It is a cold, sunny day this morning; a perfect one for turning on the kettle and filling up my french press. MMmmm coffee.

After some sips and mandatory cuddles with our pup Koda, I’m going to scrape out my grounds – but they’re not on the way to the compost bin just yet! Since traveling to Colombia and visiting this local coffee farm, my view of this common everyday drink and its leftovers has taken a turn.

For one, I no longer drink coffee every day. I enjoy it maybe 3-4 times a week, ensuring it is from an ethical, sustainable source. I have seen firsthand the amount of effort and resources that go into each cup (160L of water for 1 cup, for example – more on that in another post), and the days of taking it for granted have passed.

What is another way we can make this worldwide, daily cup-of-jo a little less wasteful? Save the grounds!

I initially searched for ways to use them in scrubs, but little did I know that there are about a gazillion and 1 ways to re-use coffee. I fell in love with the bean a little bit more, this time for its various unexpected benefits – those post mug+consumption.

Here are 8 unique ways to use up your grounds before they hit the compost bin:

1. Body Scrub

After experimenting with different recipes, here is one I’ve come up with that works amazingly and smells divine:

• 1 tbsp jojoba oil
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp dried, fine coffee grinds*
• 2 tbsp ground avocado seed (~1 medium seed)

Fine coffee grounds are key here, as I find coarse ones much too rough. For the avocado seed, I left it sitting out for ~24 hrs, then took a knife to split into smaller pieces; add to blender + dry! I also took off the skin.
Simply stir all the ingredients together + transfer to a glass jar. I like to wait until the next day to use it – somehow it ends up smelling like chocolate! (no? just me?)

Some other benefits of this scrub:

• Uses no plastic – spares what is used to hold store-bought scrubs
• No harmful chemicals – the ingredients are all natural; no need to worry about parabens, phthalates, etc.

2. Homemade Coffee Scented Candle

There is so much to say about a homemade candle, in addition to the invigorating aroma this recipe will surely bring. It is also much easier on our lungs and the planet:

• No harmful fumes – you can choose to use beeswax as opposed to the paraffin wax found in store bought candles
• No lead wick – most wicks usually contain metals such as lead, which you don’t want to be inhaling. Investing in some organic cotton is definitely worth it!

3. Textured wall paint

Throw in some coffee grounds with your wall paint – the result will be a beautiful and unique texture for that accent wall you’ve been meaning to design!

4. Kitchen scrub

I have a thing with stuck on food. I really, really, don’t like it. We try our best to have a constantly clean kitchen, yet realistically the time when the oatmeal just won’t come off the mason jar is around the corner. Keep some of your coffee grounds for this – they are super useful for cleaning off those stubborn oats.

5. Hand scrub

That lovely fish and garlic smell after some time in the kitchen has got to go, ASAP. Keep your morning grounds near the sink before they get tossed, they will help with getting rid of the scent!

6. Natural food dye

A perfect alternative to artificial dyes used to colour eggs, and anything else you might think of.

7. Plant fertilizer

Coffee grounds are food for your indoor plants, who knew?! Treat them to this added nutrition by spreading some around their base. They are also known to help turn your outdoor hydrangeas their pastel-ey blue : )

8. Food deodorizer

Last but not least, throw some grounds in your fridge! Make sure to pat them dry before you do, and keep an eye out as over time they can start to mold. I normally won’t leave them in for longer than two days.

Any undiscovered coffee ground uses are super appreciated, please share!