12 ingenious new uses for coffee

It's no secret that I love coffee... I mean I LOVE coffee. 

But the longer I've been running Couva Coffee Couture, the more I'm learning about these wonderful little beans!

Did you know that coffee's not just for drinking anymore my lovely friends?! 

These magical beans have so many other wonderful uses around the house, in the garden and for beauty!

1. Exfoliating scrub

Using a few items around your kitchen, you can make some of the most wonderful exfoliating scrub. Using some used coffee grounds, some olive oil and essential oils of your choice, you can gently buff away the dead skin cells, leaving your skin soft and smooth and delicious! 

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Take 1 tbsp of used coffee grounds, 2 tsp of sugar, 2 tsp of olive or almond oil, 2-3 drops of essential oil (optional). Mix everything together and apply to the skin. Rub gently (particularly if you are using it on your face, avoiding the eye area!), and rinse well. 

2. Face mask

I know most of us start the day with a great cup of coffee to kick-start the day... But how about doing the same for your face? 

Check out this recipe for a wonderful facial treatment that your face is sure to love! 

3. Coffee Soap

And what about some soap with the wonderful benefits of black gold?! There is a wonderful recipe here that shows step-by-step how to make some fantastic coffee soap making use of used coffee grinds!

4. Flavour enhancer

I've already written about how coffee is THE perfect addition to chocolate recipes. There is just something about the intense richness of coffee that brings out the flavour in chocolate. You don't need to add much... a few tablespoons of some very strong brewed coffee or espresso, or even about a teaspoon of fine ground coffee beans really picks up the chocolate flavour, making it more rich and more chocolate-y. 

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But it's not just sweet recipes that benefit from adding the goodness of coffee. 

Adding a bit of coffee to meat also adds an incredible depth of flavour. In stews, add one cup of strong black coffee about halfway through cooking to add richness. You can also create incredible meat rubs for beef, pork or other red meat using coffee grinds. 

Check out this Coffee BBQ Rub or this Dry Coffee Rub. Deelish! 

5. Deodorizer

You can use ground coffee to get rid of stinky smells all over your home like your car, your fridge, or even your cupboard. Place a bowl of dry coffee grounds where the air isn't at its sweetest (best to put them somewhere they won't get knocked over!). Just like magic, the air will be neutralized smelling sweet once again! (This works using the same idea as sniffing coffee beans at the perfume counter to cleanse your sense of smell!)

6. Cleaning and Scouring

Place a few teaspoons of coffee grounds on a thin cleaning cloth to scour away grease and grime. The grounds provide a gentle abrasive to help lift stubborn stains and stuck on stuff. Finish up with a thorough rinse.

7. Hide scratches on wood furniture

Dip a cotton swab into steeped grounds and dab on scratches in dark wood furniture to minimize them. You may want to try it out on a less.visible spot to be sure the results are what you want!

8. Repel bugs and insects in the garden 

Build up a ring of coffee grounds to create a protective border around plants that will help deter ants and slugs.

9. Grow blue hydrangeas

Dig some coffee grounds into the soil at the base of hydrangeas to increase the acidity level of the soil. This helps the shrubs to absorb aluminum, which can also be added to the soil to keep the flowers a vibrant blue colour.

10. Fertilizer for the garden 

Coffee is high in nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium and other trace minerals, which help nourish plants, especially roses or azaleas.

Spread a small amount of coffee grounds  directly to top soil, or added to your watering can. 

11. Composting

Rich in nitrogen, coffee grounds are great for composting and a firm favourite of worms. If you have a compost pile, use one part fresh  grass clippings to one part leaves to one part grounds. Coffee increases the bacteria in the compost and help both soil and compost break down faster.

12. Paint

Artists and crafters have used coffee and tea as a form of 'paint' for ages. Regular brewed coffee can be brushed onto paper and it will dry with a faded, browny, textured look. With repeated applications you can build up the depth of colour to your creation.

There are loads of other great ideas over on our Pinterest page - Why not have a look at some other great coffee-inspired ideas?! 

And don't feel that you need to use your precious beans for these wonderful new uses for coffee... Check if your favourite coffee shop will give you some of their used grounds!

Do you have any other uses for used coffee grounds? 

Please share below!

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