How to Recycle Your Coffee
Millions of tonnes of used coffee grinds end up going to landfill every year. At Bora, we firmly believe that little things can make a big difference. So, after you’ve enjoyed a delicious cup of Bora coffee at home, we recommend that you put your spent grinds to good use. Below are five innovative ways you can use coffee grinds and prevent them from ending up in landfill.
Make Fertiliser
Used coffee grinds are nutrient-dense and can be very beneficial to the soil. All you have to do to make fertiliser out of your grinds is to mix a generous heap of grinds with some rich soil, add some water and mix it into your plants. The coffee grinds will improve drainage, water retention and aeration in the soil. It’s important to note that not all plants like coffee as much as us humans, so it’s best to do a bit of research into which plants enjoy the grinds! To nudge you in the right direction, coffee grinds are acidic and therefore blueberries and azaleas delight at the addition!
Get Creative in the Kitchen
Believe it or not, used coffee grinds enhance the taste of certain foods and marinades. Small amounts of coffee grinds can add extra flavour to signature desserts such as chocolate cake and biscotti. If you have a cooking-related question as to how coffee grinds can aid your kitchen creativity, feel free to speak to Matt or drop us an email and we’ll give you some tips of the trade!
Compost, Compost, Compost!
The science behind coffee is thrilling. If you add leftover coffee grinds to your compost pile and you turn it over regularly, then your compost pile will benefit from the healthy addition of nitrogen, which is crucial to the success of plant growth. Without nitrogen, plants can’t make the proteins and amino acids needed to make their own cells. So you’re doing your plants a favor. You’re also doing earthworms a favor, as they absolutely love nitrogen-laced compost. Who would have thought it? Oh, and your used filter papers can be composted too, so you don’t need to worry about separating from your spent grinds.
Use it as a Natural Cleaner
Spent grinds can be used as an abrasive cleaner. If you like to avoid using too many chemicals at home, then coffee grinds are a worthwhile alternative. You can use grinds to scour your sink, polish your cookware or even clean out your grill. The grinds even help to sanitise surfaces due to their antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Exfoliate your Skin
The coarse particles in coffee grinds work as an exfoliating agent to help remove dirt and dead cells from your skin. If you mix the grinds with a little bit of water or coconut oil, you can apply them directly to your skin (health warning here – we’re not doctors and be careful around eyes, etc.) What’s more, the caffeine in coffee grinds has potent antioxidant properties that can help protect your skin from sun damage.