Every morning, the same story repeats itself in millions of homes. You make a warm coffee, full of caffeine to start your workday, and then, without a second thought, the coffee grounds left in the machine go straight into the trash. But… did you know you’re throwing away a super product that can help you take care of your plants naturally?
It’s not just simple waste!! Coffee works as a slow-release fertilizer, rich in nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It helps improve soil health and, most importantly, repels insects! A greener, stronger, and more resilient lawn… doesn’t that sound good?
And the best part: it’s free, eco-friendly, and easy to apply. Let us show you how!
The secret is in its nutrients… and how it improves the soil
Used coffee has an ideal composition to strengthen your lawn. In case you didn’t know, it provides nitrogen (very important for grass growth), phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium (to keep the colour), and also improves the soil structure by enhancing drainage and moisture retention. What more do you need to start trying it?
The best thing is that when you mix it with compost or wood chips, it becomes a powerful booster that enriches the soil gradually, without the harsh chemicals of synthetic fertilizers. And… it repels bugs! Not a single one will come near.
How to use coffee grounds
Be careful, not all coffee is good for this. It’s essential that you use used coffee grounds, not fresh coffee. Unbrewed coffee can alter the soil’s pH and end up harming your plants. So here’s how to use the coffee grounds:
- Let the used coffee grounds dry completely before storing them in a jar. Label them well, otherwise your next coffee is going to taste like water!
- Spread them directly on the soil or mix them with compost.
- Avoid applying too much in one spot, as it can form a crust and affect soil aeration.
If you have pets, make sure you don’t leave the coffee in areas they can access, because as you know, animals can’t have coffee.
And if you don’t drink that much coffee? There’s a solution
Don’t produce enough used coffee to cover your garden? No problem. Many local coffee shops are happy to give away their used grounds to anyone who asks, since it helps them reduce their waste volume.
You can ask directly at your favourite café, some even have it ready for customers to pick up!
Can coffee grounds replace fertilizer?
Even coffee provides valuable nutrients, it shouldn’t be used as the only fertilizer. It works better as a supplement in a routine, combined with other organic materials like fruit scraps, dry leaves, or grass clippings.
Do you want to know how to make homemade compost?
What if we told you that making homemade compost is much easier than you think? You only need a plastic bottle and organic scraps (never meat scraps!!!). Here’s the step-by-step:
- Take a plastic bottle, poke small holes in the cap, and cut off the bottom part of the bottle.
- Add a bit of soil, and then start adding plant scraps (fruits, vegetables, eggshells).
- Create “layers”: one layer of plant scraps, then a piece of paper or cardboard, and repeat until the bottle is full.
Once full, pour a bit of water to keep it moist and bury the neck of the bottle in your favourite plant or garden spot. - You’ll need some patience… but in 6 to 8 weeks, you’ll have homemade, 100% recycled compost!
Next time you clean out your coffee machine, think twice before tossing the leftovers. Those dark grounds that seem useless are actually a free, natural source of nutrients for your garden!!! And if you don’t have a garden, you can always use it as a hair mask. What?! Try it!!
Reuse #ForOurPlanet!
Think twice before you throw away.
Did you know that coffee grounds are an excellent compost ingredient?
You can apply them directly onto the soil around most garden plants.
What can you do for a more #CircularEconomy? pic.twitter.com/liA974RwRw
— Dept. Environment, Climate and Communications (@Dept_ECC) May 22, 2025