Could coffee grounds be good for your plants? Could you be making a coffee scrub? Read on for our tips on the best ways to reuse coffee grounds.
It's estimated that 500,000 tonnes of used coffee grounds are disposed of every year in the UK, generating 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions in the process.
The good news is there are a number of easy ways in which your used coffee can be repurposed at home - we've chosen our top 3!
1 - Coffee Grounds Are Good Compost For Plants
Plants need nitrogen to make themselves, and used coffee grounds are nitrogen-rich. Coffee grounds are considered green material, so make sure to add some brown material (carbon-rich) to your compost pile at the same time. Dry leaves, wood chips or even used coffee filter papers will do the job!
2 - Make A Coffee Scrub
Dried used coffee grounds make an excellent body scrub, gently exfoliating your skin to reveal new, clear skin underneath. Combine 4 tablespoons coconut or olive oil with 6 tablespoons dried ground coffee and scoop out a small portion to gently buff the skin. Keep in air-tight container and use within 3-4 weeks.
3 - Make Coffee Stained Paper
How about entertaining your little ones away from screens for an hour or two? A primary school classic, reusing coffee grounds to stain paper is super simple. Place the paper on a baking tray, pour the dried grounds on top, add boiling water and leave to soak for 5-10 minutes. Carefully remove the wet paper to dry (you could hang on a clothes airer or speed things up with a hair-dryer) and voila - you have the perfect base for an old letter, treasure map or poster!
