How to Make Compost From Coffee Grounds

Across the United States, millions of pots of coffee are brewed every day. This results in millions of pounds of spent coffee grounds and coffee filters going into landfills every day. Coffee grounds (and even the filters) are a rich source of nitrogen and are a useful addition to compost piles. The nitrogen in coffee grounds helps to activate and accelerate the compost and produces lush green growth on flowers and vegetable plants.

Things You'll Need

• Used coffee grounds
• Compost bin

Instructions

1. Secure a source of coffee grounds. Starbucks has a policy of saving their spent grounds for any customer who wants them. Other local coffee shops may be willing to set aside grounds for you if you work out a schedule for picking them up. You can purchase an inexpensive 5 gallon lidded pail for the coffee shop to store the grounds in.

2. Add coffee grounds to an existing compost pile. Mix into the pile thoroughly, making sure that the coffee grounds are distributed throughout the other materials. Coffee grounds will speed up the rate of composting because of their nitrogen content.

3. Check the pH level of the compost pile every month to ensure that the acid in the coffee grounds does not substantially raise the acidity of the pile. If the pH is low, add horticultural lime to the pile at a rate of 1 teaspoon per five pounds of coffee grounds added to increase the pH. Most plants prefer a balanced pH, so make sure to monitor the pile carefully.

4. Coffee grounds can also be added directly to acid-loving plants, such as blueberries, rhododendrons and azaleas. Encircle the main stem with coffee grounds, leaving a gap between the stem and the grounds. Rain will deliver the nutrients in the coffee grounds to the roots over time. This provides the plants with a slow-release source of nitrogen and acid, which results in steady growth.

5. Feed coffee grounds to your worms. Coffee grounds can be fed to composting worms as part of their diet. Start with small amounts and then feed the worms amounts they can eat in four hours. Worms process the grounds through their bodies and produce their own compost.

Tips & Warnings

• Use wet coffee grounds within a few days so that they do not mold in the bag.