1. Make Hand Soap
Adding grounds to your hand soap allows your guests to enjoy the coffee scent and a slight exfoliation as they wash for dinner. Purchase melt and pour or glycerin soap and add one teaspoon of grounds per pound of soap. Melt the soap and add the coffee. Stir and heat until the soap reaches 125 degrees. At this time, the coffee suspends in the soap. Next, you pour the mixture into a mold or muffin tin and let cool. If you desire, you can add powdered milk or vanilla to the compound. Make sure to store the soap on a dish because it will leave a coffee stain!2. Exfoliate Your Skin
As mentioned, adding coffee grounds to your hand soap adds an element of exfoliation. The course grounds do not dissolve in water and make an excellent natural, abrasive material. To capitalize on this feature, you can make a simple coffee scrub. First, mix equal parts dried grounds and brown sugar. You might want to start with one-quarter cup of each. Add lemon juice to attain the desired consistency. Rub on parts of your body needing exfoliation: face, elbows, feet, etc. Allow the scrub to sit for a few minutes. Then rinse with clean water.3. Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
Coffee can successfully reduce the appearance of cellulite for up to one week. Before showing off your legs for the summer, rub some dried grounds onto your thighs or other problem areas. The caffeine in coffee stimulates dilation, while the scrubbing motion increases circulation. Both of these attributes plump the skin and diminish the appearance of cellulite. Coffee also contains antioxidants that increase collagen production.4. Use as a Seasoning
Chefs around the world use dried coffee to infuse their dishes with flavor. From meats to desserts, coffee drinkers desire extra coffee flavor! When applied to meat, the acidic tones bring out and enhance the natural flavors. You can also utilize grounds in a marinade. Combine with vinegar and spices and soak your meat in it overnight. The grounds also work to tenderize the meat. You may want to rinse before grilling to reduce the feeling of grit from the grounds. For meat not requiring marination, or if you forget, you can add dried coffee in the way of spice or rub. Process dried grounds and peppercorns in a spice grinder until you have coarse pepper flakes.5. Reduce Puffy Eyes
After you drink your coffee to wake up, you might notice you have puffy eyes or dark circles underneath. Allow your grounds to cool, then apply them under your eyes and on your lids. Close your eyes for 20 minutes and rinse with cool water. The easily absorbed antioxidants shrink blood vessels and remove water to lessen puffiness. This will also tighten the skin and diminish dark circles and redness.6. Fertilizer
One of the most common uses for used coffee, fertilizer, allows you to naturally feed your plants. Used grounds contain nitrogen, some potassium, and phosphorus making it an excellent slow-release fertilizer. You don't need to dry grounds to use them as fertilizer. Simply mix with other organic material in a compost blend to avoid clumping. Despite the brown color, grounds count as a "green," nitrogen-rich ingredient. If you do not use maintain a compost, you can rake grounds into the topsoil, or sprinkle around plants.7. Repel Insects
The EPA lists coffee as a safe and effective way to repel mosquitos and other insects. Many flying insects have a keen sense of smell and do not like the strong, potent smell of coffee. They will avoid the area to avoid the smell. To release the coffee fragrance, place dried grounds in a shallow dish or bowl. Set the dish on a flat surface and burn it as you would incense. For maximum effect, make sure you place it upwind of your location and have several dishes.To enjoy the benefits of dried grounds, you must first brew a delicious cup or pot of coffee. How about purchasing some Mongrel Joe's coffee!
