Coffee is best when it is fresh. As we have often noted, green coffee beans properly stored remain fresh for up to three years. Roasted coffee beans that remain in the package can be good for up to a year and coffee that you roast and store properly remains fresh for at least six months. When you open a container of ground coffee or grind coffee at home the coffee retains its flavor, aroma, and antioxidant potency for only a few days as air contact with what had been the interior of the coffee bean hastens oxidation. And, of course, there may be time when you forget about stored coffee, leave on a trip and come back months later, etc. You will probably want to buy new coffee and start over and then you need to think of uses for old coffee beans.
Use Old Coffee to Fight Insects and other Pests
Although we may love our coffee, such is not the case with all living things. In fact, coffee can be toxic for many of the pests that tend to infest gardens and damage plants around your home. Even snails and slugs tend to avoid crossing areas covered with coffee grounds. Simply sprinkle old coffee grounds around plants that you wish to protect. Unlike with the use of insecticides, you are not damaging the environment and won’t have to throw out your old coffee. The same approach works for protecting your pets from fleas. Apply coffee grounds after shampooing the pet’s hair and then rise off. Do not leave coffee grounds on the hair as your pet may ingest coffee grounds which may be toxic to your dog or cat.
Old Coffee as Fertilizer or Compost
Although your old coffee may lack taste and aroma it does not lack potassium, nitrogen, or calcium. Thus, make use of your old coffee by fertilizing your garden. As with all fertilizers, use in moderation to avoid causing excess soil acidity. In addition, a layer of coffee grounds can also act as compost but with the additional benefits of fertilizer. Simply add old coffee grounds to you bin or pile of compost and mix in well.
Absorb Noxious Odors With Old Coffee Grounds
Like when you put a box of baking soda in your frig to absorb odors, you can do the same with a bowl of old coffee grounds. The same approach works in bathrooms and pantries. Rather than throwing out old coffee grounds, recycle them and save on the next box of baking soda or other deodorizer that you were going to purchase.
Use Old Coffee Grounds As an Abrasive to Scrub Pots and Pans
Coffee grounds are mildly abrasive. As such they work well in helping scrub away food residue stuck to pots, pans, and dishes. Just sprinkle on the pots or dishes and scrub away. Simply make sure to rinse well afterwords to avoid coffee stains. The same approach works for an abrasive material to wash your hands and to remove odors from work or from cooking with onions or garlic. In fact, if you are looking for an effective exfoliant, look no farther than your container of old coffee grounds. Mix with coconut oil, olive oil, or your usual exfoliant and scrub for your face and body.
Use Old Coffee As a Natural Dye
Take advantage of how coffee can stain fabrics or paper and use it to enhance your arts and crafts or even clothing.. Just fill a pot of boiled coffee grounds and soak your fabric or paper. The result is a light to medium brown depending on how long you soak and how much coffee you use.
Temporarily Reduce Cellulite With Old Coffee Grounds
Because the caffeine in coffee stimulates release of adrenaline, it also can temporarily improve blood flow. In the case of cellulite, its appearance is briefly improved by applying coffee grounds to the skin.
How Do You Know That Your Old Coffee Has Gone Stale?
If you really think that coffee that has sat opened on the shelf for years is ok, brew it and taste it. Sniff to discover if any aroma remains. The odds are strongly against old coffee being anything but a tasteless vehicle for providing caffeine. In that case, try one of our suggestions for using old coffee beans.