What To Do With Old Coffee Beans: 13 Extremely Easy Ideas

Wondering what to do with old coffee beans? I show you some of the most genius ideas I’ve tried and definitely recommend for you to try also in this post.

If your old beans have gone bad or if they’ve turned into stale coffee beans, don’t throw them away just yet! There are actually many great ways and clever ways to repurpose them.

Leftover beans are so useful I even sometimes take them from friends and family who are just about to throw them away!

How to tell if your coffee beans are old

Before we dive into the exciting ways to use old coffee beans, let’s identify when to know your beans are not good to consume anymore. Here are three main signs:

Dull Flavor: This is the #1 sign for me. If your coffee tastes even slightly off, chances are they are not good to use anymore.
Outdated Roast Date: Specialty coffee bags often display a “roasted on” or “best by” date. For optimal flavor, coffee should be brewed within 30 days of roasting. If that date is long ago, it’s time to change them out.
No Purchase Memory: Can’t recall when you bought those beans? I always take this as a sign that that they’re too old to consume.

Wondering how expired coffee beans look like? They either might have a shiny exterior or have grown mold.

Why repurpose old coffee beans

Reduce waste: Repurposing old coffee beans means you’re reducing waste. Instead of throwing them away, use them for skin care and gardening.

Save money: Using every last bit of your coffee beans can help you save money. Instead of buying additional products, you can just repurpose them into other products in the beauty and gardening categories.

Sustainability: Repurposing coffee beans is a way to live sustainably.

What To Do With Old Coffee Beans

What to do with used coffee beans? Here are my top ideas:

1. Exfoliating scrub

The first genius idea I love the most is to turn your old coffee beans into a natural exfoliating scrub for both your face and body!

To make this, first, grind the beans into a fine powder. Then, combine it with coconut oil, honey, or shea butter. Use these coffee scrubs to gently massage onto your skin. Let it sit on your skin for a few minutes, then rinse off.

You can even apply this to your under eyes because coffee is an amazing ingredient to treat under-eye circles.

2. Natural dye

Bored of any white fabrics at home? Dye it a rich brown color with espresso beans!

To dye your fabrics, boil the old coffee beans in water and let them simmer for about an hour. Then, strain the liquid and use it to dye fabrics.

Like old tea leaves, coffee beans can be used to make a natural dye.

3. Odor neutralizer

If I ever a lingering odor in your fridge or pantry, I always resort to using old coffee beans to soak away all the bad smells. Just place a bowl of it in the area to absorb unwanted smells and it’ll even leave behind a pleasant smell of coffee.

Using Old Coffee Beans in the Kitchen

4. Making Coffee Soap

Why spend money on expensive coffee soaps when you can make your own using old coffee grounds? Coffee grounds are a great way to take away dead skin cells and make your skin feel silky smooth.

To make the soap the easy way, start by melting a plain and unscented soap base. Then, add the used ground coffee and optional coffee fragrance oil for scent.

After, pour the mixture into silicone soap molds and spritz with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles. Let it cure for 4-6 weeks, and there you have your homemade coffee soap!

5. Creating Coffee Foods and Desserts

Old coffee beans can add a delightful depth of flavor to various dishes and desserts. You can use them to add coffee flavor into your favorite recipes, such as chocolate cakes, cookies, or even marinades to tenderize meats.

One of my favorite coffee-infused recipes is a coffee-rubbed steak. All you need to do is grind the old beans into a fine powder and mix it with your favorite spices. My favorites are salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Rub the mixture onto the steak and let it marinate for a few hours before grilling or searing. It truly makes the steak taste so much better!

I also love adding it to my chocolate cakes to make a mocha flavor! Another idea is making chocolate-covered espresso beans.

6. DIY Coffee Bean Spice Blend

If you’re a fan of experimenting with different flavors in your cooking, why not create your own coffee bean spice blend? Grind the old coffee beans, then mix them with your favorite spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg.

This aromatic blend can be used as a seasoning for roasted vegetables, sprinkled on top of oatmeal or yogurt, or even added to your morning smoothie for an extra kick of flavor.

7. Cold Brew Concentrate

You’re probably wondering – my beans are bad and I can still use them to make coffee? Yes, it works for cold brew coffee and iced coffee!

