From Coffee to Compost: Free Resources for Better Soil
Hidden Garden Gold at Your Local Coffee Roaster
Your local coffee roaster isn’t just brewing magic — they’re sitting on soil-building treasures they probably don’t even want to keep.
Here’s why asking for their waste is a major win for your garden:
1. Used Coffee Grounds (also ask your local cafe)
Use for: Compost “greens” that are slower to decompose, direct mulch for acid-loving plants (blueberries, azaleas), worm bin food. Adding nitrogen without bulk/fibrous materials.
Benefits: Nitrogen-rich, boosts microbial life, feeds worms. pH is pretty much neutral in compost!
2. Coffee Chaff (bean husks from roasting)
Use for: Worm bin bedding, nitrogen and carbon balanced compost bulking agent, light mulch for seedlings. Mulch for water retention.
Benefits: Fluffy, moisture-holding, breaks down fast, builds soil texture.
3. Burlap Coffee Bags
Use for: Heavy-duty compost tea brewing, Mulch mats, DIY weed barriers, erosion control, breathable compost covers.
Benefits: Natural, biodegradable, upcycled instead of trashed.
Go ask a roastery for these awesome bags with endless garden uses, you might have to dig around in their trash : )
4. Plastic Hermetic Eco Bags
Use for: reusable storage, collection, tarps, covers, seed covers
Benefits: Durable, water-resistant, keeps pests out, saves a landfill trip.
Bags are being used as a mini greenhouse to keep Lion’s Mane mushrooms hydrated
5. Misprinted Coffee Bags (kraft paper or foil-lined)
Use for: Upcycled planter liners, experimental seed starting trays.
Benefits: Repurpose manufacturing waste, add an extra layer of creativity to your garden setup.
👉 Many roasters are happy to offload these for free, saving them disposal costs and giving you tools to build better soil.
Waste materials into upcycled soil magic.
