What I used to consider waste has become my best green ally. Coffee grounds? A little brown miracle for my plants, my house… and even my skin. Every morning, it’s the same ritual: coffee maker, filter, roasting aroma and a little red light that tells me: coffee grounds bin full. For a long time, I considered it waste, thrown away without remorse in the trash. Same punishment for the filter and grounds of my classic coffee maker! What a mistake! Coffee grounds are actually a treasure for the garden, the house and even for my skin!
My old friend Denise was outraged to see that I was throwing away what she took care to reuse. I listened to her wise advice. I tested it on several “posts” in the house and today, I can no longer imagine my garden without this brownish powder that has turned brown gold. Coffee grounds are my fertilizer, my repellent, my compost activator… and sometimes even my Sunday scrub. Here are 10 tips that I use regularly to recycle this waste product that has become a treasure.
Tip 1: a natural fertilizer that my plants love
Coffee grounds are packed with nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium… all elements that boost plant growth. I sprinkle them directly at the base of my hydrangeas or mix them with the soil when hoeing. Be careful not to overdo it, however, as too large a dose can asphyxiate the soil. My tip: I combine it with compost or nettle liquid manure. It smells a bit strong at first, but the plants love it. If you have thuja hedges, you can also place the coffee grounds at the base of their trunks. Another use? Coffee grounds placed in a strip between tomato plants is an anti-slug barrier, they don’t like the rough side!
Tip 2: homemade liquid fertilizer
This technique was suggested to me by my friend Denise, 85 years old. She turns her coffee grounds into liquid fertilizer. She lets it infuse for 24 to 48 hours in two liters of water, filters it, and obtains a magic potion to water her green plants. Once diluted, coffee becomes an amazing growth booster… and free! And believe me, the plants love it… I have never seen such beautiful orchids as Denise’s, fed on coffee grounds, of course!
Tip 3: a natural insect repellent
Since I started using coffee grounds around my plants, the slugs and aphids have moved out, as I mentioned in the first paragraph. All you have to do is sprinkle a circle of grounds around the sensitive plants or spray it (mixed with water) on the infested leaves. A good way to avoid chemical treatments. Bonus: the neighborhood cats also seem less motivated to scratch in my planters. It even seems that ants don’t like this scent too much, in any case they have deserted my flowerbeds.
Tip #4: a compost activator worthy of the name
I don’t have a compost bin, but apparently earthworms love caffeine. By adding the grounds to your vermicomposter, you should see your worms working like never before. It boosts the decomposition of organic matter, improves the quality of the compost and has another significant advantage: it limits bad odors. All without consuming energy. Not bad, eh?
Tip 5: an ideal substrate for my seedlings
When well dried, coffee grounds mixed with soil make an excellent substrate for seedlings. In addition, it promotes germination and provides essential nutrients for young shoots. So I use it mainly for herbs and small vegetables. A sustainable and economical way to see my vegetable garden come to life!
The grounds make the soil lighter and more alive, it’s all good. My basil particularly appreciates the grounds, and I can assure you that it doesn’t give any particular taste to the pestos I cook!
Tip 6: a makeover for my lawn
Tired lawn? A little coffee grounds, a light rain or a sprinkling, and hey presto, a boost! I spread it evenly by hand, at a rate of about 1 kg per 10 m². The result is not long in coming: a denser, livelier green, without chemical fertilizers. Even the weeds seem less keen to grow back. In fact, I have just sown some lawn topping, and it will be getting its caffeine fix soon !
Tip 7: a welcome aid against ice
Yes, even in winter, my coffee grounds can be useful, even if there is no real risk of ice, they can be useful later in the year! That’s right, its grainy texture and slightly acidic pH make it a good substitute for de-icing salt. Sprinkled on paths or tiled terraces, it limits the formation of ice and improves grip. And, at least, it doesn’t burn dogs’ paws. It’s economical, ecological, and it smells like fresh coffee as a bonus. Well, the only drawback is that you have to clean the terrace afterwards, because the grounds stagnate. No danger for the floors, the grounds are a natural material, which does not pollute, for the most worried!
Tip 8: a natural wood stain
This is my decorating tip. A little pomace mixed with hot water and white vinegar, and there you have a homemade stain for my wooden crates. I apply it with a cloth, leave it to dry, and I get a lovely natural patina without solvents. Ideal for renovating wooden vegetable labels or old decorative containers. And as a bonus, it even masks small scratches.
Tip 9: a natural air freshener
No more suspicious smells in the fridge or on your hands after garlic! I put dried pomace in an open jar at the back of the fridge, or I rub my fingers with a little damp powder before rinsing. The smell of coffee covers everything… and even wakes up the nostrils a little. It’s simple, effective and free!
Tip 10: a zero-waste homemade scrub
This is my daughter Méline’s favorite tip. On Sundays, when she has five minutes to spare, she turns her coffee grounds into an exfoliating treatment. She mixes it with a little coconut oil and a spoonful of honey, and voilà, she has a gentle and fragrant body scrub. Bonus: apparently it helps fight cellulite… but she hasn’t tested it, she’s going to keep it. On the other hand, her skin is softer, and her conscience lighter, because she reduces her waste and uses non-chemical products for her skin care.
So, convinced by the super powers of coffee grounds? At home or in the garden, it has more than earned its place in my daily life. More than just waste, it’s a little ecological, economic and practical ally that I no longer look at as I used to. And you, what do you do with your coffee grounds after your morning espresso? Ready to recycle them the smart way? Are you interested in this subject? Feel free to give us your opinion, or to share your experience with us.
