Properly disposing of coffee grounds - 6 tips & tricks to try
Posted by Simon Kuch posted on September 14, 2023
A cup of coffee in the morning – essential for many to start the day right. But what to do with the annoying coffee grounds? Just pour them down the sink? General waste or compost? Or can I use my coffee grounds for something useful? In our blog post, we give you six helpful tips for proper disposal and clever alternatives for your coffee grounds. Perhaps you have some additional ideas that we should definitely consider? Happy reading and trying them out!
Why is proper disposal of coffee grounds so important?
Properly disposing of coffee grounds is good for the environment. Period. Firstly, they're packed with valuable nutrients and vitamins that enrich any organic waste bin or compost heap. Secondly, disposing of coffee grounds correctly conserves resources. Improper disposal not only leads to extra cleaning effort, but it also pollutes the environment. Therefore, we should all make sure that our coffee grounds actually end up where they belong – in the organic waste bin or compost. Here's how it works and more tips:
Composting coffee grounds:
Coffee grounds are one of the best compostable materials. They are rich in nitrogen and essential nutrients that are incredibly beneficial for plants and accelerate the decomposition process in the compost. Adding your daily coffee grounds to your compost pile will improve the breakdown of organic matter, making the compost even more valuable for your garden. Tip: Coffee filter paper is usually compostable as well and can be added to the compost heap.
Using coffee grounds as fertilizer
If you don't have compost, but do have plants or even a small garden, you can mix the coffee grounds directly into the soil. The phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen they contain are important nutrients for plants, making them a great natural fertilizer.
Coffee grounds as an odor remover
You may have seen coffee beans in perfume shops before. They neutralize the scent of perfume in our noses, allowing us to better distinguish between two fragrances. Coffee grounds work on the same principle as an odor eliminator. Simply place some coffee grounds in your refrigerator, your shoe cupboard, or rub them between your hands after chopping onions and garlic. The coffee grounds effectively absorb the unpleasant odors!
Coffee grounds as a cleaner
Yes, you read that right: coffee grounds as a cleaner! The coarse, yet relatively soft granules of coffee grounds are excellent as a gentle scourer for burnt-on food or other residues in pots, pans, or on surfaces. Simply mix the coffee grounds with some warm water and massage the mixture in with a sponge – super natural and effective!
Coffee grounds as a dye
Things are about to get colorful! Dyeing shoes with coffee is the latest trend, and maybe someone will dare to try it? Film it, and you'll get a free coffee at our café! Simply mix your coffee grounds (and I mean a lot of them – fresh coffee works too) in a large box with hot water, put in your white shoes, weigh them down, wait – and your trendy shoes are ready! A real eye-catcher that's supposed to smell like coffee for a long time – so make sure you use good quality coffee!
Coffee grounds as skincare
Coffee isn't just a great caffeine boost in the morning that tastes delicious – it's also excellent skincare! You can simply use your coffee grounds as a scrub. The coffee grounds gently remove dead skin cells, and the caffeine promotes good circulation. Some creams even contain caffeine, as it's said to minimize wrinkles – so why not try a coffee ground scrub on your face?
Coffee grounds are a true all-rounder and not just a bothersome kitchen waste product. They can be used as fertilizer, odor neutralizer, cleaning agent, dye, or skincare product – so disposing of coffee grounds properly is really easy! Do you have any other clever tips for what to do with your coffee grounds? Let us know – we'd love to hear them!
Properly disposing of coffee grounds - 6 tips & tricks to try
A cup of coffee in the morning – essential for many to start the day right. But what to do with the annoying coffee grounds? Just pour them down the sink? General waste or compost? Or can I use my coffee grounds for something useful? In our blog post, we give you six helpful tips for proper disposal and clever alternatives for your coffee grounds. Perhaps you have some additional ideas that we should definitely consider? Happy reading and trying them out!
Why is proper disposal of coffee grounds so important?
Properly disposing of coffee grounds is good for the environment. Period. Firstly, they're packed with valuable nutrients and vitamins that enrich any organic waste bin or compost heap. Secondly, disposing of coffee grounds correctly conserves resources. Improper disposal not only leads to extra cleaning effort, but it also pollutes the environment. Therefore, we should all make sure that our coffee grounds actually end up where they belong – in the organic waste bin or compost. Here's how it works and more tips:
Composting coffee grounds:
Coffee grounds are one of the best compostable materials. They are rich in nitrogen and essential nutrients that are incredibly beneficial for plants and accelerate the decomposition process in the compost. Adding your daily coffee grounds to your compost pile will improve the breakdown of organic matter, making the compost even more valuable for your garden. Tip: Coffee filter paper is usually compostable as well and can be added to the compost heap.Using coffee grounds as fertilizer
If you don't have compost, but do have plants or even a small garden, you can mix the coffee grounds directly into the soil. The phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen they contain are important nutrients for plants, making them a great natural fertilizer.Coffee grounds as an odor remover
You may have seen coffee beans in perfume shops before. They neutralize the scent of perfume in our noses, allowing us to better distinguish between two fragrances. Coffee grounds work on the same principle as an odor eliminator. Simply place some coffee grounds in your refrigerator, your shoe cupboard, or rub them between your hands after chopping onions and garlic. The coffee grounds effectively absorb the unpleasant odors!Coffee grounds as a cleaner
Yes, you read that right: coffee grounds as a cleaner! The coarse, yet relatively soft granules of coffee grounds are excellent as a gentle scourer for burnt-on food or other residues in pots, pans, or on surfaces. Simply mix the coffee grounds with some warm water and massage the mixture in with a sponge – super natural and effective!Coffee grounds as a dye
Things are about to get colorful! Dyeing shoes with coffee is the latest trend, and maybe someone will dare to try it? Film it, and you'll get a free coffee at our café! Simply mix your coffee grounds (and I mean a lot of them – fresh coffee works too) in a large box with hot water, put in your white shoes, weigh them down, wait – and your trendy shoes are ready! A real eye-catcher that's supposed to smell like coffee for a long time – so make sure you use good quality coffee!Coffee grounds as skincare
Coffee isn't just a great caffeine boost in the morning that tastes delicious – it's also excellent skincare! You can simply use your coffee grounds as a scrub. The coffee grounds gently remove dead skin cells, and the caffeine promotes good circulation. Some creams even contain caffeine, as it's said to minimize wrinkles – so why not try a coffee ground scrub on your face?Coffee grounds are a true all-rounder and not just a bothersome kitchen waste product. They can be used as fertilizer, odor neutralizer, cleaning agent, dye, or skincare product – so disposing of coffee grounds properly is really easy! Do you have any other clever tips for what to do with your coffee grounds? Let us know – we'd love to hear them!
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team