20 unusual ways to use ordinary coffee

How to use coffee grounds

In the garden

Compost:

Coffee lovers who garden - this tip is for you. Coffee grounds can be used to create compost by mixing it with lye. Worms living in compost can feed on microorganisms growing on the surface of coffee grounds. In addition, the grounds themselves perfectly cleanse the worms’ digestive system, helping them digest food faster and more efficiently.

Fertilizer:

Coffee grounds can even be added directly to the soil in small quantities, especially where there are plants that require high levels of acidity, such as azaleas and roses. Coffee is rich in nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium and other minerals.

By spreading a thin layer of coffee grounds on the surface of the soil, you will allow the plant to absorb the nutrients it needs. Make sure that the soil with coffee does not touch plants that do not like high acidity.

Insect repellent:

Coffee by its nature has a persistent aroma that repels many animals and insects. In addition, studies show that mosquitoes, ants, slugs and larvae do not tolerate the high acidity of coffee, and prefer to avoid areas where it is located. This property can help you save your garden from pests.

Animal repelling

Has your neighbor's cat gotten into the habit of coming into your garden? A dog tramples flowers and you don't know what to do about it? To solve this problem, it is not necessary to buy expensive products, because you can painlessly for animals and without harm to their health, wean them from the habit of going where they shouldn’t.

Spread a small amount of coffee grounds over the problem area - that's all that needs to be done. You can also mix the grounds with orange peel - its smell also irritates the receptors of animals, because their sense of smell is much better than that of humans. Don’t worry – such natural remedies will not harm the animal’s health.

Fertilizer for plants

Coffee leftovers contain beneficial substances:

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• nicotinic acid and B vitamins;
• nitrogenous and mineral substances: phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, manganese and calcium.

Organic acids contained in coffee beans are beneficial for the following crops:

1. Radish.
2. Carrot.
3. Tomatoes.
4. Bulgarian pepper.
5. Legumes.

Many flowers will also be grateful to you for such feeding. Among them:

• begonias;
• roses;
• ferns;
• lilies.

To use coffee grounds as a fertilizer, dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:4 and feed the plants with this solution once a week.

Where is coffee used?

Flavor

In order to get rid of unpleasant odors in the house and dispel a romantic aroma in it, it is not at all necessary to buy expensive oils and chemical-based air fresheners. You can successfully create a natural and long-lasting flavor from freshly ground coffee.

To do this, you will need stockings, nylon tights or socks - the main thing is that the fabric is porous, thin, but does not allow coffee to pass through. Buy already ground coffee, or if you have a coffee grinder, make it yourself from fresh beans. Fill the stocking with the resulting powder and tie it. You can decorate the resulting flavor with ribbons or other design attributes.

Cleansing the sense of smell

If you are a frequent visitor to cosmetic or perfume stores, you may have noticed a container of coffee beans sitting on the shelf. It is not there for beauty - it has a certain useful function for the buyer. The thing is that, listening to various sharp aromas of perfumes, we cease to perceive them as separate, we cease to understand the difference.

This can significantly influence the choice of the final product, which over time, when your sense of smell is restored, will bring you disappointment. The smell of coffee beans can cleanse your sense of smell, after which you can once again start choosing the perfumes and cosmetics that suit you. So next time, grab some beans with you if your favorite store doesn't provide them.

What can be made from coffee beans?

Coffee beans are an ideal material for creativity. They are not harmful to health and do not poison the air with toxins; they are beautiful in themselves, and can be easily painted if necessary. The scope of their application is limited only by imagination.

Painting

Even someone who doesn’t know how to draw can make a picture out of coffee beans. The secret is simple - the image is first printed on a printer, and coffee is glued on top of the paint. In this case, there is no need to cover the entire canvas with grains - they are placed only where there are dark areas. For example, if this is a portrait, then only the hair, eyebrows, eyes, lips and nose are blocked. Where fine lines are needed, it is not practical to use whole grains, so they are crushed with a hammer.

Topiary

Topiary is a small (usually up to 20–30 cm in height) tree made from decorative materials. However, it does not have to have a direct resemblance to a tree - for example, topiaries in the shape of a ball or a heart are often found.