Because cold brew is an immersion brewing technique, it can effectively utilize stale coffee beans that may have lost their flavor.

But if you see mold on your beans, it’s definitely not ideal for cold brew.

what can be done with old coffee beans cold brew

What To Do With Expired Coffee Beans

8. Coffee Bean Candle

One of the easiest ways to repurpose old coffee beans is by making a coffee bean candle. I would caution against adding coffee to a jar candle. That’s because when coffee beans come in contact with a flame, it can potentially be a fire hazard.

But, it can work for wax melts!

To make coffee wax melts the easy way, melt some old candle wax and mix it with your coffee beans. Pour the mixture into a wax melt mold and let it cure for at least 1 week.

This is a perfect way to create a cozy and hygge home or achieve that fall aesthetic.

9. Coffee Bean Art and Crafts

If you’re in a creative mood, you can repurpose old coffee beans for various art projects. For instance, consider adhering them to a canvas to add a distinctive texture or arranging them in patterns for coffee bean mosaics.

Additionally, you can use them as embellishments for photo frames, candle holders, or jewelry boxes, imparting a rustic and charming aesthetic to your living space.

This is a really good idea if you don’t have a coffee grinder.

Old Coffee Beans in the Garden

Instead of letting them go to waste, why not put them to good use in your garden? Coffee grounds have benefits that can help your plants thrive and keep pests away.

11. Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer

Coffee grounds has a wealth of nutrients that can be advantageous for your plants, including having a high nitrogen content, potassium, phosphorus, and various minerals conducive to robust growth.

Simply grab a handful of coffee grounds scatter the old grounds around the plants’ bases or incorporate them into the soil. As the grounds break down, they will gradually release these nutrients, offering a natural and organic form of fertilizer for your garden.

12. Coffee Bean Mulch and Compost

Utilizing coffee grounds as garden mulch is another good idea. Mulch aids in soil moisture retention, weed suppression, and temperature regulation.

Apply a layer of coffee grounds around your plants’ bases, ensuring that it doesn’t accumulate against the stems. Over time, these coffee grounds will not only assist in moisture conservation but also decompose, contributing organic material to the soil.

13. Insect Repellent

Did you know that coffee beans can help keep pests away from your garden? Many insects, such as insects and ants are repelled by the strong aroma of coffee. So they can make a really good insect repellent!

Scatter old coffee beans around the plants or create a coffee bean barrier to deter pests from reaching your prized flowers or vegetables. You can also mix crushed coffee beans with water and spray it on the leaves to repel pests.

How To Prevent Coffee Waste

While repurposing old coffee beans is fun and environmentally friendly, it’s best to prevent the situation altogether. Follow these tips to ensure you always have fresh, delightful coffee:

Only buy as much coffee as you need for your consumption.
Store your beans correctly to maintain freshness.
Grind coffee just before brewing for the best flavor.

How To Dispose of Coffee Beans

If you have no immediate use for coffee beans, consider composting them. Coffee beans contain valuable nutrients that can enhance your garden’s fertility.

Simply incorporate them into your compost pile or bin and allow natural processes to take place. As the coffee grounds decompose, they will slowly release nitrogen, potassium, and other essential minerals. This enriches the soil and allows for healthy plant growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I put whole coffee beans in my garden?

You can use whole coffee beans in your garden, but there are some things to be aware of. They can be added to your compost pile to eventually break down and enrich the soil with nutrients. But they will decompose more slowly than used coffee grounds, so results may take longer.

Pest attraction is another concern since they can draw rodents and insects if left on the soil’s surface. To avoid this, bury the beans or mix them well into the soil. For quicker nutrient release, it’s more effective to grind the beans or use used coffee grounds.

Can you use 10 year old coffee beans?

It’s best to not use 10 year old coffee beans because they likely have lost much of their flavor. However, you can repurpose them by adding them to your compost to enrich the soil with nutrients or use them in arts and crafts projects to add a rustic touch.

Which plants do not like coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds should be used in moderation around plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and lavender that prefer less acidic soil. These plants may not thrive if the pH of the soil becomes too acidic due to excessive coffee grounds. To prevent issues, it’s best to mix coffee grounds with other organic matter or compost when using them in your garden.

That’s a wrap on the best ways on what do you do with old coffee beans! I hope this guide helped you discover new ways to use old coffee beans.

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