Coffee grounds disposal - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Daka · 01-04-2011, 12:14 PM

Since I stopped using paper filters in the coffee maker (use permanent gold filter) it becomes a messy ordeal to dump the grounds in the trash and wash out the filter..so, does anyone just dump the grounds in the sink and wash out the filter, seems ok since we do use a disposal and grind up all kinds of skins, leftover food and stuff...

The_Jazz · 01-04-2011, 12:22 PM

I've always heard that it's bad to dump coffee grounds down the sink. I'm not sure why, though.

Personally I just compost mine in the back yard. I noticed a couple of years ago that the soil I get when I do that is much better.

ZombieSquirrel · 01-04-2011, 12:40 PM

I totally agree with Jazz. Coffee grounds are GREAT for gardening!

I've made an exfoliate out of them before too.

My grandmother used to put them in a container then keep that in the fridge to take care of the bad odors.

I used to have a cloth eco-filter. I would empty the grounds and then wipe out the filter with a moist towel. I once froze the filter and the grounds were easier to remove. Not PERFECT, but easier. Just put it in the freezer while when you're done with the filter.

I can't compost at my new place....but moving in with Snowy and will be able to do that there!

ellie · 01-04-2011, 01:34 PM

I had a problem with unused ground coffee down the disposal. It wouldn't go down. No matter how much I ran the disposal, my sink would just clog then slowly drain empty after a few minutes. I could stick my hand in and feel the masses of coffee. Oh yeah, btw, it was a lot of coffee I poured down there. I was getting ready to throw out a bag of something I didn't like and spilled it on my counter. Naturally, I just brushed it all in the sink. So I had to scoop out palmfuls with my hands until there was hardly anything in there. Then the remaining coffee went down.

ItWasMe · 01-04-2011, 04:25 PM

We use a paper filter inside the gold filter basket to make cleanup easier. I hated trying to clean out the metal basket.

Grasshopper Green · 01-04-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZombieSquirrel

My grandmother used to put them in a container then keep that in the fridge to take care of the bad odors.

What type of container? This sounds intriguing.

cadre · 01-04-2011, 05:28 PM

A large amount of coffee grounds is an issue but after dumping most of the coffee you can rinse in the sink.

ZombieSquirrel · 01-04-2011, 05:31 PM

I think it was just a glass bowl. No lid.

Fremen · 01-04-2011, 06:31 PM

Can you use the used grounds in cookies or other baked goods?
Or would the flavor be too diluted?

Willravel · 01-04-2011, 06:56 PM

Coffee grounds make for good mulch. If you have a mulch can in the house, that's probably the best place. If you don't have a mulch can, why not?

EventHorizon · 01-04-2011, 09:33 PM

i put it in the soil where i grow my coffee plant for no reason at all. is there some kind of conservation of energy going on here? haha

snowy · 01-05-2011, 09:23 AM

We have a reusable coffee filter, and we usually dump out the majority of the grounds into the compost container we keep under the sink. Some grounds do end up going down the sink because we then rinse out the filter. I suppose I could avoid this by putting it through the dishwasher immediately after making coffee, as our filter is top rack safe.

Out of the things that have clogged our disposal, coffee grounds hasn't been one of them, despite warnings to the contrary. The only time we had a bad clog due to disposal waste the culprit turned out to be vegetable peelings, and we learned not to put those down the disposal.

rmarshall · 01-05-2011, 09:43 AM

I have a Breville K-cup machine and use the included "My K-cup" filter usually in order to save money by not having to buy the K-cups.
Its a one cup amount and there isn't enough grounds to clog the sink or make it worth trying to save, so it goes down the sink (not a disposal).

genuinegirly · 01-05-2011, 10:28 AM

We have a reusable mesh filter for our Cuisinart coffee maker. The grounds make good soil for acid-loving potted plants. Some say that they're pH-neutral, but I've found that they're more on the acidic side of neutral myself... The smell, while pleasant to us, also seems to keep away pests.

As for the mechanics of the process, I dump the grounds out then rinse the filter out in the sink. It's hardly a hassle. I used to try to do this with paper filters before we got the reusable one - with those I had to wait until the grounds and filter dried out completely before dumping them out, that was much more of a pain.