To create it you will need the following tools and materials:

• newspaper or toilet paper;
• a small pot or cup for a stand;
• alabaster and water;
• awl;
• a stick (strong enough to support the weight of the top of the topiary, this could be a kebab skewer);
• decorations - optional (colored beads, ribbons or something else);
• quick-setting glue;
• coffee beans;
• PVA glue;
• glue brush;
• disposable plastic or paper cup.

The work is performed according to the following algorithm:

1. A piece of newspaper is crumpled in your hands to form a small ball.
2. In a glass, dilute PVA glue in half with water.
3. The remaining newspaper is torn to shreds.
4. The brush is dipped into a glass with an adhesive solution and a newspaper ball is lubricated, after which scraps of paper are randomly placed on top of the sticky layer. Then the solution is applied again and the ball is covered with paper. This operation is repeated until the ball acquires an almost ideal shape and the desired size. It is recommended to make a ball with a diameter of at least 10 cm.
5. The base blank is left to dry. This process may take several days, but it cannot be accelerated by placing the ball on the battery or influencing it in any other way.
6. When the ball is ready, it is pierced with an awl and a stick moistened with quick-drying glue is inserted into the resulting hole.
7. Next, they begin to decorate the topiary by covering the paper ball with coffee beans. Quick-drying glue is also suitable for this.
8. Now it's time to prepare the stand. To do this, alabaster is mixed with water in a 2:1 ratio (per 1 kg of alabaster - 0.5 liters of water; the amount of ingredients should be taken in accordance with the volume of the pot or cup). The result will be a slurry that will begin to thicken in about 5 minutes. Complete hardening will occur after 25–30 minutes, so you need to have time to stick a stick with topiary into the not yet hardened solution and hold it in one position until the alabaster turns into stone.

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The final stage is decorating the topiary. To disguise alabaster, you can sprinkle coffee beans or colored beads on top of it. The skewer should be braided with ribbons or painted with golden paint. In this case, a pot wrapped in fabric of the same shade will look beautiful.

Stand for pencils or brushes

To make an original stand out of coffee beans, just pour them into a transparent glass container (a vase, an unusual jar, even a small round aquarium will do). In addition to the fact that such a stand will become a decorative item, it will also scent the air in the room. When the smell wears off, you can replace the grains with fresh ones.

How to use expired coffee

Eliminating odors in the refrigerator

Anyone who has a refrigerator in their home is familiar with the unpleasant situation when food items, such as cheese, emit an unpleasant odor that spreads throughout the room every time you try to get the food out. How to quickly and effectively get rid of an annoying aroma without getting rid of food?

Take some freshly ground coffee and pour it into a bag, stocking, or any other container you have on hand. Place it in the refrigerator at the back wall, on any shelf. Coffee will absorb most of the unpleasant odors from food, releasing its coffee flavor.

Natural pest repellent

Do you have household pests in your home? Enlist the help of professionals to treat the premises. There is no need to waste time before their arrival. The smell of coffee is suitable for repelling mosquitoes, ants, slugs, cockroaches and others. Place bowls of coffee grounds, and this will at least temporarily repel pests. In this case, it is recommended to use freshly ground coffee as its aroma will linger longer.

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Coffee grounds can be added to a special shampoo for pets. After this, the composition will become more effective in preventing fleas naturally.

Coffee at home

Dyeing fabric and wood

The dark color of coffee allows it to give fabrics and wood an antique feel. If you have a white fabric that you want to use but it's looking a bit dull, coffee can help you breathe new life into it. Remember that in the end you won't end up with a color that is too dark, no matter how hard you try, but the result will pleasantly surprise you.

Textile:

To dye a piece of fabric, you need to brew a small pot of coffee. After it sits, place the fabric you want to dye there. Leave it in the kettle for at least 24 hours. The longer, the richer the shade. Then rinse gently and leave to air dry. This method will give the fabric a vintage look.

Tree:

Brew a pot of strong coffee with plenty of grounds. Let it sit for a while, take the grounds and apply to the untreated wood. Coffee will give the wood a darker hue, but don't expect too deep a dark color. The longer the grounds remain in direct contact with the wood, the brighter the shade will be.

Drawing

Many artists and creative people, one way or another connected with painting, have been using coffee and tea to create unusual works for decades. When drying on paper, wood or fabric, medium-strength coffee will darken and the pattern will appear.

