderfully suited for use in your home. Whether smelly shoes, old mayonnaise jars or smells in the sports bag - just add some dry coffee grounds and you will quickly notice that the odors disappear as if by magic.

Also in the refrigerator and on the hands helps the coffee grounds, among other things. against the intense odor of onions, leeks and garlic.. Put a cup of coffee grounds in the fridge or rub them on your hands.

Tip: Also Baking soda can be used, for example, in the fight against unpleasant odors. You can learn more about this in the article about the Applications of sodium bicarbonate in the home.

6. coffee grounds as a natural hair treatment

Want more coffee grounds applications? Caffeine is known to have an invigorating effect for the hair, as it stimulates the Promotes blood circulation in the scalp and thus stimulates hair growth. You can easily make a hair treatment from coffee grounds yourself.

To do this, pour about 100 milliliters of hot water on a cup of coffee grounds and massage it into your scalp after a short cooling time. Then you can wrap your hair in a towel and leave the ingredients on for about half an hour. Then rinse and you're done!

7. anti-cellulite with coffee grounds

Yes, that's right! You can also use the old coffee grounds specifically to combat connective tissue weakness or directly prevent any problems. The Caffeine in coffee grounds namely promotes microcirculation in the connective tissue, stimulates the breakdown of fat in the cells and makes the skin smoother.

You make two dry tablespoons of coffee grounds already with a teaspoon of raw sugar and a tablespoon of coconut oil into an effective anti-cellulite scrub. Simply massage in, leave on for fifteen minutes and then rinse off with clean water.

8. coffee grounds against dark circles

In this tip for reusing coffee grounds, the antioxidants and also the caffeine contained in them are put to use again. Mix the dried remains of the coffee beans for it with a little olive oil and gently rub the wet paste onto your eye area. Then simply leave the coffee grounds to work there for a few minutes before rinsing it off with water.

This way you can counteract dark circles under the eyes and puffiness and make your skin look a little fresher again.

9. keep away ants, wasps and snails with coffee grounds

In the garden, old coffee grounds are not only useful as a fertilizer for plants, but also serve to sustainable way to keep pests away.

The natural pesticide you can use, for example, perfectly against Aphids use. Also just sprinkle a little of it in your flower beds so that Snails give it a wide berth. If with you regularly Ants running around where they shouldn't be, you can also redirect them with a bit of coffee grounds.

Also a vegan barbecue without Wasps nothing stands in the way thanks to the coffee grounds! Simply light a small bowl with coffee grounds to To drive away waspswithout hurting them.

10. use coffee grounds for composting

Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, which makes them ideal as an additive for your compost pile. Namely, they support beneficial microorganisms, improve soil structure and accelerate the acidification process when composting, so you benefit from fertile soil even faster.

Simply sprinkle the used coffee grounds on or in your compost pileto increase the nutrient content and promote decomposition. If you want to reuse coffee grounds, this is definitely a great option!

11. coffee grounds as a scouring agent

Another useful application of coffee grounds in the home is to use them as a scrubbing agent due to their coarse-grained structure. For example, clean your grill grate, pots, pans or stubborn residues on plates with it. All you need for this is a tub, fresh coffee grounds, a sponge or brush, and at best a watering can.

For example, simply place the grill grate in the tub and rub it evenly with coffee grounds. In combination with a sponge or brush, the coffee grounds then act more or less like sandpaperso that the dirt really already disappears quite well. Then rinse the grate with a little water and leave it in the coffee grounds water for a few minutes so that everything can soak in. Afterwards, the grill grate should be clean.

12. clean fireplace with coffee grounds

After you read a good book by the fireplace, the following day usually remains the dry dust and gray ash. The still wet coffee grounds bindet ihn und bewahrt dich bei der Entsorgung der Kaminasche davor, die Staubpartikel einzuatmen. Gleichzeitig hält er auch noch den Rest deiner Wohnung sauber. Einfach gleichmäßig im Kamin verteilen und gut ist's! Eine von vielen ziemlich simplen Kaffeesatz Anwendungen, oder? 😉

13. read coffee grounds

Reading coffee grounds is a traditional method, to predict possible future events. How does it work? After drinking, the thick coffee grounds usually remain at the bottom. Now you can simply place the saucer on top of the cup and invert both together. The remaining stain on the bottom of the cup can be interpreted. Of course, there are no limits to the imagination.

14. use coffee grounds for growing mushrooms

Mushrooms are demanding in cultivation and require a special substrate, instead of ordinary garden soil. Since the used, moist coffee grounds. Extremely rich in nutrients and already sterilized by the brewing process it is ideal as a breeding ground for growing mushrooms. Especially delicious shiitake and oyster mushrooms can be grown with it - with a little expertise.

15. use coffee grounds as a coloring agent

You can also use coffee grounds as a natural dye and dye, for example, fabrics, craft paper or wood. in warm brown tones dye. To do this, simply boil the coffee grounds with water, then let it cool to lukewarm and soak the respective material in it. The intensity of the coloring depends on the soaking time and the amount of coffee grounds. So with a little practice, you can determine them as you wish.

Notice: Coffee grounds are also suitable for dyeing Easter eggs. From However, I do not recommend the use of animal eggs for ethical reasons., which is why I mention this note only in passing.

Reuse coffee grounds instead of throwing them away!

In the future, you can conjure up many useful things for the household from your coffee residues. Use the coffee grounds, for example, to fertilize the garden or as an unusual but effective body scrub. You'll also save a lot of money and, of course, waste. It would definitely be too bad to just throw the remains of your coffee beans in the trash can, don't you think?

"What we do today will determine what the world looks like tomorrow."

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (more at Zero Waste Quotes)

I really hope that I could help you with this blog article. Can you think of any other uses for coffee grounds in the home? Then feel free to share your tips below in the comments.

Stay sustainable,

PS: Look you with pleasure still something in the Do It Yourself Blog around. There you will also learn, for example, how to create your own Dishwashing liquid from ivy make yourself. Good luck with the implementation!

References:
₁ German Coffee Association: This is how we drink coffee! (As of: 08.04.2022). https://www.kaffeeverband.de/de/presse/deutscher-kaffeemarkt-2021-erneut-gewachsen. [11.05.2023].