As a nation of coffee lovers, it’s no surprise that on average Australians drink 175 cups of coffee a year.

While we all know the importance of reusable cups, many don’t know the wastage that comes from the coffee grounds themselves. There are a variety of ways you can reuse your used grounds at home. From cleaning, to gardening, they’re an eco-friendly alternative to many household items.

Seven Miles shared seven ways to be more sustainable that you may not have thought of yet. 

The Coffee Scrub

Your humble coffee grounds have a variety of beauty benefits thanks to their antioxidant properties. One beauty hack for used coffee grounds is a simple, yet effective, at-home body scrub. In addition to the grounds, you can pop in a tablespoon of brown sugar and a tablespoon of a natural oil – such as peppermint essential oil. The brown sugar helps the scrub stick together and oils help moisturise deeply.

Lather up

If you’re feeling particularly crafty, used coffee grounds are a perfect edition to a DIY bar of soap! Whether you use the melt-and-pour method (with pre-made soap bases) or the cold process using your own recycled cooking fats, water, and lye. Use this hack only if you love the smell of coffee, as the added aroma is the main appeal.

For a good hair day

Great for your skin and also does wonders for your hair and scalp. Simply work the grounds into your scalp with your fingertips and rinse with cool water. A 2007 study published in the International Journal of Dermatology suggests that the caffeine in coffee grounds can even stimulate hair growth.

Surf’s up

If you’re a keen surfer, consider this hack for your next trip to Batemans Bay. You can make your own surf wax using coffee grounds – all you need is beeswax and coconut oil. The resulting aromatic wax is 100 per cent natural and plastic-free.

Gardening guru

Used coffee grounds are your best friend when it comes to composting. Coffee grounds are naturally rich in nitrogen, which provides bacteria the energy to turn organic matter into compost. When using coffee grounds as a fertiliser, this helps add organic material to the soil, improving drainage, water retention, and aeration in the soil.

Clean and sparkling

A coarse texture and strong smell go hand-in-hand when it comes to cleaning. Simply sprinkle grounds on pots and pans, the grill, or inside the sink and scrub as usual. This is an eco-friendly substitute to most household cleaners. However, it is not recommended to use on delicate crockery or anything with a light-coloured surface that could easily be stained.

Cooking accompaniment

Did you know that coffee contains an enzyme that helps soften meat and enhance its flavour? For your next BBQ, try adding your used grounds to a dry-rub recipe – the grounds will form a dark, crispy crust. Or you can rebrew the grounds and use the resulting coffee as a marinade. 

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