To give it depth, repeat the application process several times. Coffee will be an unusual alternative to paints when they have already become commonplace. The main thing when working like this is not to mix up the cups when dipping the brush.

Cleaning kitchen utensils

Used coffee grounds can be reused - they will help you wash dishes in difficult cases. To do this, you need to distribute the grounds over the surface of the frying pan or pan that you want to wash, immediately before washing.

The benefit of coffee here is that it helps get rid of stubborn grease from cooking, cleaning even the hardest to reach areas. Small coffee granules are an excellent dishwashing detergent and a helper in every home.

Natural conditioner

If your hair has lost its shine and expensive cosmetics do not give the desired result, try using coffee grounds. The caffeine it contains is great for healthy hair. It stimulates growth and improves scalp health. After you wash your hair, pour the remaining freshly brewed, cooled coffee onto your hair and rub it into your scalp. To prevent coffee from staining your bathtub, use a natural conditioner while leaning over the basin.

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Put a shower cap on your head and leave the mixture for half an hour. After this, it is washed off with warm water. Carry out this procedure once a week, and very soon you will notice that the structure of your hair will improve and a healthy shine will appear in your strands.

Coffee flavor

Coffee beans are used to restore the sense of smell and are a natural flavoring agent. To prepare it you will need:

• Gauze or burlap.
• Coffee beans (it is better to choose a small size).
• Nylon threads (or any other durable ones).
• Glue.
• Decorative elements of your own choice.

It’s not difficult to create an effective odor neutralizer:

• You need to cut out a base from gauze or burlap to create a bag.
• Then you need to pour coffee beans into it.
• Tie using nylon threads.

For decoration, you can use coffee (glue 2-3 pieces to the bag with glue). Ribbons and braid are also used as decoration. In order to hang the fragrance, you need to make a loop at the top of the bag to hang the product in a convenient place.

Coffee wine

Unusual recipes containing coffee - a pleasant-tasting and tonic alcoholic drink. To make coffee wine you will need:

• Drinking water – 3-4 l.
• Grape juice without dyes (natural) – 2-2.5 l.
• Tea (strong brew) – 1 tsp.
• Freshly ground coffee – 10-11 tbsp.
• Granulated sugar (white) – 1-1.3 kg.
• Granulated sugar (brown) -1 kg.
• Wine yeast - the amount is calculated individually, since the concentration varies between brands.

Additionally, fertilizing is used for the active fermentation process. The quantity is also individual and depends on the volume of liquid in the container and the yeast. You can add cocoa or spices to taste.

Cooking methods differ only in the stage of adding spices and cocoa. The classic version is:

• Prepare sugar syrup.
• Add coffee to it.
• Bring to a boil and cover with a lid (methods vary at this stage - you can add cocoa and spices or not).
• The resulting mixture must be passed through cheesecloth to eliminate any pulp in the finished drink.
• Grape juice and tea are added to the filtered liquid and mixed.
• Separately, you need to dilute the yeast in warm water. Fertilizer is added to the liquid at this stage. The resulting liquid is left for a week in a warm and dark place to ferment. The yeast liquid then needs to be poured into a separate container (it is important that there is no dark sediment).

After this fermentation takes 3-4 months. When sediment stops falling to the bottom of the container, the wine is completely ready. It can be bottled. They need to be left for another 3 months before being used as a tasty and unusual drink.

The Importance of Coffee Grinding

Many experts believe that the key to making coffee is grinding.

The quality of the resulting drink largely depends on how the grinding is done. When grinding, it is very important to consider how the ground coffee will be prepared further.

Depending on the preparation method, the grind should be coarser or finer; it is selected for a specific method (device) of preparing coffee.

The finest of all existing preparation methods is considered to be grinding for Turkish coffee , conventionally called “very fine” (or even “dust”).

The next largest particle size is the espresso (called “fine”). In order to evenly pass hot water under strong pressure, the grind must be fine enough, otherwise the water will pass through the coffee too quickly.

Next comes the grind for the Italian moka coffee maker - it can be called “medium-fine”.

Grinding for a French press is “medium”.

To prepare filter coffee, a “medium-coarse” grind is required (in this case, hot water flows through the coffee in the filter under its own weight, and a coarse grind facilitates this process).

And the coarsest grind (referred to as "coarse" or "extra coarse") is used for brewing coffee in a kettle , as well as for brewing it directly in a cup . The preparation procedure here is simplified to the limit, which means that grinding should make the path of hot water as easy as possible.

