Aside from the health benefits you can get from a delightful cup of coffee, there are also many other creative ways it can be used. From making a DIY exfoliating scrub, giving your compost a boost, and removing unwanted odors from your home, this post is going to show you why coffee is more than just a drink.
Here are some amazing ways to use your coffee:
Gardening
Coffee can be used in your garden in many different ways:
- As a deterrent: Because of its acidity and strong scent, coffee can serve as a great pest deterrent in the garden. It keeps away slugs and snails, and when paired with orange peels, the strong scent can keep rodents and felines out.
- To attract worms: Coffee also attracts helpful worms to your garden which enrich your soil
- To boost your compost: Throwing your used coffee grounds in your compost will help boost its nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, copper, and magnesium levels. Because of this, it is a great natural fertilizer that will promote the healthy growth of most plants. Read more about beginner-friendly composting tips here!
Cleaning your pots
No one likes cleaning greasy pots. However, when you gently rub coffee grounds on your greasy pans as you wash them, the pans will become easier to clean. The coffee will lift off food and grease particles, leaving you with a cleaner pot.
Great for puffy eyes
If you have puffy or inflamed eyes, coffee can help ease the effect. Caffeine in coffee stimulates blood flow and widens your blood vessels. When you dab fine-ground coffee paste and some liquid coffee around your eyes, it will increase the flow of blood to the area, naturally tightening your skin. This reduces the buildup of any fluid under the eyes and a reduction of inflammation.
Give your oatmeal a kick
Replace part of the water you use to cook your oatmeal with some leftover coffee. The oats will absorb the coffee flavor and caffeine. This will not only make it taste better, but you will also get that morning coffee kick straight from your oatmeal. To enjoy great-tasting coffee no matter what time of the day, it’s best to clean your coffee machine at least once a month.
Natural flea repellent
If you have pets, you probably already know how expensive dealing with fleas can be. Most flea-removal products that you can buy today are loaded with strong chemicals that may not be good for your pet’s health. The good news is that fleas hate coffee! This means you can use it as a natural flea repellent. To do this, you must rub coffee grounds generously in your pet’s fur after shampooing. Let it sit for a few minutes then rinse it off as you normally would.
Note that coffee grounds are less effective than prescription products. If your pet has a serious flea problem, you may want to consult your vet. Additionally, ensure that your pet does not eat the coffee grinds as it is not good for pets to eat.
Coffee candles
Sometimes, simply smelling coffee is enough to give you an enhanced sense of focus. You do not have to down an entire cup or two of coffee to get that kick. You can bring the sweet smell of coffee with you everywhere by making coffee candles. This is so simple to do using materials you can buy from any crafts store:
- Melt about 7 tea light candles
- Position a long wick in the middle of a small jelly jar
- Slowly pour the wax into the jar around the wick
- Intermittently add coffee grounds as you pour until they are well mixed with the wax
- Let it cool and you are good to go!
Lighting a coffee candle will transform any room in your home into a coffee-scented heaven!
Coffee air freshener for your fridge or car
If you feel you’re drinking too much coffee but can’t get enough of its aroma, here’s another tip! If your fridge smells stale, put dry coffee grounds in a small tub with holes in it. Placing this tub in the fridge will absorb any odors. For your car, dry some coffee grounds on a baking sheet. Fill an old sock with them and tie off the end, then leave this sock somewhere open inside your car.
To color your hair
Coffee can help you darken your hair. It works especially well for people with brown hair. To do this, brew several large cups of coffee and pour them into a large basin. After the coffee has cooled, lean over the basin head first. Use a cup to thoroughly soak your hair with the coffee. Wring it out gently, then cover your head with a shower cap. Let everything soak for about 3 hours. Finally, rinse it out with clean water. Repeat this process as often as possible until your hair becomes as dark as you want.
Coffee marinade
Need a quick and easy marinade for your steak? Take your leftover coffee and add some chopped garlic, onions, shallots, soy sauce, and vinegar to it. Simple, fast, and delicious!
To clean your fireplace
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, cleaning it can be a messy process. The fact that ash rises in clouds of smoke do not help, either. The good news is that you can scatter coffee grounds over the ashes to weigh them down to prevent them from rising in clouds. This makes everything easier to sweep up.
Coffee ice cream
If you want to try something new, how about some coffee ice cream? Here is a simple recipe that you can use:
- Heat 1 ½ cups of whole milk and ½ cup of heavy cream in a pot over medium heat until it is mildly scalded
- Beat 4 egg yolks and ⅔ cup of sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add a pinch of salt to the mixture.
- Add the milk to the mixing bowl until everything is well combined
- Pour everything back into the pot and cook it over low medium heat until it thickens. In about 15 minutes, it will be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon
- Remove the pot from the heat
- Stir in 1 cup of leftover coffee
- Allow everything to cool to room temperature before freezing it in your ice cream maker following the manufacturer’s instructions
Hiding scratches in furniture
If you have scratches on your table, you can mix used coffee grounds with ¼ cup of water and ¼ cup of vinegar to make a coffee stain. You can then use this to fix any scuffs on your furniture. Be sure to let it steep for about an hour before using it. Use quick coats for lighter woods and let it sit for a while before wiping it away for darker woods. 
Final Thoughts
A study says that three-quarters of Australians drink at least one cup a day. Plus, more and more people are brewing their coffee at home to save some cash in these trying times. That means a lot of used coffee grounds to discard! The good news is that instead of throwing them out, you can use coffee in many different practical ways as outlined in this guide. If you want to take a sip in the right direction, you can check Australia’s most sustainable coffee pods, and “Just Add Water” specialty coffee! Hopefully, this guide has opened you up to a whole new world of potential uses for your favorite drink!
Guest Author: Jade Piper is an experienced writer and a keen environmentalist.
