“To me, the smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the world’s greatest inventions.”
— Hugh Jackman
After you brew a fresh cup of coffee, you’re left with coffee grounds. They are generally seen as waste and are thrown away.
However, used coffee grounds need not be a waste product. There are numerous uses for coffee grounds - they can be used as a soil enriching fertiliser to a skin exfoliator.
Coffee Grounds Properties
Just like coffee beans, used coffee grounds also have a diverse and wide range of unique properties.A few of these include:
Infused with a small amount of Nitrogen ( about 2%)
They have a PH value ranging from 6.5 to 6.8 making them non-acidic
They are a good source of repellent and are known to drive away small insects.
Interesting Things You Can Do With Used Coffee Grounds
You might have wondered if the coffee grounds that you throw away every morning can be put to better use. The answer is yes! There are many things that can be done with used coffee grounds. Here are a few of them:
1. Home garden fertiliser
Are coffee grounds good for plants? Yes, they are. As stated previously, coffee grounds are rich in nutrients like nitrogen, , phosphorus, magnesium potassium, etc. It supplies the plants with all the essential nutrients to help them grow and develop. Additionally, coffee grounds can also absorb impurities that may damage the soil and hinder plant nourishment.
Using coffee grounds as fertiliser is a great economical and sustainable solution. .
2. Pest and insect repellent
Coffee grounds consist of a few compounds that are highly toxic for insects. Due to this ,coffee grounds repel insects and prevent infestations.
The most effective way to use coffee grounds as an insect repellent would be to place them in bowls in balconies, windows, or places where insects tend to gather. You can burn the coffee grounds like incense for better results.
3. Scented Candle
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is always soothing. . Wouldn’t it be great to be able to catch a whiff of that smell in your living room? With a ground coffee scented candle, that could be possible! It just takes 4 easy steps to make your very own scented candle using coffee grounds. Add coffee grounds to candle wax while it is being set and make yourself a coffee flavoured candle.
4. Deodorizer
Coffee grounds contain some amounts of nitrogen . This helps in absorbing and eliminating many deterrent odours emanating from gases such as sulphur.
You can place coffee grounds in your wardrobe or in the washroom as they can act as a deodorizer and absorb unpleasant odours.
5. Scratch and stain remover
Applying a mixture of ground coffee, warm water, and vinegar to a stain or scratch on furniture or metal surface can help cover it up.
6. Skin Exfoliation
Coffee grounds can be used to make a scrub for exfoliating your skin. Although, it is advisable to use this scrub on your legs or hands as the skin there is thick. Our facial skin is quite delicate so refrain from using a coffee grounds scrub on your face.
Coffee grounds can be used in several ways. You get coffee grounds when you use coffee beans or grinded coffee. With instant coffee, there is no question of coffee grounds as the coffee powder is completely dissolved.
How do you plan to reuse your coffee grounds?