While it might be hard to believe, there are almost 70 MILLION* cups of coffee consumed every day in the UK. With a population of over 63 million, that's a lot of coffee being consumed!
And that also means that there is a lot of coffee grinds left over at the end of the day. But not all those grinds end up in the bin. While browsing the Caffe Culture blog this morning, I came across an article that I thought you'd find interesting. The "bean to cup" coffee machine experts at Strong Vend have come up with some innovative ways of giving new life to old beans.
Here are some of their most fab uses, according to Chris Strong from Strong Vend, for leftover coffee and grinds that are great for the environment...
You can cook with them!
Using both the brewed and ground forms of the beans, they can add a wonderfully rich flavour to sweet and savoury dishes. As well as the traditional use in Tiramisu, you can really take the flavour of your culinary creations to the next level by adding in a bit of coffee...You can add some strong espresso granules to your chocolate mousse (have you tried the Couva take on easy chocolate mousse?!). You can stir in some strong coffee into cake mixtures instead of the recommended liquid. Or how about some sticky BBQ ribs with coffee and pepper rub?
Visit our Pinterest pages, and you'll find a wealth of great recipe ideas that make the best use of coffee in the yummiest ways.
You can drink them up!
Scientists from the University of Minho in Portugal have figured out a way of turning used coffee grinds into alcohol. By fermenting a mixture of used coffee grinds, sugar, and yeast, they have made a liquor that is similar to vodka and tequila. While most of the caffeine disappears in the fermentation process, imagine what your next Coffee Martini would taste like! Yum!
Use it to keep bad breath at bay!
Research has shown that sucking on a coffee bean helps to prevent bacteria that cause bad breath... who knew?!
Feed them to your garden!
Due to it's high acid content, coffee grinds make a wonderful fertilizer for your acid-loving plants (like Magnolias, Azaleas, Acers, etc). Spread a thin layer of coffee grounds directly on the soil right near the root base.
The used grinds also make a great addition to your compost heap... Coffee is rich in nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium so they also acts as a great booster for decomposition.
Use them to get rid of garden pests!
Coffee grinds are a great non-toxic way to reduce ants, slugs, snails and maggots in the garden. Simply sprinkle dry coffee grounds in a ring around infected plants to create an acidic barrier between the plant and pest.
Use them to freshen up stale air!
To get rid of some pongy smells, coffee grinds do the trick. Wrap some dry coffee beans or grinds in some cloth and tie it with some string (or you could use a clean sock). Place the coffee sachet wherever you need to freshen things up - your car, your fridge, your hubby's shoes!!
Use them to get beautiful!
Finely ground coffee beans make a wonderful exfoliator for your skin. Mix together 4-5 tablespoons of freshly ground coffee, a teaspoon of sugar or salt, and mix with some olive oil until it makes a thick paste. Gently rub the mixture into your skin (I would suggest avoiding the face), and it will help to gently remove dry skin, leaving your skin soft and smooth.
You can also use coffee grinds to help beautify your hair... Mix together some coffee grinds and your favourite shampoo. Work this into your hair, paying attention to the scalp (where the coffee grinds will help to exfoliate the skin and help remove build up). Rinse your hair well. You can then follow with a rinse of cooled brewed coffee to add shine.
Who knew coffee was so versatile?!
Couva Coffee Couture...Keeping coffee hotter for longer!
(*according to the UK Tea Council)
