Can You Reuse Coffee Grounds?

Can You Reuse Coffee Grounds?

Some of the products we use can be used in different ways. This has been a good way to make extra savings and also reduce our carbon footprint.

Perhaps you have noticed that cumulative coffee habits are digging a hole in your pockets.

As you look around, you realize that you have been reusing things and reaping huge benefits.

And this has got you thinking, can you reuse coffee grounds? 

Yes!, But, It will depend on the method used, French press will ensure that all caffeine and flavor are extracted from your coffee grounds. A drip-filler will only keep your grounds in contact with water for a shorter time than a French press.

Consider the kind of coffee you made with the beans and what kind of coffee you expect to get from reuse.

But using them to make a second cup of coffee will not produce the results you are looking for.

But before you call your friends to throw them a party, I mean reusing them in the garden as compost manure!

If you make coffee daily, you have an excellent source of organic matter. There are many ways through which coffee grounds can make your garden happier.

Although coffee will give you more energy to weed, coffee will add many rare nutrients to the soil.

Don’t just throw them away; store them and make compost to add to your garden. 

What Does Brewing Do To My Coffee Grounds When I Brew A Cup Of Coffee?

When you want to make a cup of coffee, you will take a measure of ground coffee and a specified quantity of water.

There are several things that happen when the hot water gets into contact with the coffee grounds.

First, the coffee blooms, almost doubling in size. This process releases carbon dioxide (CO2), evidenced by some foam and bubbles that show up on top of the coffee grounds.

A manual coffee filter makes this easy to see. After sitting with the grounds for some time, the water will drip through a strainer into your cup. Your coffee will be ready to drink.

During dripping, some important elements of the coffee are taken into your cup.

For instance, caffeine is taken into the cup, which is the main reason you want your cup of coffee in the first place!

Additionally, flavor and aroma are gone into your cup as well.

This does not leave your coffee grounds with any oils, vitamins, and proteins as they are also taken into your cup by the hot water mixture.

In addition to that, antioxidants are also gone into your cup of coffee, making your coffee grounds almost void of their original components.

Making a second cup of coffee from the same grounds may disappoint you, especially if you use the same method.

Do Different Brewing Methods Extract The Same Amount Of Caffeine From Coffee Grounds?

The answer to this question is No. The amount of caffeine you extract from coffee grounds largely depends on the extraction method.

Your brewing method is key since some brewing methods will extract more caffeine from the same quantity of grounds than other methods.

For instance, using a French press ensures that the water remains in contact with your coffee grounds for several minutes.This extracts more caffeine from the coffee grounds.

When this method is used, all caffeine and flavor are extracted from your coffee grounds.

Consequently, it makes no sense trying to reuse coffee grounds that were brewed using a French press.

When you prepare your cup of coffee using a drip filter, it’s a little bit different.

Essentially, a drip-filler will only keep your grounds in contact with water for a shorter time than a French press.

However, you will still have a better cup of coffee than you would have if you used an espresso.

Still, you might want to use a Turkish ibric. This method extracts much caffeine from your grounds, almost like when you use a French press.

Here, coffee grounds are added when the water is boiled. The mixture is boiled again, removed from the heat, and allowed to sit for some minutes.

During this time, they will settle at the ibric’s bottom.

The Vietnamese method of coffee preparation is another way that caffeine is extracted from coffee beans.

Coffee brewed this way takes more time in a double filter, making a reasonably strong cup of coffee.

An espresso passes water with pressure through coffee grounds for a short time. Due to the pressure, the method is advantageous, and much caffeine is extracted this way.

That is the pressure with which the water passes through the coffee grounds.

However, the caffeine extracted by espresso is not as much as extracted using a filter, although this is done at a shorter time.

If you still want to get a second cup of coffee from the same grounds, It’s essential first to consider the kind of coffee you made with the beans and what kind of coffee you expect to get from reuse.  

In most cases, there nothing left in the beans that you can use to get caffeine or flavor.

Is It A Health Risk To Make Coffee From Used Coffee Grounds?

Yes. There is so much risk associated with reusing grounds to make coffee.

Suppose you leave your used coffee grounds to use them some other time to extract caffeine, creating a good environment for bacteria to thrive.

Not unless you want to brew the second cup of coffee less than an hour after your first cup, the coffee grounds will attract bacteria and fungi.

The warmth and wetness are a perfect breeding place for anything nasty.

How Then Can I Reuse Coffee Grounds?

There are other ways that are handy when it comes to reusing coffee grounds.

It’s understandable you may not wish to throw away your precious and costly coffee grounds. You can still reuse them with a lot of success in some other ways.

For instance, you can decide to use them as a body scrub. Although they might be allergic to some people, some people still find them irresistible to scrub their bodies.

You may try this out and see if it has any negative effects on your body. If not, there you have it- a good way to reuse your coffee grounds.

However, a medium-small grind is most suited for this kind of reuse. If you use a large or medium ground, all you will get will not be more than hurting your skin.

