Every morning, your coffee wakes you up, fills your home with its aroma, and warms your soul. But what happens next? Those coffee grounds, usually tossed aside and forgotten, actually deserve a better fate!
At Café William, we believe in taking practical steps to make a meaningful impact. That’s why we’re inviting you to see coffee grounds not as leftovers, but as a resource with tons of potential.
Here’s a quick guide on what to do with your used coffee grounds.
How to Store Coffee Grounds
Like coffee beans, grounds are delicate and require careful handling to maintain their quality for future use.
After you’ve enjoyed your cup of organic coffee, let the grounds cool down. Spread them on a baking sheet or paper towel to dry out the extra moisture and keep them fresh. Properly dried grounds are key to avoiding mould and locking in their benefits.
If you’re going to use them within ten days, store them in an airtight coffee container or reusable box in the fridge. Want to keep them longer? Toss them in the freezer. When it’s time to use them, just let them thaw for two or three hours.
An Eco-Friendly Fertilizer for Your Garden
Did you know that coffee grounds are packed with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus—all essential nutrients to enrich the soil and feed your plants?
To enrich your soil without overdoing it, it’s best to use moderation. Sprinkle about 50 grams (around half of our new porcelain coffee cup) of grounds per square foot directly onto the soil or around your plants.
Coffee grounds are particularly good for roses, hydrangeas, camellias, and even tomatoes, which thrive on the acidity and nutrients.
A Repellent to Keep Cats Away from Plants
If you’re dealing with cats that love to dig into your houseplants, using coffee grounds can be a safe, eco-friendly deterrent. Try mixing the grounds with lemon or orange peels and sprinkle the mixture around your plants.
The scent will help keep cats away without harming them, since it’s natural and non-toxic.
A Natural Barrier Against Insects
Coffee grounds are a fantastic natural repellent. Their distinctive smell and gritty texture aren’t liked by insects such as aphids, ants, and slugs, which tend to stay away.
By simply spreading the grounds around your plants, you create an eco-friendly barrier that keeps pests out of your garden while maintaining your ecosystem’s natural balance.
A Homemade Deodorizer
Have you ever considered using coffee grounds as a natural way to deodorize your home? If you put them in a small open container in your fridge or pantry, the coffee grounds will absorb unwanted odours and leave behind a subtle, pleasant freshness.
You can also put some grounds in your shoes or drawers to neutralize any bad smells.
An Eco-Friendly Household Cleaner
Coffee grounds also make an excellent abrasive cleaner for your home. They excel at scrubbing away grease and grime from kitchen counters and sinks.
Gently scrub with the grounds, then rinse thoroughly to avoid residue, especially on light surfaces. This is an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to reuse what you would otherwise throw out.
A Gentle Exfoliant for Skin Care
For smooth and revitalized skin, why not use coffee grounds as an exfoliant? Mix them with your preferred oil, like olive or coconut oil, to create a natural scrub.
Massage the mixture into your skin using circular motions, then rinse it off. This provides a gentle, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic exfoliants, perfect for those who want to reduce their environmental footprint while caring for their skin.
Remember that coffee grounds, like coffee beans, are fresh and sensitive products that react to changes in the environment. Properly storing coffee grounds is as important as storing your coffee well. Take good care of your grounds, and they will serve you in many ways.
