Why You Should Start Composting With Coffee Grounds

Some people like to start their morning with a mug of drip coffee fresh from the coffee pot, while others prefer a French press. Some people are fond of loading their cup with milk and sugar, while other caffeine aficionados take their coffee black. But no matter how you like to enjoy your beverage, there is one thing many java drinkers have in common. Most of us are guilty of simply tossing the used coffee grounds into the trash after brewing up a cup of coffee. But as it turns out, there may be a better way to use those grounds, one that reduces waste and is better for the environment.

Instead of tossing them in the garbage, adding used coffee grounds to your composting pile can help improve the life of your garden, while reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfills every year. According to Green Matters, compost is simply a mix of assorted organic matter, which, as it breaks down, turns into nutrient-rich fertilizer that is great for plants. Adding coffee grounds to your composting pile helps add essential nutrients to the compost that your plants will love.

According to The Spruce, coffee grounds are what is known as a green compost material, which is an organic material that is high in nitrogen. Coffee grounds are about 1.45 percent nitrogen, so adding them to your compost pile will enhance the soil with this important nutrient, as well as other essential minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium. For best results, the grounds should be combined with brown material, which is compost that is dry, fibrous, and rich in carbon, such as leaves or wood bark, per Help Me Compost. 

However, even if you don't feel up to composting, you can still reuse coffee grounds by simply adding them directly to the soil as a fertilizer. They can help attract microorganisms and earthworms that are extremely beneficial to the soil, according to Gardening Knowhow. So, the next time you have a nice hot cup of java, don't be so quick to simply discard those used grounds. It takes just about the same amount of effort to toss them in the compost bin as it does to toss them in the trash, but one of those choices will help improve both the health of your plants and the health of the earth.