Why do you need the coarsest grind to brew coffee in a kettle, and the finest grind to brew coffee in a Turk? There is no clear answer to this question, and most coffee experts will answer that this is how it happened historically. One of the explanations for fine grinding for making Turkish coffee is that it allows you to obtain the necessary coffee grounds, which are the most important element of Turkish coffee drinking.

Classification by degree of grinding

Calorie content of coffee beans

For those who are watching their figure, it is important to know the calorie content of coffee beans. The grains themselves have an energy value of 331 kcal per 100 g, of which:

13.9 g – proteins;

29.5 g – carbohydrates;

14.4 g – fats.

The calorie content of natural bean coffee without sugar and without milk is only 2 kcal per 100 mg. This is very little. With moderate addition of sugar, calorie content increases to 10-15 kcal; milk or cream – 40-60 kcal; milk or cream with sugar – 70-80 kcal.

Useful tips

Espresso and Turkish coffee are usually served with water . This is necessary to clear the taste buds of the mouth from foreign tastes before drinking coffee. And it’s easier to drink thick-tasting espresso with water.

Coffee loses its taste very quickly, so it must be stored in an airtight container . If you bought coffee in a bag, then you immediately need to pour it into a jar that closes tightly. Such a jar should be tin or glass, but in no case plastic.

If you buy already ground coffee, you will not feel its true aroma. It is necessary to roast and grind coffee immediately before brewing . Coffee very quickly loses its aroma and beneficial properties.

As for the cooking itself, it should take place in very clean containers . Such utensils should only be used for brewing coffee and not anything else.

For coffee it is best to use soft water .

To prepare Turkish coffee, you need to grind the beans very finely .

When brewing coffee, you should never boil it or bring it to a boil. When the foam begins to rise, you need to immediately remove the Turk or kettle from the heat.

To improve the taste of coffee, you can add a pinch of salt to it.

Basically, coffee is usually served hot, but it can also be served cold , just not warm.

Regular coffee is served in coffee cups , just not glasses or tea cups. And coffee with milk is best served in tea cups.

Production method

The lantern should be made in the following sequence:

1. The jar is washed and degreased.
2. Painting tape is applied to the places where the drawing will be located.
3. The jar is completely painted with black acrylic enamel. It is better to do this using spray paint.
4. After the paint has dried, the tape is peeled off. A paper fire template is attached to the unpainted areas.
5. The outline of the template is outlined with yellow paint, after which it is painted over with stained glass paints. Each side takes about two hours to dry.
6. A handle is made from copper wire using pliers and secured with a ring around the neck of the jar.

You can place a small flat candle at the bottom of the lantern. The candlestick is cut from a tin can lid according to the diameter of the candle. Handles for a candlestick are also made of wire.

Can coffee cause bad breath?

Your favorite drink can give such an unpleasant effect, but there is an explanation for this. Experts say that although old coffee beans are not good enough to make a flavorful drink, many people continue to use them.

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Some people attribute their bad breath to drinking too much coffee, but it may actually be the caffeine that causes it, not the beans. It is best to consult a dentist and therapist to find out the true cause of the unpleasant odor.

Coffee beer: taste, benefits and aroma

If the usual Americano or espresso can no longer surprise a connoisseur of subtle aroma, then he should try coffee beer, which is based on coffee and malt. A low-alcohol drink with an alcohol content of up to 8% has the following features:

• Positively affects the nervous system.
• Helps quench thirst.
• Eliminates hangover symptoms.
• It has an original and unusual taste.

You need to drink this coffee with beer chilled. It is important to remember that the drink is not recommended to be consumed in large quantities, as it contains alcohol and caffeine.

The beer contains Rwandan Robusta coffee and barley. The grains are well roasted, with a bright taste and rich aroma. Fermented coffee beans are used to brew beer with minimal alcohol content. The result is a virtually non-alcoholic drink with a traditional coffee taste. There is also a special beer foam.

Here's how to make coffee beer:

• Coffee – 200 ml.
• Dark beer – 200 ml.

Coffee should be prepared by brewing without adding sugar. After this, the drink should be left to cool to room temperature. After this, you will need to mix it with dark beer in a 1:1 ratio.