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Every little helps

Small things can still make a difference

Sometimes, when the world feels full of big challenges and problems to solve, it is easy to feel powerless. The scale of what needs changing can seem overwhelming.

I was reminded recently, by a simple poster in one of our Perkee coffee shops encouraging customers to take home our used coffee grounds, that we don’t have to solve everything at once. We can all do something. And lots of small things can add up to one meaningful difference.

What else to do with used coffee grounds?

It always feels a shame to throw away something that still has plenty of life left in it. Used coffee grounds are a great example.

As one of the original creators of Perkee Coffee, BM’s award‑winning and ethical coffee brand, I’ve always been drawn to the idea that coffee doesn’t just stop at the cup. Through circularity, it can go back into the soil or be used again in simple, practical ways. Giving coffee a second life is at the heart of what Perkee stands for.

At BM, we’re always looking for simple ways to reduce food waste and make the most of what we already have. For years, we’ve been bagging up our used coffee grounds so customers can take them home for their gardens. It turns out they’re useful for much more than that.

Here are a few easy ways to give coffee grounds a second life at home.

1. Feed your garden

Used coffee grounds are a great addition to the garden, especially when used little and often.
They’re ideal for:

Mixing into your compost heap
Adding small amounts to garden soil
Supporting acid loving plants such as roses, hydrangeas and blueberries

The Royal Horticultural Society recommends composting coffee grounds as the best way to return their nutrients to the soil, helping improve structure and soil health over time. Small amounts can also be lightly raked into garden beds, avoiding thick layers.

2. Freshen up your home (and sinks)

I love the smell of fresh coffee. Coffee has long been associated with comfort and welcome. Years ago, there was a myth that estate agents recommended brewing fresh coffee when you were having a house visit from a prospective buyer. Like most things, it works best when it’s subtle.

Light heartedness aside, coffee grounds naturally absorb odours, making them a simple, chemical-free air freshener. Once the grounds have dried, you can use them to:

Deodorise fridges
Freshen food bins
Neutralise smells in shoes or sports bags

Household experts, including the BBC, note that coffee grounds are particularly effective at absorbing strong food smells and everyday household odours. A small amount can also be rinsed down the sink with warm water to help freshen drains and neutralise lingering pongs. Larger quantities are best saved for compost.

3. Scrub pots and pans

The slightly gritty texture of coffee grounds makes them an effective natural cleaner for:

Stubborn food residue
Saucepans and greasy baking trays

Home and kitchen experts at The Kitchn highlight used coffee grounds as a food safe abrasive, ideal for everyday cleaning jobs. Just avoid non stick surfaces.

Add a spoonful of coffee grounds to your washing up sponge or cloth and scrub gently. It will be a bit messy, so don’t do this if you don’t like your sink filled with lots of tiny dark brown grains!

4. A natural hand scrub

Coffee grounds also work surprisingly well as a hand scrub. Their gentle abrasive texture helps lift grease, dirt and lingering cooking smells without harsh chemicals. Medically reviewed guidance from Healthline describes coffee grounds as a simple mechanical exfoliant, particularly suited to hands after cooking or gardening.

It’s also easy to make a simple hand scrub using ingredients you may already have at home. Mix pink Himalayan salt with olive oil or coconut oil, then add a few drops of rose extract or vanilla for a subtle scent. Keep the mixture in an airtight pot by the sink and use a small amount on damp hands when you need a deeper clean.

A natural gardeners’ hand scrub can cost upwards of a tenner, so this is such an easy and affordable way to make one.As with any natural scrub, don’t use it if you have broken or sensitive skin and always rinse it off thoroughly after you have used it.

5. Helping to discourage pests (gently!)

Many gardeners use coffee grounds around plants as part of a broader, natural approach to pest control. I mix used coffee grounds with crushed egg shells. I collect the egg shells all year round, then start laying this mixture around my plants from early spring.

Used sparingly, grounds may help discourage pests such as slugs or ants, and some people find the smell deters cats from digging. It’s not a proven solution, and BBC Gardeners’ World advises that results can vary. Coffee grounds are best used as a light, supplementary option rather than a guaranteed fix. A light sprinkle around plant bases, refreshed occasionally, is usually enough.

6. Cooking with coffee grounds

One of the most surprising ways to give coffee grounds a second life is in the kitchen.

Used coffee grounds can add depth, richness and a subtle bitterness to both sweet and savoury dishes. Like cocoa or toasted spices, they bring a quiet complexity when used sparingly.

In baking, you can fold a small amount into recipes to enhance flavour rather than dominate it.. In something like a chocolate cookie, the coffee deepens the chocolate notes, adding a gentle, nutty finish.

On the savoury side, you can use them in more unexpected ways. We’ve experimented with encasing vegetables such as celeriac in a coffee ground crust before roasting. The shell helps lock in moisture and adds a light earthiness, leaving a tender, flavourful centre once removed.

It’s not about doing anything complicated. Just being curious, using what we have, and wasting a little less along the way.

Take some home

Next time you’re in the Perkee coffee bar, just ask at the counter and we’ll happily fill a bag of used coffee grounds for you.
It’s a small thing, but together it helps cut waste, reuse resources and make the most of something we all enjoy every day.

References
Royal Horticultural Society: How to use coffee grounds for plants
BBC Lifestyle: Ways to use coffee grounds at home
The Kitchn: Cleaning with used coffee grounds
Healthline: DIY coffee scrub guidance

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