7 Things you can do with Leftover Coffee

Oh, did you just brew your coffee and got so busy with your work, only to find it too cold already to drink after? Or maybe you just made too much and now you can’t drink it all. Oops, don’t throw it on the sink just yet, my friend. You paid a lot for that coffee ground and beans to just waste it. You see, there are a lot of things you can do with your leftover coffee, and yes, you’re lucky as we are here to tell you just as that.

We know how bad it is to waste a brewed coffee in Manila, so here are 7 things that you can do with your leftover coffee.

1. Use leftover coffee for cooking. There are a lot of food recipes that call for coffee, dude. From baking your favorite desserts, and cakes, to marinating your steaks, to making ice cubes and smoothies, the sky is the limit to when using coffee for your recipes.

You can also use your coffee leftover to cook your oatmeal in the morning, or to try some new recipe experiment.

Just a little imagination can take your meal to the next level, and can even make you discover new recipes to prepare for your next family reunion.

2. Get all artsy with coffee. Painting with coffee has opened a new world for creative expression. What’s good in using this kind of medium for painting is that it is non-toxic and is also a cheap way to do your craft and cool stuff! Get your brush and paper ready, and let your imagination take you in the world of art with coffee.

3. Water your plants. Yes, you read it right. You can use your leftover coffee to water your acid-loving plants like your orchids, roses, and azaleas. Let your leftover coffee cool down and dilute it with the same amount of water and water it on your plants. Remember to limit your coffee waterings to once every week or two weeks and keep an eye on your plants when watering with coffees. Yellowing leaves can indicate that your soil has too much acid that can get your plants sick or dead.

4. Use leftover coffee ground to get rid of bad odors. If your freezer and refrigerator are producing a bad smell and a funky odor, you can place your leftover coffee ground inside and let it absorb the odor in your refrigerator.

You can also let the coffee ground get dry then use it as an air freshener in your living room, car, or in your bathroom. You can put it inside a clean sock or stocking then voila, you already have a portable air freshener in the house, courtesy of your favorite coffee grounds.

Also, you can sprinkle some of your dried coffee ground on your jar of a candle, light it up and it will produce coffee scents that will turn your living space into a coffee-scented haven.

5. Use leftover coffee grounds as fertilizer. Even after brewing your favorite coffee grounds, the leftover grounds are still packed with minerals that are good as a natural fertilizer to your soil and your plants. Simply sprinkle your coffee ground directly on your flower bed and you’ve got a natural fertilizer for your soil and plants. Moreover, coffee grounds can also attract helpful worms that keep your soil rich and healthy.

6. Leftover grounds are good as scrubbing sponge for your pots and pans. If you are having a hard time cleaning your saucepan or your pot, then you can use your leftover coffee grounds as your scrubbing sponge. Simply, toss the coffee grounds on your pots and rub it with your washcloth and it will help you remove the leftover debris in your pots.

7. Use it as hair dye at bath time using bath bombs. Coffee is a good way to add some shine to your hair. All you have to do is use the leftover brewed coffee, pour it through your hair, let it sit for up to 60 minutes and rinse and you’ve got darker, healthier, and shinier hair. You can also do the same with your leftover coffee ground, scrub it in your hair and scalp and it will help exfoliate your scalp and help in hair growth.

You may also add the coffee grounds to your shampoo and body wash, as your daily scrub.

What to do with used coffee grounds

Leftover grounds are just as useful as leftover brewed coffee. Let them dry out first on a tray or plate so they don’t go mouldy, then try these ideas:

• Compost and garden: add grounds to your compost, or mix a thin layer into garden soil. They add organic matter as they break down. Use them sparingly, because a thick layer can form a crust that blocks water.
• Fridge and shoe deodoriser: put a bowl of dried grounds in the fridge, or fill an old sock and leave it in shoes or the car to absorb odours.
• Scouring scrub: the gritty texture helps lift stuck-on food from pots and grills. Avoid delicate or non-stick surfaces.
• Body and hand scrub: mix grounds with a little coconut oil for a simple exfoliating scrub. Test on a small patch of skin first.
• Garden pest deterrent: some gardeners scatter dried grounds around plants to discourage slugs and ants. Results vary, so treat it as a bonus rather than a cure.
• Crafts: use grounds to age paper, or add texture to homemade candles and soap.

Can you brew coffee grounds twice?

You can, but the second brew will be weak and often bitter, because most of the flavour was extracted the first time. If you want to stretch your coffee, use the grounds for the ideas above instead, and brew each cup with fresh coffee at the right ratio.

Surprised on different things you can do with your used and leftover coffees? Now that you have learned that there is more to leftover coffee than just a substance in the dumpster, we hope that you would stop throwing your leftover coffees away and start being creative on recycling your favorite coffees to extend its life. We all love our coffees, after all.

Happy drinking!

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