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Coffee Tips

How to Dry Used Coffee Grounds?

Most people throw away their used coffee grounds after brewing their coffee. The good news is that you don’t have to do that anymore.

The used coffee grounds are as important as the brew itself. You can recycle the used coffee grounds for home purposes, garden purposes, and beauty purposes.

drying used coffee grounds.

If you don’t make much coffee at home, the coffee shops have coffee grounds that they are always willing to give away.

The benefits of used ground coffee are:

  1. Used as a fertilizer for your garden.
  2. Coffee grounds eliminate odors.
  3. Scrubbing hard-to-clean utensils.
  4. Exfoliating of your skin.
  5. Coffee grounds can help reduce cellulite appearance.
  6. You can use coffee grounds as a natural dye.

Those are just a few used coffee ground benefits. Now let’s have a look at how you can dry your used coffee grounds.

This article mainly discusses the three methods used to dry your used coffee grounds. They are:

  • The sun
  • Using an oven
  • Using a microwave

Let’s now have a look at each drying method.

  1. How to Dry Used Coffee Grounds Using the Sun

To dry your used coffee grounds using the sun, you’ll need:

  • Baking sheet or a wide container
  • Dry newspaper
  • Sunlight

Here are the steps to follow to dry your coffee in the sun.

  1. Place the newspaper in the baking sheet or the container.
  2. Arrange your coffee beans in the baking sheet and ensure that the layer you form is not thicker than 2-3 inches. This will prevent the grounds from developing molds.
  3. Place the coffee grounds out in the sun to dry.
  4. Dry the grounds for 2-4 days. Coffee grounds dry fast when left under direct sunlight.
  5. Make sure you turn the grounds time-to-time to ensure the wet ones in the bottom dry.
  6. Change the newspaper every day to avoid mold from forming on the grounds.
  7. In case it’s rainy or windy, bring the coffee grounds to the house.

Each coffee ground drying method has its pros and cons. Let’s check out the pros and cons of sun drying.

Pros

  • An easy method of drying.
  • Flexible drying method.
  • A convenient method of drying
  • There is no risk of burning the coffee grounds.

Cons

  • The method takes time.
  • The method is risky because of unpredictable weather.
  1. How to Dry Used Coffee Grounds Using an Oven

To dry your coffee grounds using an oven, you’ll need:

  • Baking sheet or a wide container
  • Oven
  • Dry newspaper

These are the steps you’ll need to follow:

  1. Preheat your oven to 200F.
  2. Place the dry newspaper on the baking sheet.
  3. Place the coffee grounds on the newspaper and form a layer that is not more than 2-3 inches thick. This will allow the heat to pass through to the coffee grounds.
  4. Put the baking sheet or the wide container in the oven.
  5. Set the timer to 10 minutes.
  6. Turn the coffee grounds after 10 minutes to allow them to dry evenly.
  7. Give the grounds 30 minutes to dry completely.
  8. Remove the grounds from the oven and check whether they have dried completely.

What are the pros and cons of oven coffee ground drying?

Pros

  • It is a quick method of drying.
  • The method is convenient.
  • Flexible drying method.

Cons

  • The coffee grounds are at risk of burning.
  • The method needs you to be cautious and accurate.
  1. How to Dry Used Coffee Grounds Using a Microwave

To dry used coffee grounds in a microwave, you’ll need:

  • Two paper towels
  • Microwave

These are the steps you’ll need to follow for this method:

  1. Arrange the coffee grounds on the paper towels and ensure the thickness of the layer does not exceed 2 to 3 inches.
  2. Microwave the coffee grounds for 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Remove the coffee grounds after 3 minutes and allow them to cool.
  4. Check if they’re dry.
  5. If not, repeat the procedure for 30 seconds each time until they are dry.

Pros of Microwave Drying

  • It is a fast-drying method.
  • It is a convenient drying method.
  • It is an easy drying method.

Cons

  • You can only dry a specific sample size.
  • The method needs accuracy.

How to Store Dried Coffee Grounds

Storing wet coffee grounds can be dangerous for your health. Wet coffee grounds can create room for bacteria growth and foul smells. That is why you must dry your used coffee grounds before storing them.

Here are steps to follow to store your dried coffee grounds.

  1. Find an airtight container to store your dry coffee grounds. You can use plastic containers, glass jars, or vacuum-sealed bags.
  2. Clean your container and dry it well because any moisture present in the container will contaminate your dry coffee grounds.
  3. Fill the container with dry ground coffee to the brim. This will prevent any moisture from coming into contact with the dry grounds.
  4. Place a piece of newspaper on your coffee grounds. The newspaper will ensure that no moisture comes into contact with the coffee grounds.
  5. Seal the container and store it in a cool and dry place.
  6. Check the stored grounds to change the newspaper and ensure that the coffee grounds are dry.

Well-stored coffee grounds can last for a period of 1 to 2 years.

 

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