Around 400 billion to one trillion cups of coffee are consumed every year, requiring their disposal. But used coffee grounds can actually be invaluable in the garden as soil amendments, compost ingredients and slug killers – not to mention being an easy way to recycle an everyday household waste item and keep it out of landfills!

Research demonstrates that ground coffee beans possess many of the same properties as brewed coffee. According to one study, boiling coffee beans without milk or sugar was shown to reduce body weight and total fat in rats while increasing glucose tolerance and the number of beneficial bacteria in their gut. Consuming coffee grounds had similar results due to not losing all soluble components like chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and diterpenes during brewing process; however, consuming boiled grounds may increase blood cholesterol due to diterpenes cafestol and kahweol.

Coffee grounds contain essential nutrients and microorganisms that make them an invaluable addition to any compost pile. Soil organisms responsible for breaking down coffee grounds provide nitrogen as well as organic matter and humus which helps improve the texture of compost piles.

Coffee grounds provide a natural mulch solution in the garden that helps control overgrowth while increasing moisture retention in the soil. Rich with potassium and phosphorus as well as magnesium, manganese, iron copper zinc – they make great sources for replacing chemical fertilizers!

Coffee grounds can be used to improve outdoor seating areas and deter mosquitoes, fruit flies and beetles while making planters more visually appealing. Plus, their caffeine can even repel ants! To use this trick effectively, mix several teaspoons of grounded coffee with water and spray the area as directed.

Ground coffee mixed with coconut oil has proven effective against cellulite, the dimpled skin condition. Caffeine helps break down fat cells while increasing blood flow to affected areas – simply apply this paste twice weekly for optimal results.

A solution of ground coffee mixed with water has proven highly effective against slugs when applied directly to plants’ soil, far outperforming commercial products containing metaldehyde. A similar 2% mixture proved equally successful at controlling orchid snails; its effects can also be used as an orchid snail control drench along with leaves, manure, grass clippings and stale bread as a soil drench. Coffee grounds should not be applied directly onto sensitive plants or vegetables and other items not appropriate for compost such as meat/fish scraps/dairy products/dairy products/spoiled produce/grease etc.