This past week on our Facebook page (
https://www.facebook.com/HassettAceHardware ) we featured used for used grounds. That's right, after you squeeze out every drop of caffeinated goodness, those grounds are still useful.
Tip 1: Coffee as an air freshener! I tried this one, and it did work! I have a small pantry, which the previous tenet stored some super stinky candles. So I placed come grounds in a cup and stuck them in the cabinet, and it neutralized the odors! Gonna try it next in the fridge and freezer.
Also save some used grounds under the sink. When chopping onions or garlic, rub some on your hands afterwards, and the smell is gone.
Tip 2: Hiding furniture scratches in dark wood, and antiquing paper!
For dark wood furnature, you dip a cotton swap or cotton ball in steeped grounds, and rub on the scratches to hide them. Test in inconspicuous area first!
Also you can antique paper with coffee by mixing the used grounds with water (making a watery soup) and letting paper sit a few minutes, let dry and brush the grounds off.
Tip 3: offee grounds in the garden! Back home I had a friend who grew the most beautiful roses. She even won some ribbons at the state fair with them. Her secret? Coffee grounds! She would save the leftovers from her morning brew and dump them around her plants. The grounds provide nitrogen (Nitrogen: 2.28 percent, Phosphorus: 0.06, percent, Potassium: 0.6 percent), and has trace amounts of other minerals, like phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper that plants love. If applied topically it also helps repels slugs and snails. Coffee grounds are great for other plants too! Another bonus, coffee grounds are worm candy! If you have a composting worm bin, they will love you for adding some coffee grounds. Plus they will be drawn to your garden when you add it direct to your soil. Creating an aerated, microorganism rich environment your plants will thrive in. Please keep in mind the pH or reaction of the coffee grounds is considered slightly acidic and in a favorable range at 6.2 on the pH scale.
Tip 4: Our last coffee ground tip is.. Coffee grounds in your beauty routine (say WHAT??): Yes, you read that correctly! Your left over grounds are on their way to be coming your next favorite spa items.
Grounds for the hair! Did you know before you use your favorite shampoo, you can put a hand full of grounds and scrub your scalp. The course grounds help get build up residue off your hair, leaving your hair silky and shiney, while exfoliating your scalp. Use caution if you bleach or lighten your hair, or are blonde, this could darken your hair. (or in my case help blend the grays away in my dark hair)
Grounds for your skin! Yes, coffee grounds make a great body scrub. It's a natural exfoliant, and helps remove dead skin cells, and grime.
Grounds for your face! How does a Mocha-Frappuccino Morning Mask sound? Good enough to eat right??
Mocha-Frappuccino Mask (Coffee, Cocoa Powder, and Honey Facial Mask) Recipe
2 Tbsp freshly ground coffee (the finer the grind, the better)
2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
3 Tbsp. milk (whole), heavy cream, or yogurt
1 Tbsp. honey
Mix all the ingredients together well. Apply to a sleepy morning face. Allow the mask to dry for 15-20 minutes. Wash off in the shower, scrubbing VERY lightly over the skin while rinsing.
Coffee and cocoa are both awesome antioxidants, so it’s a great anti-aging and detoxifying mask. Coffee also helps with the morning puffiness. The benefits of honey are widely known.
(Thank you, Crunchy Betty!
http://www.crunchybetty.com/mocha-frappucino-mask-coffee-cocoa-and-honey-facial-mask)
Bonus!:
ingredients
2 c. almond or refrigerated coconut milk
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 tsp. vanilla (optional--add for more intense vanilla flavor)
instructions
Combine almond milk and sugar in a large saucepan. Slice open vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape insides into saucepan, then place empty vanilla bean into mixture. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking to break up clumps of vanilla. Once mixture has come to a simmer, reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes more, whisking occasionally.
Allow vanilla mixture to come to room temperature. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl with a spout, then pour mixture into ice cube trays. Freeze until completely solid, 3-4 hours (depending on the temperature of your freezer and size of the cubes). Serve with iced coffee, tea, root beer, cola, and other beverages.
One of the things I love most about my job is the importance I get to place on community involvement. Whether it's donations to local schools, or helping out various non profit groups, it's a pleasure for me to make us not just a store, but a part of the community. So when the Coastal Repertory Theatre told us about their upcoming play that takes place in a hardware store, I knew we had to be part of it.
