How to Make a Fire Starter With Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds can be used as a fire starter.

Building a fire in the great outdoors can be a lifesaving technique, but it's not always as simple as rubbing two sticks together. Having a fire starter of some sort will speed up and ease the process of building a fire. Once you combine all of your ingredients, you will have a ready-to-use fire starter that was made from scratch.

Things You'll Need

• Microwaveable bowls
• 2 blocks paraffin wax
• Heat-proof bowl
• ½ cup molasses
• Wooden spoon
• Dry coffee grounds
• Tablespoon
• Cupcake tin
• Cupcake liners (paper)
• Freezer
• Plastic sandwich bags

Instructions

1. Place two bricks of paraffin wax in a microwaveable bowl. Begin melting at 20 seconds, take it out and stir, and then heat it up for a few seconds more. Take it out once you see it start to bubble.

2. Pour the wax into a heat-proof bowl, and then add half a cup of molasses. Stir quickly to pull cool air into the mix so that the molasses does not crystallize from the heat.

3. Add 5 to 8 tbsp. of dried coffee grounds (either used or new) to the mix. Stir with the wooden spoon until well combined.

4. Place the paper liners in the cupcake tin.

5. Use the tablespoon to fill each cupcake holder to the top with the coffee/wax mix.

6. Allow a few minutes for the wax to cool and settle. Press down on the top of the wax mold to release air bubbles.

7. Place the cupcake tin in the freezer for about one hour to fully harden the wax.

8. Take the tin out of the freezer, turn it upside down on a flat surface and allow the wax bricks to fall out.

9. Put each brick in a plastic sandwich bag and remove the air before sealing. Be sure to remove the paper cupcake liner before placing the bricks in the bags.

References

• Bukisa: Coffee Ground Briquette
• Trails: Making Coffee Ground Fire Starters