Grounds For Your Garden
Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed drinks in the world, and it produces the natural byproduct of coffee grounds after making a cup of joe. As a result, coffee drinkers can quickly accumulate lots of grounds, making their garbage bins smell like a freshly brewed pot of coffee. An alternative to coffee-smelling garbage is to sprinkle the old grounds onto your plants instead, because your morning coffee can do much more than just energize you—it can give your garden a boost too. From backyard pots to larger agricultural applications, coffee grounds are an eco-friendly addition to any soil system.
Why Coffee Grounds Are Great for Plant Growth
Coffee grounds offer many benefits for plants and plant growth, as the grounds are rich in many valuable macro and micronutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and boron—all of which are vital for plant growth. Each of these nutrients plays a specific and vital role in helping plants thrive:
Nitrogen is the most abundant nutrient in coffee grounds — it fuels chlorophyll production, making plants greener and more efficient at photosynthesis.
Phosphorus supports root growth and flower/fruit production.
Potassium improves overall plant health and resilience.
Calcium and magnesium strengthen cell walls and improve nutrient uptake.
Boron is important for the development of cell membranes and reproductive growth.
Beyond nutrition, coffee grounds help improve soil structure. Their fine texture helps the plants to retain moisture while enhancing aeration and drainage when properly mixed with other materials. This creates a more fertile, hospitable environment for your plant roots to grow deep and strong.
The Science Behind Your Grounds
Drawing back on your high school biology knowledge, you may remember that nitrogen is a crucial component in the creation of amino acids—the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are essential for all living things, including plants. They regulate everything from cell division to enzyme function, making nitrogen a key factor in leafy, vibrant growth. You may also remember that plants contain a natural compound called chlorophyll, which is not only responsible for the green color of many plants, but is essential for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll allows plants to capture and absorb energy from the sun, which allows them to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide. Ultimately, more nitrogen means more chlorophyll, which means more energy for your plants to grow and flourish.
How to Use Coffee Grounds in Your Garden
Implementing coffee grounds into your gardening routine doesn't have to be complicated. Try using these simple methods:
Top Dressing: Sprinkle a thin, even layer of used coffee grounds around the base of your plants. Avoid applying too thickly, as grounds can compact and block moisture from reaching the roots.
Soil Amendment: Mix the grounds into the soil before planting. This ensures nutrients are evenly dispersed and helps with soil structure over time.
In Compost: Coffee grounds are an excellent “green” (nitrogen-rich) material for your compost pile. Balance them with “brown” materials (like dried leaves, paper, or straw) to create nutrient-rich compost.
As spring slowly approaches us and planting season begins, consider including coffee grounds in your plants’ soil. Happy planting! 🌱
Our "Grounds For Your Garden” Program
As you may have already seen at our cafes, we are thrilled to announce our new coffee grounds collection program called Grounds For Your Garden! Every day, we will be collecting our used coffee grounds and paper coffee filters for you to use in your garden! Our used grounds are stored in large bins outside of each cafe, where they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Our bins are equipped with large scoops to help you collect your grounds and scoop them into a bucket, bag, or whatever you’d like to put them in! We also offer 3.5 gallon buckets for sale at each cafe if you would like to purchase one for easy transport. Stop by any of our cafes to take advantage of our grounds collection program!
Where to find our collection bins:
Highwood: Around back in the alleyway, near our back door.
Libertyville: Right outside our ADA entrance (to the left when you exit the cafe)
Winnetka: In the trash enclosure (to the left when you enter the enclosure)
Each cafe location has a different spot where grounds can be collected. Ask your barista for the exact location or if you need any clarification!
For more information, visit: www.talacoffeeroasters.com/grounds-for-your-garden
Grounds For Your Garden
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Grounds For Your Garden ~
Maya Johnson
Meet Maya, a Wisconsin-native who studied biochemistry/molecular biology and neuroscience at Lake Forest College. She is A friendly face behind the bar at Highwood, known for striking up conversations about truly anything. Outside of pulling espresso shots, Maya is currently in the process of applying to Physician Assistant schools.