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How to Use and Dispose of Coffee Grounds
Try these hacks to get more use out of coffee grounds!
Published November 22, 2021
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Shruti Gupta
Coffee experts@Era of We
Many coffee connoisseurs can end up with a sizable quantity of coffee grounds in quite a short while. The traditional way to get rid of coffee grounds is to simply dump them in the trash, but what if there was a way you could get more use out of them?
If you’re looking for a way to be more environmentally conscious by increasing the amount of waste you recycle, reducing the number of products you use, and you consume a lot of coffee, this can be a great way to start. Read on for more.
Use Them as Fertilizer
One of the easiest things you can do with your used coffee grounds is fertilize your garden. You can simply sprinkle them onto the soil surrounding your plants. The soil in a lot of places does not have all the essential nutrients required to support the growth of plant matter, which is why we use supplements in the form of manure or fertilizers. One must also consider the fact that a growing plant depletes soil of a lot of nutrients.
Coffee grounds contain several key minerals for plant growth like Nitrogen, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, and Chromium. The coffee grounds also absorb any heavy metals in the soil and help attract critters that provide the soil with organic matter. If there’s no immediate need for fertilizer, coffee grounds can also be composted. Composting is a naturally occurring process that turns organic matter into a dark, nutrient-rich matter. Resident microorganisms usually carry out this process in the organic matter with the presence of oxygen. However, composting also creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Adding coffee to your compost is a great way to reduce the amount of methane produced and is a good practice to follow, especially for beginners.
Use Them to Tenderize Meat
Another interesting use of coffee grounds is for tenderizing meat. Meat contains muscle fibers and proteins that give it a tough consistency, the breakdown of which helps in giving the meat a softer texture. Salt, enzymes, and acids are natural meat tenderizers, and because coffee grounds contain natural acids and enzymes, it makes them an effective medium to tenderize meat. Plus, the acidic profile of the coffee can also help enhance the flavor of the meat.
To tenderize meat using used coffee grounds, simply add them to a dry rub recipe and apply it to the meat two hours before cooking. Of course, if your coffee grounds are oversteeped or are of a particular fine grind, you may need to use a lot more of them to produce the desired result on your meat.
Use Them in Your Skincare Routine
Coffee grounds are also abrasive in texture and can help remove buildup on hard-to-clean surfaces and even help exfoliate your skin. As they also have antibacterial and antiviral properties, coffee grounds are a healthy and natural alternative to cleaning your dishes and your skin, especially if you’re allergic to chemicals found within cleansing or skincare products.
To use them as a dish cleaning abrasive, simply sprinkle the grounds directly on your utensils and scrub as usual.
However, avoid using them on porous materials since they can cause hard to remove brownish stains.
To use coffee as an exfoliating agent, mix your used coffee grounds with water or coconut oil and scrub the mixture onto your face and body with your hands. If mixed with honey, coffee grounds can be used as a lip scrub as well. The antioxidants found in coffee can help protect and repair your skin from sun damage after a long day at the beach.
Use Them to Treat Pet Fleas
Suppose you have a pet that suffers from fleas or has allergic reactions or side effects to the harsh chemicals present in readily available anti-flea products in the market. In that case, coffee grounds offer a healthy natural alternative for your furry friends to beat the fleas.
Simply rub the coffee grounds onto your pet’s coat after their daily shampooing; however, be extremely careful and use it only externally. Since coffee grounds can be toxic to dogs and cats, coffee grounds may not be as effective as the products available on the market, so only use them if there is no other alternative.
Use Coffee Grounds to Get Rid of Odor
Sulfur gas is a common side product of trash and garbage. And luckily, coffee grounds have oodles of nitrogen in them, which helps eliminate the foul-smelling gas. Coffee grounds act as an effective natural alternative to many air fresheners in the market, which may potentially contain greenhouse gases or volatile organic compounds that actually increase air pollution indoors!
Coffee grounds are an effective way to remove bad smells from spoiled food in the fridge or freezer, and also gym bags, bedroom drawers, or any other areas that may need deodorizing. They can even help remove the smell of onion and garlic from your hands after a long day of cooking or chopping away in the kitchen!
Hopefully, these hacks will help you tackle some common household problems and put your coffee grounds to good use.
About the author
Shruti Gupta
I like coffee and I like writing, reading, and traveling, all with a cup of coffee in my hand. My recommendation? Brew some coffee (nutty flavors preferred), make it strong, add a little cinnamon and brown sugar, and a touch of soy milk, you've got happiness in a cup! Best served chilled :)
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