Used coffee grounds actually have a variety of uses.
You can dry and store used coffee beans to use later, such as to neutralize odors or even better, for the ladies, to exfoliate the skin.
But that’s not all: used coffee grounds also make great fertilizer for your garden.
After all, most soil does not contain the nutrients necessary for optimal plant growth.
Plus, it can be used as a natural cleaning agent.
But how do you properly dry and store used coffee beans? Stay tuned to find out.
Ways to dry used coffee grounds
Because of the high water content of used coffee grounds, they do not store very well.
When it comes to long-term storage, this can be a problem.
But there are ways to properly dry used coffee grounds.
If you do not have your own, you can get used coffee grounds from your local cafe or coffee store.
Ideally, coffee grounds should be fresh.
Avoid using coffee grounds if they have already started to mold.
Moldy smelling coffee grounds may be suitable for fertilizer in the garden, but not for drying and storing.
You will need a baking sheet.
Baking sheets with a criss-cross pattern on them are best.
Cover the bottom of the tray with newspaper.
About six sheets.
Pour the coffee grounds about two to three inches deep on the newspaper.
Then place the tray where there is plenty of sun and a light breeze.
Place strips of newspaper between the grounds and allow the grounds to dry out.
Shuffle the grounds every other day to make sure all the coffee grounds dry out and you are not left with a wet bottom layer.
There are other ways to dry the grounds out.
These include using a conventional oven or microwave.
However, the best method is to place it on a tray in the sun for a few days.
Pros and cons of sun drying
The advantages of drying coffee grounds in the sun are that you have to do virtually nothing through this process.
The process is very simple and flexible.
The process does not require constant attention.
Once you have prepared the coffee grounds, you can place them in the sun and check on them once a day or every other day.
Also, unlike a traditional stove, there is no risk of the coffee grounds burning.
On the other end of the spectrum are the disadvantages.
The process can take anywhere from two to four days to complete.
This makes it a time-consuming endeavor.
Also, when placing coffee grounds in direct sunlight, be mindful of the wind.
If the wind picks up and the coffee grounds are somewhere out in the open, or the breeze can blow the coffee grounds away, that’s obviously a problem.
Ideally, find a spot in direct sunlight with a light breeze where you can be sure that the rising breeze will not affect your coffee grounds.
Pro’s and con’s of oven drying
The obvious advantage of using an oven to dry used coffee grounds is that the process can be done relatively quickly.
This is because you have control over the heat to which the coffee grounds are exposed.
It is a flexible process, which means you can do it whenever it suits you.
And all in all, the process is very easy to do.
If you do not have a lot of coffee grounds to dry, turn off the oven after making dinner and put the coffee grounds in the oven to dry.
There should still be enough heat to successfully dry the coffee grounds.
The process is similar to drying in the sun.
Place a few sheets of newspaper on a tray and pour the used coffee grounds over the newspaper.
Tuck a few torn pieces into the coffee grounds and let the oven do its work.
The downside to this process is that it is much more laborious.
The oven temperature should not be set higher than 200 degrees.
You will need to keep an eye on the coffee grounds and turn them over occasionally to prevent them from burning in the oven.
With this method, you have much more control, but as mentioned earlier, you need to be near the oven during the entire process.
How to store used coffee grounds
The ideal storage for dried, used coffee grounds is in an airtight container, in a dark room, and at room temperature.
There are three methods to successfully store dried, used coffee grounds.
First, you can either store the coffee grounds in an airtight plastic or glass container.
Alternatively, you can store the coffee grounds in a vacuum-sealed bag.
The good news is that coffee grounds will keep for up to two years if stored in the right container and in the right place.
However, it’s best to check the coffee grounds once a month or every two months to make sure they are still dry and have not taken on a moldy smell.
In this case, it means that the coffee grounds have either not been stored properly or have not dried properly.
Conclusion
There are two methods to dry used coffee grounds.
You could either dry them in the sun or use a conventional oven.
Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.
If the procedure is done correctly, the dried and stored coffee grounds should last up to two years in storage.