What Can I Do With Expired Coffee Powder?

There are many things that you can do with expired coffee powder. Some people use it as an additive to their baking recipes, while others use it as a way to add flavour to their foods. If you have an odour somewhere, you can use expired coffee powder to absorb that smell. Additionally, you can also use expired coffee powder as a way to clean surfaces.

What’s described below is applicable for pure coffee powder and not instant coffee powder, that are usually mixed with sugar or other ingredients.

Body scrub.

Coffee can be used as a body scrub. Simply mix a little coffee with some honey, or mix it with your regular soap. You can also use it as a facial scrub to exfoliate your skin, but because it’s a little abrasive so it’s not recommended to be done daily. Mixing some coffee powder with your body wash, aid in scrubbing. Refrain from adding too much, as it could choke your sewage. If you have any allergies, you may want to use less of this product or stop using it.

Can we use expired coffee on the face or hair?

Coffee has very little moisture and is unlikely to get mouldy by itself. Coffee doesn’t go bad when it’s dry, but it does get oxidised and may get wet in high humidity. So it’s normally alright to use expired ground coffee. We suggest that users start from a little and don’t do excessively as the process can be a little abrasive. If the skin becomes red, it could be from excessive abrasion rather than an allergic effect. If areas of your body show signs of redness by gentle contact, you may have to test further on your skin to confirm the doubt.

For hair growth

Some research has shown that caffeine could help block DHT in the hair follicles of male. This could result in longer hair roots and promote hair growth. It’s not new in the market that hair growth shampoos contain caffeine as the active ingredient.

Deodorant

If something smells bad, or you want to clean something, you can use expired coffee powder to help absorb the smell. Simply mix the coffee powder with water and use it as a cleaning agent. Or you can put the powder in a compartment with a strong smell, like a closet, and leave it there for a few days to absorb the odour.

Coffee charcoal blocks

If you’re looking for an easy, creative way to add flavor and nutrients to your BBQ fare, consider using coffee-fuel charcoal blocks. These blocks are made from ground coffee beans, which are then soaked in a solution of water and wood ash. The mixture is then allowed to cool and harden, forming small, dense blocks that can replace charcoal briquettes in your grill. Not only do they add a delicious smoky flavour to your food, but coffee fuel charcoal blocks are also high in antioxidants and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

However, we do not recommend using such coffee charcoals in enclosed areas with bad air ventilation. As coffee roasting could form diacetyl to form, when breathed in, it could cause permanent scarring in the lungs known as bronchiolitis obliterans. This could cause the lungs to harden or even cancer to form. So never patronage a cafe that roasts their coffee indoors.

Fertilizer

If you have a garden or have flowers that need fertilizing, expired coffee powder can be a great way to do it. Mix the coffee powder with water and use it as a fertilizer. However, coffee is slightly acidic and may harm plants if used in large quantities. You can add it to your pet’s food to help their growth and health.

There’s a better way to use coffee as fertilizer. Keep the wet and used coffee enclosed and away from light. A few weeks later, you may notice that mould start to grow on the coffee. These fungi greatly benefit your garden’s ecology and improve the soil quality.

However, if the coffee powder is of a very fine grind, it may impede water seeping from seeping into the soil, and cause waterlogging, you may want to mix with stones or other materials before using.

Mosquito repellent

If you’re looking for a natural way to repel mosquitoes, expired coffee powder may be the solution you’re looking for. Simply mix the coffee powder with water and use it as a mosquito repellent. The coffee will act as a natural barrier, keeping mosquitoes at bay. Studies have shown that mosquitoes are repelled by the smell of caffeine, which is a natural insecticide.

As wood stain

If you have a dark wood surface that has been scratched, reveal the raw lighter-looking coat. You can rub some coffee powder over it. The coffee oil should stain, mask the surface, and shade it brown. This also works on laminates. It’s not toxic and last pretty well.

Is it ok to drink expired coffee?

Coffee whole beans itself has little or almost no moisture, so it should not get mouldy easily. If it’s dry and well-kept, it should not have any negative effect. If it’s already in coffee powder, it has a higher probability of absorbing moisture which may cause mould to form.

In any case, expired coffee which has oxidised for a long time, will not have many flavours left. What’s left in the flavours are only astringents, so we don’t really suggest drinking them for leisure.

Conclusion: Expired coffee powder doesn’t have to go to waste! There are a lot of ways to use it. Before you do the above, and if you are using wet coffee, you should ensure the coffee is dried to prevent mould from forming.