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Writer's pictureAnn Allanson

Reuse Coffee Grounds and Beans? Here are 9 Clever Ways


bag of coffee beans, a coffee cup, and coffee grounds

Here at the Coffee Cave, we go through a ton of coffee grounds which prompt customers to ask a lot of questions.

"Can you reuse coffee grounds for cold brew?" No. Don’t even go there. It’s nasty.


No matter how you reuse coffee grounds, just make sure you buy your beans from a quality coffee shop. The Coffee Cave buys beans from roasters who specialize in high-quality fresh beans that deliver on flavor every time!

"Can you reuse coffee grounds for espresso?" Again, no. Don’t reuse grounds for any kind of consumption. But, there are many clever ways to reuse coffee, its grounds, and use the beans that you may not have thought of.

These ideas are great money stretchers, too!

Wood Stain

For a natural, non-flammable stain, turn to coffee. It reacts to the tannins in the wood, so the stain reduces blotchiness and has a uniform look to it.

Simply brew coffee and let it cool. Then sand down the wood surface and use a rag

to coat the wood evenly. If you want a darker look, use more coffee.

Pest Repellent

Set out bowls of coffee grounds to repel cockroaches, mosquitoes, slugs, ants, and more. We recommend using fresh grounds because the aroma will linger longer.

Use some coffee grounds in your pet’s shampoo to repel fleas naturally.

Indoor Decoration

For an unusual indoor look, mix old or leftover coffee beans and pair with a beautiful vase. Add flowers. It’s a rustic look that never goes out of style.

Leave-In Conditioner


Want hair to feel thicker? After shampooing, pour cold coffee over your scalp and head. Then put your hair in a shower cap and leave for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Do this as a once a week treatment. You'll begin to notice the texture of hair is thicker. Why does it work? Caffeine encourages hair roots to grow, and it stimulates the roots while improving scalp health.

Marinade


This tip is definitely for consumption, a coffee marinade! Sauté one medium onion and four minced garlic cloves. Add to bowl. Add 8 fluid ounces of strong coffee, 2 ounces of balsamic vinegar, one-half cup of brown sugar, 2 ounces of Dijon mustard, three tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Cover your meat or fish with it and let it marinate for at least an hour. Delish!

Plant Fertilizer


Black coffee contains both magnesium and potassium which is highly beneficial to plants. It helps them grow stronger stems and gives them rich, green growth.

To fertilize, simply dilute black coffee to a ratio of 1:4, coffee to water. Feed plants once a week. Just make sure the coffee is unsweetened. You don’t want to attract any pests!

DIY Coffee Air Freshener


Coffee does a great job of neutralizing odors, so why not use it as an air freshener? Place some coffee beans in a mesh bag. Use in your car or other smelly places to absorb unpleasant or overpowering odors.

Coffee Ice Cubes


For drinking cold coffee, ice it with coffee ice cubes. This will keep your coffee from becoming watered down.

woman with hand over her mouth

Say Goodbye to Bad Breath


No this isn’t coffee breath! It’s the caffeine in hot coffee that causes bad breath.


But sucking on a coffee bean can help eliminate bad breath, and it’s cheaper than buying breath mints. Coffee beans will even neutralize strong scents like garlic.

No matter how you reuse coffee grounds, just make sure you buy your beans from a quality coffee shop.


The Coffee Cave buys beans from roasters who specialize in high-quality fresh beans that deliver on flavor every time!

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