16 Creative Ways to Use Old Coffee Grounds

Spent coffee grounds have a variety of useful applications, from nourishing plants and cleaning surfaces to enhancing personal care routines.

Used grounds can serve many purposes around the house and in the garden, and they might even add a boost to your beauty rituals.

If you don’t brew coffee at home, check with nearby cafes — many will gladly give away their spent grounds.

Read on to learn 16 inventive ways to repurpose used coffee grounds.

How to put coffee grounds to use

Used coffee grounds can be helpful in multiple settings, including garden beds, household chores, and skincare.

Many soils lack the nutrients plants need to flourish.

Studies indicate that spent coffee grounds contain numerous bioactive substances that could improve your garden soil.

Used grounds may also enhance the nutritional profile of veggies and ornamentals while acting as a natural soil amendment.

To apply as a fertilizer, sprinkle the grounds around the base of your plants.

Composting transforms organic waste like kitchen scraps and yard debris into a dark, nutrient-rich material known as compost or humus.

Research suggests that used coffee grounds can aid the composting process by binding heavy metals that might otherwise pollute garden soil.

One study compared compost piles with 0%, 10%, 20%, and 40% coffee grounds. The pile with 40% spent grounds produced the least greenhouse gas emissions and yielded the highest-quality compost.

Other items to compost include grass clippings, leaves, bark, herbs, eggshells, and fruit and vegetable trimmings.

Avoid composting meat and fish scraps, dairy, diseased plant material, and greases or oils.

Used coffee grounds contain compounds that can be harmful to some insects.

Some research suggests spent grounds could help repel household ants and mosquitoes.

To deter insects, scatter damp coffee grounds where pests are active.

Fleas are a frequent issue for pets, and treating infestations can be expensive and time-consuming.

Rubbing coffee grounds through your pet’s coat after shampooing and then rinsing may help naturally repel fleas.

Keep in mind that grounds are generally less effective than veterinary treatments. If the infestation persists, consult your vet for professional options.

Also, only use coffee grounds externally — ingestion can be toxic to dogs.

Coffee grounds contain elements that help neutralize unpleasant smells.

For example, a 2021 study showed that spreading fermented coffee grounds on a dairy barn floor significantly cut odors after three weeks.

Place a bowl of grounds in your refrigerator to help absorb odors from spoiled or strongly scented foods.

You can also stuff old socks with coffee grounds and tie them off to make portable deodorizing sachets for gym bags, drawers, or under car seats.

Because they are abrasive, coffee grounds can help scrub away grime on stubborn surfaces. They may also offer antimicrobial and antiviral benefits.

Use grounds to scour sinks, brighten cookware, or clean grill grates. Avoid using them on porous materials, as they may leave brown stains.

The gritty texture of grounds is ideal for loosening baked-on food and cleaning utensils.

Sprinkle grounds onto pots and pans and scrub, then rinse thoroughly.

Used coffee grounds may have antibacterial qualities that help exfoliate skin and offer some sun protection. The coarse particles can lift dirt and slough off dead skin cells.

Mix grounds with a little water and gently massage onto your face and body.

You can also combine used grounds with honey to create an exfoliating scrub for lips.

Cellulite causes the skin to appear dimpled and uneven. It affects about 80% to 90% of women.

It happens when fat pushes through connective tissue beneath the skin, commonly on the thighs and buttocks. Cellulite is not harmful to health.

Topical caffeine may help break down fat deposits and improve circulation, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Mix coffee grounds with water or coconut oil and massage for 10 minutes, twice a week, on areas where cellulite appears.

If you’ve spilled coffee on a light-colored shirt, you know it can stain fabric.

Rewetting used coffee grounds can produce an inexpensive, natural dye suitable for cotton, rayon, cellophane, linen, and paper.

It’s a simple way to give textiles and paper an aged look or to disguise existing stains on clothes and towels.

If you dye fabric or yarn that will be worn or handled, wash it in cold water with a very mild detergent before use.

Cleaning fireplace ashes can be messy and create dust clouds.

Sprinkling used coffee grounds over ashes helps weigh them down, preventing dust from becoming airborne.

This makes ashes easier to remove and keeps dust from spreading through the room.

Meat toughness comes from muscle fibers and proteins. Tenderizing breaks these down to make meat more tender.

Natural tenderizers include salt, enzymes, and acids. Coffee contains acids and enzymes that can help tenderize meat.

Add used coffee grounds to a dry rub and coat the meat about 2 hours before cooking.

Or, rebrew spent grounds into coffee, let it cool, and use it as a marinade in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking.

Some research indicates that caffeine might promote and speed hair growth, and it may help hair loss conditions like alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.

Before shampooing, massage a handful of coffee grounds into the scalp and hair for a few minutes, then wash as usual.

Do this once or twice weekly, or as needed.

There are products to reduce the appearance of scratches on wood furniture, but coffee grounds are a low-cost alternative.

Make a thick paste from used grounds and water.

Apply the paste into the scratch with a cotton swab. Let it sit 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe away with a cotton cloth.

The grounds can help darken the exposed wood, helping conceal the scratch. Repeat applications, waiting a few hours between them, until the color matches.

Mushrooms require specific growing conditions and typically don’t thrive in regular garden soil because they need a suitable substrate.

Used coffee grounds can serve as an excellent substrate, packed with nutrients mushrooms feed on.

Additionally, brewing sterilizes the grounds, eliminating a step that would otherwise be necessary for mushroom cultivation.

Dark circles and puffiness under the eyes can arise from aging, lack of sleep, and other factors, such as genetics and fluid retention.

A 2016 review found that caffeine-containing skincare products can reduce under-eye discoloration, inflammation, and swelling.

Mix grounds with water or coconut oil to form a paste. Apply under the eyes for about 10 minutes, then rinse. Use daily or as desired.

Are coffee grounds safe to eat?

Research associates compounds in spent coffee grounds with health benefits like reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, which could lower risks for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers.

Still, some medical professionals advise caution about consuming used coffee grounds.

Coffee beans contain cafestol and kahweol, compounds largely removed by paper filters during brewing but that remain in the grounds. Older studies have linked these compounds to increased blood cholesterol.

Some recipes incorporate grounds into baked goods, rubs, or sauces. Using them infrequently in food is likely fine, but regular consumption is not recommended.

Frequently asked questions

Do coffee grounds deter slugs?

A 2023 study found that applying a 1-centimeter layer of used coffee grounds to potted plants helped deter slugs and snails. The researchers noted that grounds aged more than seven months no longer had an anti-slug effect.

Can I just sprinkle coffee grounds in my garden?

Yes. Used coffee grounds contain several bioactive compounds that may support fertilizing and composting. Still, it’s important to turn the soil periodically and maintain proper garden care.

Which plants dislike coffee grounds?

Evidence is mixed about which species benefit from coffee grounds. To avoid harming plants, try applying a small amount of used grounds around a few plants and observe their response.

The bottom line

Spent coffee grounds can be reused in gardens, around the home, and in skincare routines.

Next time you make a cup, consider saving the grounds for one of these practical uses.