Composting unbrewed coffee grounds - Ask Extension
Someone has given me 2 lbs of coffee still in the bag and long past the Use By date. I was going to try to compost them but wasn't sure how to go abou...
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Composting unbrewed coffee grounds #789441
Asked May 05, 2022, 1:59 PM EDT
Someone has given me 2 lbs of coffee still in the bag and long past the Use By date. I was going to try to compost them but wasn't sure how to go about it. I could add both bags to my composter, but that seems like a lot at one time. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Michaelanne Widness
Windham County Vermont
Expert Response
Hello Michaelanne,
Ground coffee is an excellent organic addition to any compost pile. You expressed concern that 2# might be an overdose for your composter. You didn't say how large your composter is but I don't believe that 2# would be signifiant in the long run. Coffee is an excellent source of nitrogen, 2%. It will be great in the compost pile because it will decompose with everything else and become a part of what's happening. Following are links to a couple extension articles from Oregon State, an appropriate location because the area is known for their coffee consumption!
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/soil-compost/coffee-grounds-composting
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/coffee-grounds-perk-compost-pile-nitrogen
Please note that coffee grounds are not acidic since the acid in coffee goes into the cup after brewing, unbrewed ground coffee beans might add some acid to your compost but that should not be significant as you are not likely going to acquire ground coffee beans to compost on a regular basis.
Happy Composting!
Dan, UVM Extension Master Gardener Help Line
Ground coffee is an excellent organic addition to any compost pile. You expressed concern that 2# might be an overdose for your composter. You didn't say how large your composter is but I don't believe that 2# would be signifiant in the long run. Coffee is an excellent source of nitrogen, 2%. It will be great in the compost pile because it will decompose with everything else and become a part of what's happening. Following are links to a couple extension articles from Oregon State, an appropriate location because the area is known for their coffee consumption!
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/soil-compost/coffee-grounds-composting
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/coffee-grounds-perk-compost-pile-nitrogen
Please note that coffee grounds are not acidic since the acid in coffee goes into the cup after brewing, unbrewed ground coffee beans might add some acid to your compost but that should not be significant as you are not likely going to acquire ground coffee beans to compost on a regular basis.
Happy Composting!
Dan, UVM Extension Master Gardener Help Line
Thanks so much for your help!