On the other hand, if you use a grind that is too fine, they will be lost I the shower. Additionally, a fine grind will not do any scrubbing.

To reuse coffee ground as a scrub, you don’t need any special method but the ordinary way you use a shower scrub.

This will suffice, although you will need to remember that a coffee scrub doesn’t wash you, and therefore, you will need some soap.

You can also use coffee grounds to make a scrub soap the way some hygiene companies do.

You can also use their powder to mix with wax and make authentic coffee-smelling candles.

Can I Reuse Coffee Grounds To Repel Insects?

Yes. There are particular compounds in coffee like diterpenes and caffeine that are toxic to insects and bugs.

Consequently, you can reuse coffee grounds in repelling bugs and notorious insects.

For instance, coffee grounds are effective as far as deterring mosquitoes is concerned. Other insects that cannot withstand coffee grounds are beetles and fruit flies.

Other pests can also be repelled or turned away by coffee grounds.

The process used to repel insects and bugs by use of coffee grounds is simple.

You will only need to set out bowls containing grounds or even sprinkle grounds around your outdoor seating areas.

On the other hand, you can also opt to keep pests from your garden by having the garden littered with coffee grounds. They act as effective barriers for snails and slugs.

Can Coffee Grounds Be Used To Neutralize Odors?

Yes. Coffee grounds are effective in neutralizing many odors. Nitrogen in coffee grounds is effective in eliminating sulfur, a foul-smelling sulfur gas, from the air.

This means that grounds not only absorb but also eliminate odors.

Again, if you have fragrant foods or odors from spoiled foods in your freezer or fridge, placing a bowl of coffee grounds inside the freezer or fridge will neutralize such odors.

Interestingly, some people have used coffee grounds as air fresheners with great success.

All required is filling old pantyhose or socks or using coffee beans and then tying them off to hang at strategic areas in your house.

Alternatively, to remain discrete, you can place them in your shoes, bedroom drawers, gym bag, or under your car seat.

Indeed, any place in your house that needs some deodorizing will benefit from these air fresheners.

After chopping garlic onions, use them to scrub your hands and notice how effective they will be in removing the smell from your hands.

Can Coffee Grounds Reduce The Appearance Of Cellulite?

Yes! It’s an amazing fact that caffeine reduces cellulite. Let me first explain what cellulite is. This is a health condition that makes the skin appear lumpy and dimpled.

Mostly, it occurs among women, where an estimated 80–90% of adult women are affected.

Ideally, cellulite will cause fat deposits in your skin to push through your skin’s connective tissue, where it will commonly show in the buttocks and thighs.

Interestingly, a modest topical application of caffeine (like the one in grounds) is made; this fat may be broken down.

When this happens, blood flow will be increased in the affected area and drastically lower the chances of developing cellulite.

To get these results, mix grounds with either coconut oil or with water and do a 10-minute scrubbing.

This should be done about two times a week in all affected areas.

Can Coffee Grounds Be Used In Dying Easter Eggs And Deepening The Color Of Dark Hair?

Yes. Coffee grounds have also found their place in commercial food as well as in hair dyes.

Many foods and hair dyes are known to contain chemicals in their hundreds.

Many such chemicals are classified as carcinogenic, and the use of such products is a cancer risk.

Luckily, used coffee grounds are a great alternative to these dyes and foods.

Indeed, coffee grounds come as a lovely and gentle alternative to such harsh chemicals, posing no health risk at all.

Additionally, it can be a messy affair to clean ashes from your wood-burning fireplace.

Fortunately, you can use coffee grounds by scattering them in the fireplace to weigh them down.

When you do this, it will be easy to prevent smoke clouds from interfering with your cleaning as they will not form.

Technically, this makes ash removal quite easy. However, it is an effective way to prevent dust from escaping and then getting to other rooms.

When it comes to tenderizing meat, coffee has been used successfully and effectively, giving a soft texture to your meat.

Acids and salt enzymes are used as meat tenderizers. Fortunately, coffee has natural acids and enzymes that make it an effective meat tenderizer.

When used as a meat tenderizer, coffee grounds make the meat have an enhanced flavor. 

Adding used coffee grounds to your preferred dry-rub recipe and applying your rub on the meat before cooking is all you need to do.

Alternatively, you can even rebrew used coffee grounds, make coffee, allow this coffee to cool, and then marinade your meat in your refrigerator for about 24 hours before cooking.

Conclusion

Reusing coffee grounds is perceived as a great idea by some people since you would minimize waste, pinch pennies, and be resourceful.

However, if you consider your enjoyment and health, you will not give the idea a second thought.

Coffee grounds are effective as insects, and pest repellents since it contain toxic compounds that many insects can’t tolerate.

Mosquitoes, flies, and beetles are some of the insects that you will not see around your house if you use grounds as a repellent.

Additionally, grounds are effective against fleas and will save you much time and money if you use them to repel fleas.