Coffee Compost Makes A Wonderful Addition To Your Compost Pile

By Gardening Editor

In this article, we discuss the many reasons why coffee bean grounds make a great addition to your compost pile ...

Coffee compost has become a hot button issue with the proliferation of coffee houses across America. Indeed, the Starbucks (and Seattle's Best, etc.) phenomenon has seen the worldwide production of coffee beans reach a whopping 7.6 MILLION TONS per year! That can make a lot of coffee compost that would otherwise go to waste.

Used coffee bean grounds are a great addition to your compost pile for the following reasons:

  • Used coffee bean grounds cost nothing.
  • They can give your pile a great smell.
  • They have excellent water-absorptive properties.
  • They are a convenient nitrogen-rich source (unlike cumbersome manure!).
  • You get availability throughout the year in both urban areas and suburbs.
  • You get ease in storing for several days (just whip out a ziplock!).
  • The can be gathered in huge volumes.

Coffee compost is also of great benefit to the environment. At 7.6 million tons, coffee composting will save a great volume off the world's landfills!

Moreover, coffee composting will feed worms that populate a pile and helps them thrive enough to impact decomposition rates in a very significant way. Studies have shown that compost worms that were fed spent grounds produce better quality compost than their counterparts that feed on just other ingredients. Used coffee bean grounds can also be used for vermiculture since worms take to them!

For best results, use the spent grounds soon after you get or use them. If you wait too long, they may turn sour and attract the irritating fruit fly!

Coffee Compost Facts

Did you know that, in a survey, more people were found to have used grounds for composting rather than from drinking coffee? The survey registered a difference of 6% between the two uses.

Did you know that coffee compost is one of the most popular methods whereby people responsibly dispose/recycle waste generated by others? A majority of coffee composters in the aforementioned survey were not regular coffee drinkers, but got the grounds from relatives, neighbors, and the office.

Did you know that the most popular use of spent grounds is as coffee compost in piles and worm-bins? Coffee composters numbered a little less than 90% of those surveyed. Less than 30% used grounds for mulch, while 10% applied it directly under their topsoil. Some also used the spent grounds for houseplants.

Coffee compost, by the sheer volume of available FREE ingredients, is one of the most practical and environment-friendly recycling processes you can engage in!

Next article: 10 Things To Remember About Worms Compost

Email this page to a friend


Featured Gardening Product:

A Guide To Organic Living - Ultimate Organic Lifestyle image

A Guide To Organic Living - Ultimate Organic Lifestyle

Learn how to live a healthier, organic lifestyle with "The Ultimate Organic Lifestyle - An Every Day Guide To Organic Living" ...

Click here for more details ...


More Articles About Gardening ...


Successful Plant Propagation With Cuttings - Three Essentials

Cloning a mother plant via the use of cutting is a very popular plant propagation strategy. Although successful cloning requires a modicum of skill and a strong knowledge base, it is one of the more accessible...

Benefits Of Container Vegetable Gardening

One of the more endearing qualities of container vegetable gardening is that everyone will enjoy taking part in it including even kids, and this is a versatile activity that is also easy to do. Whats...

What Are Herbs De Provence

Herbs de Provence - Old World Flavor with a New Name Herbs de Provence is a mixture of herbs originating from Provence, in southern France. It was unknown, even to the people of that region, until the...


Recommended Gardening Resources

Mantis ComposT-Twin

Fall flower bulbs

For more information about Gardening-related resources, see our Gardening resources section, subscribe to our Gardening Newsletter containing news, updates and insider tips, or go to more articles about Composting.

Related Topics ...

Search for more information on "composting" below:

Google

You are here: Home » gardening » Coffee Compost Makes A Wonderful Addition To Your Compost Pile