I like the idea of using them in the fridge. I've heard of it as a use for whole beans, never thought to try spent grounds.

MSD · 01-05-2011, 01:39 PM

I always heard it was good to dump coffee grounds down the drain, but that might have been before we were connected to the sewer system. A quick search seems to suggest that they'll stick to any soft buildup in pipes so it's probably not a good idea. I tend to dump the bulk on the trash and wash the filter, and there's no way to clean a cloth filter completely without washing.

ptx · 01-12-2011, 06:43 PM

I dump it out in the trash with the paper filter. But for now im using up my 100 dollar starbucks gift card i got for christmas

canuckguy · 01-13-2011, 06:12 PM

I use a reusable metal filter and we just dump them in the trash. I just started to drink more coffee at home and think I'll use the grounds in the summer in the garden if I feel ambitious.

I believe I read our town is going to put ban on garbage disposals as they put a strain on the sewer systems. I wish our town did composting pick up as our backyard is too small for a composting pile and by small I mean I am too lazy to start one....

EventHorizon · 01-14-2011, 06:47 PM

what am i supposed to do if i use a french press? its impossible to get to grounds out without washing them down the sink

BadNick · 01-14-2011, 09:06 PM

Except for an occasional dump in the garden in Spring and Summer, I've been washing almost all my grounds down the sink for at least 15 years, with my garbage disposal and water running while I wash it down. In one day this averages about 15 tablespoons of grounds. I've never had even an inkling of a drain problem, but it does seem that if you have marginally operating drains this can aggravate the situation. To me it seems like eating roughage...it cleans my drains.

Projectguru · 01-22-2011, 08:14 AM

I agree that they are good for compost, and I add them to my compost pile every week. I just kept and old coffee can, and dump them in there daily. After that, I take them out to the compost pile. In the spring, I have mulch delivered in bulk and with each wheel barrel load I mix a little in. I don't know the proportions, but my flower beds look the best all summer compared to all my neighbors!

animosity · 01-22-2011, 04:22 PM

Compost is probably the best bet. It is bad for the plumbing to toss them down the drain. I used to work in an office of 30 people and several of us had french presses. After 6 months the drains were all clogged and the plumber told us to stop tossing coffee grounds down the drain. None of use really stopped, but we did try to dump most of it in the trash there after.

When using a french press at home I just toss it in a compost bucket.

01-04-2011, 12:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Daka Tilted Location: Fort Lauderdale	Coffee grounds disposal Since I stopped using paper filters in the coffee maker (use permanent gold filter) it becomes a messy ordeal to dump the grounds in the trash and wash out the filter..so, does anyone just dump the grounds in the sink and wash out the filter, seems ok since we do use a disposal and grind up all kinds of skins, leftover food and stuff...

01-04-2011, 12:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	I've always heard that it's bad to dump coffee grounds down the sink. I'm not sure why, though. Personally I just compost mine in the back yard. I noticed a couple of years ago that the soil I get when I do that is much better. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

01-04-2011, 04:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
ItWasMe But You'll Never Prove It. Location: under your bed	We use a paper filter inside the gold filter basket to make cleanup easier. I hated trying to clean out the metal basket. __________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Ok, no more truth-or-dare until somebody returns my underwear" ~ George Lopez I bake cookies just so I can lick the bowl. ~ ItWasMe

01-04-2011, 05:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
cadre The Worst Influence Location: Arizona	A large amount of coffee grounds is an issue but after dumping most of the coffee you can rinse in the sink. __________________ My life is one of those 'you had to be there' jokes.

01-04-2011, 06:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	Can you use the used grounds in cookies or other baked goods? Or would the flavor be too diluted? __________________ Google

01-04-2011, 01:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
ellie Tilted	I had a problem with unused ground coffee down the disposal. It wouldn't go down. No matter how much I ran the disposal, my sink would just clog then slowly drain empty after a few minutes. I could stick my hand in and feel the masses of coffee. Oh yeah, btw, it was a lot of coffee I poured down there. I was getting ready to throw out a bag of something I didn't like and spilled it on my counter. Naturally, I just brushed it all in the sink. So I had to scoop out palmfuls with my hands until there was hardly anything in there. Then the remaining coffee went down.

