It’s natural to wonder what to do with old coffee beans once they go past their expiry date. Throwing them all away seems like a waste. Why not put them to good use?
This guide can help you utilize your stale coffee beans in the best ways possible. So, without further ado, lets get started!
How to Know If Your Coffee Beans Are Not Fresh Anymore
First things first, let’s figure out if your coffee beans are really old. Here are a few hints:
If your coffee tastes flat or stale, it’s likely that your coffee beans have lost their freshness.
Look on your coffee bag for a “roasted on” date somewhere on the packaging. Beans tend to be most flavorful within the first month after roasting.
Think back to when you brought those coffee beans home. If the memory is fuzzy because it’s been so long, chances are the beans are not in their prime condition.
Use Old Coffee Beans for Home Decor
You can use old coffee to enhance your home decoration. If you have unused coffee beans, they can become a trendy and aromatic addition to your home. Here’s a simple way to use them:
Find a clear vase or a candle holder.
Fill it with coffee beans. You can fill it to the top or just halfway, depending on the look you want.
Place a candle on top of the beans in the holder, or if it’s a vase, consider adding some faux flowers for contrast.
The beans not only look stylish but also release a subtle coffee scent, especially when a candle warms them up.
Make a Smooth Cold Brew
Stale beans can create a delightful cold brew coffee. Unlike a hot cup of joe that highlights the beans’ acidity and aroma, cold brew coffee brings out a smoother, sweeter flavor, making it ideal for older beans.
Here’s how to make it:
Coarse Grind: Start by grinding your beans coarsely. This size allows for the right extraction rate, ensuring your coffee isn’t too bitter or too weak.
Soak Overnight: Combine your grounds with cold water in a jar or pitcher. A good ratio is about 1 cup of water to every ounce of coffee. Let it steep in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
Filter: After steeping, strain the brew through a fine-mesh sieve or a coffee filter to remove the grounds. Your cold brew concentrate is ready!
Dilute and Serve: Mix the concentrate with water or milk to your taste preference. Enjoy it over ice for a refreshing drink.
Transform it into a variety of delightful beverages like iced lattes or creamy smoothies. You can even get creative in the kitchen and use it in recipes such as tiramisu and coffee-flavored marinades.
Compost Your Coffee Grounds
Instead of letting coffee beans go to waste, why not use them in waste? Composting is a fantastic way to use old coffee beans. Incorporating coffee grounds in your fertilizer mix can be beneficial for your garden.
Your old coffee grounds can enrich the soil with nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous. The caffeine in the beans can help repel and deter insects and other pests that might want to nibble on your plants.
How To Start a Compost Pile
Starting a compost pile is easy. You can begin by collecting your daily coffee grounds in a container.
Once you have enough, add them to a compost bin or a designated spot in your yard. Mix them with other organic materials like fruit peels, eggshells, and grass clippings. Over time, these ingredients break down and turn into compost.
Whip Up a Coffee Body Scrub
Coffee can be used to create a homemade body scrub. Here’s how you can use those seemingly useless coffee beans in a new way!
Gather Your Ingredients
Used coffee grounds can exfoliate your skin. You’ll also need some sugar, coconut oil, and an optional dash of vanilla extract for a pleasant scent. Make sure you have a clean bowl and a spoon to mix everything together.
Mix It Up
Put half a cup of ground coffee into your bowl.
Add a half cup of sugar; this helps create a gentle texture.
Next, pour in a quarter cup of melted coconut oil to bind the mixture and moisturize your skin.
If you like, a teaspoon of vanilla extract can be added for an extra touch of fragrance.
Stir everything until it blends into a paste-like consistency.
How to Use Your Scrub
To use your new coffee scrub, simply scoop some into your hands and gently rub it on your body in a circular motion. Focus on areas with dry skin, like elbows and knees.
The coffee and sugar work together to remove dead skin cells, while the coconut oil hydrates your skin, leaving it feeling smooth and refreshed. After the whole process, rinse off with warm water.
Storage Tips
After making your new lotion, you’ll want to store it properly. Find a jar with a tight-fitting lid to keep your scrub fresh. Keep it in a cool, dry place.
When stored correctly, your homemade body scrub can last for a couple of months. Just make sure to keep water out of the jar to prevent spoilage.
Bake Delicious Coffee Desserts
Old coffee beans can be used to create aromatic desserts that will delight your taste buds. Here are a few examples.
Coffee-Flavored Cake
Transform your kitchen into a coffee lover’s paradise by starting with a classic coffee-flavored cake. It’s simpler than you might think. Just add a scoop of your unused coffee grounds to your favorite cake batter.
The coffee will give your cake a deep, robust flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the cake. You can even sprinkle a little on top before baking for an extra kick!
Brownies
For those who adore chocolate, coffee-infused brownies are a must-try. The bitterness of coffee perfectly balances the richness of chocolate, making for a decadent treat.
Just mix a little of the coffee grounds into your brownie mix, and prepare to be amazed at the difference it makes.
Milkshakes
On a hot day, nothing beats a cool, creamy coffee milkshake. Simply blend together ice cream, milk, sugar, and a teaspoon of coffee grounds until smooth. Pour it into a tall glass and enjoy a refreshing twist on your afternoon pick-me-up.
Other Fun Ways To Use Old Coffee Beans
There are several other repurposing tricks for old coffee beans that you can try
One creative use is to absorb odors in your home by placing them in a small dish or sachet in areas like closets or refrigerators.
Another option is to use them as a natural dye for fabrics or paper, utilizing coffee’s ability to stain.
The acidic nature of coffee grounds also makes them effective as a cleaning scrub for stubborn stains on dishes or countertops. Simply mix the grounds with a bit of water to create a paste and scrub away the grime.
Final Thoughts: Reduce Coffee Waste
While there are several creative uses for old beans at home, it’s even better to avoid waste in the first place.
Buy only what you need, store your beans properly, and grind them fresh each time you make a cup of coffee.