7 ways to repurpose coffee grounds and make the most out of your coffee experience

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the early morning is more than just therapeutic to your average coffee drinker. It's a quintessential part of one’s self-care routine. 

A cup of Joe is essential for most, but it doesn’t have to start and end in a mug for the perfect pick-me-up. 

Believe it or not, coffee beans are one of mother nature's miracle products. And they can help you go zero-waste in the new year if you think outside the box. 

Save your coffee grounds before you clean out your espresso machine or coffee filter to make the most out of your caffeinated experience. 

Keep on reading for seven quick and fun ideas on how to repurpose your coffee grounds.

Espresso brownies 

Ingredients

⅓ cup of espresso grounds

• 2 whole eggs
• ½ cup salted butter
• 5 ounces of bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (chips or chopped)
• 1 ½ cups light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup of espresso (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Grease or line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. 
3. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat, then slowly add in chocolate. Stir continuously unless the mixture is combined and completely melted.
4. Add brown sugar and espresso grounds to a large mixing bowl, then pour the butter and chocolate mixture and mix all the ingredients together.
5. Add in eggs and make sure they’re well combined. 
6. Proceed to add the dry ingredients (cocoa powder, salt, flour, vanilla and coffee) and mix until smooth, without clumps. 
7. Pour the brownie batter into the pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, checking in on them regularly with a toothpick. 
8. Leave the brownies out to cool and enjoy!

DIY coffee scrub

Ingredients

• ½ cup coffee grounds
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup coconut oil

Instructions

1. Mix your three ingredients until you’ve got a textured consistency.
2. Store in an airtight container after each use. 
3. Refrigerate your body scrub to prevent mold and replace your batch every few weeks. 

Coffee ground biscottis 

Ingredients 

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ¼ cup of coffee grounds
• 2 tsps cocoa powder
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 2 tsps salt
• 2 eggs 
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 ¼ cups of hazelnuts (chopped, optional) 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or grease a 6 by ¼ inch baking pan.
3. Mix your dry ingredients (flour, coffee grounds, sugar, cocoa and baking powder, salt) in a large mixing bowl.
4. Add in the eggs and yolk slowly in the mixture, making sure it’s fully incorporated in the mixture. 
5. Fold the hazelnuts in the dough and knead for a few minutes (optional).
6. Form the dough into 4 logs that are 6 x ½ inches wide. Place on the pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until the texture is golden brown.
7. Let the biscotti logs cool and reduce the oven temperature to 200°F. 
8. Once cooled, cut the log into 5-6 slices and put them back in the oven to bake for an additional 35-45 minutes, until crispy and hardened. 
9. Allow them to cool again before serving, and enjoy!

Homemade coffee candles

Supplies

• Coffee mugs or glass containers
• Natural candle wicks
• Recycled or soy candle wax
• Leftover coffee grounds
• Saucepan
• Funnel
• Superglue 
• Spoon or chopsticks 

Instructions

1. Wash and dry your mugs.
2. Add superglue to the bottom of the mug and set the wick on top, wait for it to dry. 
3. Melt 12 ounces of candle wax in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
4. Once the wax melts, pour a thin layer inside of the mug with the wick standing straight up through a funnel. 
5. Add a thin layer of your leftover coffee grounds, then pour the rest of the wax inside the mug.
6. Add the remainder of the coffee grounds to the wax and mix gently. 
7. Let dry for an hour and trim the wick before burning. 
8. Light the candle and indulge!

Mosquito repellent 

Supplies

• Coffee grounds
• Aluminum foil
• Bowl 
• Lighter or matches

Instructions

1. Pour your coffee grounds in a bowl layered with foil and leave in a cool, dark place until completely dried out.
2. Place the coffee grounds outside on a flat surface where you want to ward off mosquitos. 
3. Use your lighter to burn the grounds and embrace your insect-free zone. 

Fertilizer

Simply sprinkle fresh coffee grounds over: 

• Your garden soil before planting.
• Acid absorbent plants like azaleas, hydrangeas, blueberries, etc.
• Root crops like carrots, rutabagas and radishes. 

Deodorizer 

Use your fresh coffee grounds as air fresheners: 

• Leave in your refrigerator and stuffy units for crisp air circulation.  
• Scrub your kitchenware to get rid of marks or stubborn scents. 
• Sprinkle over your carpets and rugs overnight to remove odour. 
• To freshen up your bathroom.
• Keep the inside of your car smelling good.

Are you all about the zero-waste approach? Follow the FoodHero blog for more helpful tips and tricks and install our mobile app to kick your habits into high gear by saving up to 25-60% on groceries!