01-04-2011, 06:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Coffee grounds make for good mulch. If you have a mulch can in the house, that's probably the best place. If you don't have a mulch can, why not?

01-05-2011, 09:23 AM	#12 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	We have a reusable coffee filter, and we usually dump out the majority of the grounds into the compost container we keep under the sink. Some grounds do end up going down the sink because we then rinse out the filter. I suppose I could avoid this by putting it through the dishwasher immediately after making coffee, as our filter is top rack safe. Out of the things that have clogged our disposal, coffee grounds hasn't been one of them, despite warnings to the contrary. The only time we had a bad clog due to disposal waste the culprit turned out to be vegetable peelings, and we learned not to put those down the disposal. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

01-05-2011, 09:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
rmarshall Addict Location: Kingston,Ontario	I have a Breville K-cup machine and use the included "My K-cup" filter usually in order to save money by not having to buy the K-cups. Its a one cup amount and there isn't enough grounds to clog the sink or make it worth trying to save, so it goes down the sink (not a disposal). __________________ "Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege" Irish proverb

01-05-2011, 10:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
genuinegirly Eat your vegetables Super Moderator Location: Arabidopsis-ville	We have a reusable mesh filter for our Cuisinart coffee maker. The grounds make good soil for acid-loving potted plants. Some say that they're pH-neutral, but I've found that they're more on the acidic side of neutral myself... The smell, while pleasant to us, also seems to keep away pests. As for the mechanics of the process, I dump the grounds out then rinse the filter out in the sink. It's hardly a hassle. I used to try to do this with paper filters before we got the reusable one - with those I had to wait until the grounds and filter dried out completely before dumping them out, that was much more of a pain. I like the idea of using them in the fridge. I've heard of it as a use for whole beans, never thought to try spent grounds. __________________ "Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq "violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy Last edited by genuinegirly; 01-05-2011 at 10:34 AM..

01-05-2011, 01:39 PM	#15 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	I always heard it was good to dump coffee grounds down the drain, but that might have been before we were connected to the sewer system. A quick search seems to suggest that they'll stick to any soft buildup in pipes so it's probably not a good idea. I tend to dump the bulk on the trash and wash the filter, and there's no way to clean a cloth filter completely without washing.

01-12-2011, 06:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
ptx Upright Location: northridge ca	I dump it out in the trash with the paper filter. But for now im using up my 100 dollar starbucks gift card i got for christmas

01-13-2011, 06:12 PM	#17 (permalink)
canuckguy I read your emails. Location: earth	I use a reusable metal filter and we just dump them in the trash. I just started to drink more coffee at home and think I'll use the grounds in the summer in the garden if I feel ambitious. I believe I read our town is going to put ban on garbage disposals as they put a strain on the sewer systems. I wish our town did composting pick up as our backyard is too small for a composting pile and by small I mean I am too lazy to start one....

01-14-2011, 09:06 PM	#19 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	Except for an occasional dump in the garden in Spring and Summer, I've been washing almost all my grounds down the sink for at least 15 years, with my garbage disposal and water running while I wash it down. In one day this averages about 15 tablespoons of grounds. I've never had even an inkling of a drain problem, but it does seem that if you have marginally operating drains this can aggravate the situation. To me it seems like eating roughage...it cleans my drains.

01-22-2011, 08:14 AM	#20 (permalink)
Projectguru Upright	I agree that they are good for compost, and I add them to my compost pile every week. I just kept and old coffee can, and dump them in there daily. After that, I take them out to the compost pile. In the spring, I have mulch delivered in bulk and with each wheel barrel load I mix a little in. I don't know the proportions, but my flower beds look the best all summer compared to all my neighbors!

01-22-2011, 04:22 PM	#21 (permalink)
animosity on fire Location: Atlanta, GA	Compost is probably the best bet. It is bad for the plumbing to toss them down the drain. I used to work in an office of 30 people and several of us had french presses. After 6 months the drains were all clogged and the plumber told us to stop tossing coffee grounds down the drain. None of use really stopped, but we did try to dump most of it in the trash there after. When using a french press at home I just toss it in a compost bucket.