If you’re like most people, then you enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning, but did you know those old coffee grounds that you toss away can be put to good use?
Here are five reasons to never throw away old grounds again.
1. Beauty scrub
Old coffee grounds make for an amazing exfoliator – just add a little honey for dry skin and lemon juice for oily skin – and because coffee is a natural stimulant, it can make tired and dull skin radiant again. Another trick? Coffee grounds are said to reduce cellulite.
Here’s a quick recipe:
- 1/3 cup epsom salt
- 1 cup coffee grounds
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional… don’t do this if you or the recipient has sensitive skin!)
- 1 cup light olive oil or coconut oil
Directions:
Pour the salt into a mixing bowl. If the salt is very chunky, take a pestle or the back of a large spoon and gently crush it into smaller granules to make for a smoother facial scrub.
Mix in the grounds, brown sugar and oil.
Mix together with just a spoon until evenly combined.
Transfer the mixture to a sealable, air-tight jar.
Use in the morning, once a week as part of your normal beauty care routine, scooping out about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and scrubbing your face with it.
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Rinse the oil off with hot water, then follow with cold water to close your pores.
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2. Hair mask
Before shampooing and conditioning your hair, rub the coffee grounds into your strands, leave them in for 30 minutes and then rinse them out for shinier, silkier, longer hair.
How to do it? Apply 1/3 cup of ground coffee to your wet scalp, massage in circular motions for 60 seconds, and then rinse with your usual shampoo and conditioner.
Warning: If you have color-treated hair, do not use this hair mask as it may darken your color and you don’t want that. On the other hand, if you don’t have color-treated hair, this mask will make your natural color pop!
3. Odor remover
Got a lingering odor that just won’t go away? Put your old coffee grounds in a bowl and place them in your refrigerator or wherever the lingering odor is to get rid of it.
4. Fertilizer
In addition to those apple, banana and orange peels, you can add old grounds to your compost pile. You can even mix them with warm water and use the mixture as a fertilizing spray and/or insect repellent. Score!
5. Marinade
Who would’ve thought that you could use coffee grounds as a marinade? Just add a small amount to your marinade for that extra kick! The bitterness of the grounds helps to bring out the flavors of the meat, but that’s not all! The acids in the grounds will tenderize the meat.
Important Considerations
- Use Used Grounds: Always use grounds that have already been brewed. Fresh grounds are more acidic and can be harmful to some plants.
- Moderation is Key: While beneficial, using too many coffee grounds in one area can create a barrier that repels water and air. Use them in moderation.
- Not for All Plants: Some plants prefer alkaline soil and may not benefit from coffee grounds.
- Potential for Staining: Be mindful when using coffee grounds as a scrub or cleaner, as they can stain porous materials.
Are coffee grounds safe to consume?
Used coffee grounds contain compounds that research suggests may have health benefits by lowering inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer.
However, some doctors advise against eating used coffee grounds because they contain cafestol and kahweol, compounds usually filtered out during brewing but present in the grounds. Older research indicates these compounds might raise blood cholesterol levels.
While some recipes include coffee grounds in baked goods, rubs, and sauces, consuming them occasionally in this manner is likely safe.
