Coffee is a beloved beverage, yet many individuals dispose of their used grounds irresponsibly.
Use coffee grounds to make more coffee can be an excellent idea, provided you know exactly what you are doing. Otherwise, the second cup will likely taste different and weaker than its predecessor.
1. Make a cold brew
If you want to save money while not going through the hassle of pre-ground coffee bags, making your own cold brew at home may be the way to do it. It is a relatively easy process that allows you to control its strength.
First, you will need coarsely ground beans and filtered water. Finer-ground beans won’t fully steep into the liquid and could lead to dry clumps in your cold brew resulting in an unpleasant bitter taste.
Before refrigerating, allow the brew to sit in the fridge for 12-24 hours so that water has time to absorb oils from coffee beans and create an aromatic cup without over-extracting. This process ensures you get a delicious cup without risking over-extraction!
As soon as your cold brew has finished steeping, strain it into a Mason jar or other container so the grounds can absorb some of the liquid and form a concentrate that you can further dilute with additional water if desired for a stronger beverage.
Cold brew should contain about one cup of coarsely ground coffee per four cups of water, but you can customize this ratio according to your tastes. Less water will result in weaker flavors while more will produce concentrated beverages that are perfect for mixing with milk or pouring over ice.
Your coffee can also be enhanced with flavorings such as cinnamon, pumpkin spice, cocoa powder, chocolate sauce or flavored syrup depending on your personal tastes and preferences. For an adult beverage experience add vanilla vodka, orange liquor or bourbon! For optimal freshness store your brew in an airtight bottle in the fridge; it should last 5-10 days with proper storage conditions.
2. Make a deodorizer
Coffee grounds may seem like waste after our daily brew, but their many uses around your home could surprise you! From adding an aromatic flair to your kitchen to deodorizing an entire room in your house – consider turning those used grounds into natural deodorizers using recycled coffee grounds!
Use coffee grounds to create an eco-friendly air freshener you can place in your closet or on a bathroom shelf to maintain clean and fresh odors in any area. Simply fill a cheesecloth sachet or reusable coffee brew bag with ground beans, hang it from a closet rod for two to three days to combat musty scents.
Keep a jar of used coffee grounds by the sink and use them as an abrasive scrub for pots and pans, or in your sink to remove stains or odors. Please avoid using these on porous or delicate materials as they could stain or ruin them.
One great use for coffee grounds is deodorizing your home or garden. Caffeine and diterpenes found in coffee grounds are toxic to pests, making them effective at deterring mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs from entering. Coffee grounds may also help keep away slugs, snails, or any other bugs that might be lurking within.
Grounds can make an excellent alternative to salt when it comes to deicing sidewalks and driveways, acting like an acid that quickly melts away any ice on their surfaces. Plus they make for great fertilizer in gardens or compost piles!
Are your coffee grounds going to waste? A great way to repurpose them is to turn them into body scrubs and dry rubs! Simply combine equal parts coffee grounds and granulated sugar with the facial or body oil of your choice (jojoba or coconut works great!) as well as any essential oils you like for optimal results.
3. Add to your compost
Coffee grounds make an excellent addition to your compost pile or soil. Packed full of essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that support plant health, these grounds also contain magnesium and calcium for improved soil health.
Composting is an excellent way to recycle organic materials and reduce landfill waste. The process involves piling organic matter onto piles before heating it and decomposing it; eventually turning brown and crumbly with an earthy scent.
Coffee grounds should be added to a compost bin or pile like any other green material, such as paper or leaves, in order to stay aerobic and remain decomposable. You should mix these thoroughly and make sure it stays aerobic over time.
At least 1 part green material to 4 parts brown material should be mixed into your compost pile to facilitate heating up and encouraging microorganisms to break down material more quickly, leading to reduced odorous smell and encouraging beneficial microbes to flourish.
If you want to make your own compost at home, the proper container or tumbler is essential for success. Starting with brown materials like sticks or twigs as your foundation and later adding in green materials such as leaves or fruit peels for the final step will work best.
Coffee grounds make an excellent mulch material for gardens, as they contain small amounts of carbon that provide protection from ultraviolet radiation from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and provide an important source of potassium, which is vital to plant health and growth.
Coffee grounds can provide an excellent source of nitrogen fertilization; however, their use should be combined with other nitrogen sources as part of an overall fertilizer program. Germination testing performed at Eugene’s Grass Roots Garden revealed reduced germination rates and stunted lettuce seed development when combined with uncomposted coffee grounds as mulch material in potting compost mulching layers.
4. Make a dry rub
Are you searching for an innovative way to add flavor to your grilled steak or brisket? Try creating a dry rub with coffee grounds! This simple yet effective ingredient provides subtle yet distinct aromas that work great with all types of meat including beef, lamb and pork.
Coffee rub is easy to create and keeps for extended periods when stored in an airtight container, saving time. Pre-ground coffee may even work for convenience!
Coffee adds an earthy note to this dry rub for beef or brisket, as well as providing an outstanding addition for ribs, chicken, or any grilled meats or vegetables.
For maximum flavor, it is crucial that this dry rub uses premium coffee; whole-bean coffee works best as it enhances all other ingredients in its recipe. Sea salt also lends depth and dimension to this dry rub by providing its coarse grains that add an unexpected dimension of taste to its base of java.
Try different coffee roasts when making this dry rub recipe; light, medium, and dark roasts tend to work best. Add spices such as cumin, chili powder or dried mustard for additional flavoring.
One advantage of making a dry rub in advance is its convenience – you can make and store in an airtight container for up to one month! Plus, its ingredients are readily available at most grocery stores.
This recipe can be prepared using either instant coffee or ground coffee – test out both to determine which works best. Feel free to incorporate any other spices you like for an ideal seasoning solution for Tri-Tip, brisket, or steak dishes!
5. Add to your garden
Add Coffee grounds to Your Garden as an Effective Method of Soil Fertility Enhancement! Their organic matter improves drainage, water retention and aeration for improved results in your soil’s health and fertility.
Coffee grounds contain nitrogen that provides vital nutrition for plants. Furthermore, they enhance compost nutrient levels as well as give seedlings an additional dose of nitrogen for better root development and blooms.
When adding coffee grounds to your garden, the amount depends on both its soil type and plant needs. A 20% ratio between soil and grounds usually suffices in most gardens, though certain soils may require more.
If your garden is suffering from an abundance of weeds, adding coffee grounds could be just what’s needed to rid itself of them. Just beware not to overdo this step – too much coffee grounds may form a solid barrier that prevents moisture from getting through to your plants’ roots, inhibiting proper growth.
Coffee grounds as mulch may also help reduce weed growth; however, for maximum effectiveness it should be combined with other organic material like grass clippings or dried leaves to maximize effectiveness.
Coffee grounds attract worms, which play an essential role in maintaining healthy plant roots and breaking down compost. If you own a worm bin, be sure to regularly add spent coffee grounds as food source for these beneficial creatures.