Nick Puffer
A Surprisingly Effective Way to Reuse Grounds in the Backyard
Every summer, like clockwork, the pests show up.
The moment you want to enjoy a quiet morning on the porch or grill something after sunset—mosquitoes, ants, and wasps move in like they’ve rented the place.
A few summers back, I was staying in a rental house while doing some remote work. Great little place with a porch swing and raised beds out back—but the bugs were brutal. You couldn’t sit outside for five minutes without getting eaten alive. I’d tried citronella candles, plug-ins, and even those overpriced sprays from the “natural” section. Nothing made a difference.
Then, one morning while scrolling YouTube with my coffee in hand, I caught a short video about reusing coffee grounds to repel bugs. Honestly, I was skeptical. It sounded like one of those too-simple-to-work tricks. But I figured, why not? I was already brewing French press daily and had grounds to spare.
So I dried out a batch, then scattered them around the edges of the patio and near the flowerbeds. That night? Fewer mosquitoes. I wasn’t convinced yet—but I kept at it. Over the next week, the difference became clear. The backyard actually started to feel livable again.
That one small trick turned into a habit. And now? It’s something I do without thinking—brew, dry the grounds, and reuse them outside. Simple, cheap, and surprisingly effective.
Used coffee grounds still hold strong aromas: slightly bitter, earthy, smoky. That’s exactly what bugs don’t want. It overwhelms their senses and messes with their ability to detect food or territory.
Want to start saving enough grounds for outdoor use? Here’s how many scoops of coffee per cup you’ll need to build a weekly stash.
A few good handfuls go a long way if you know where to place them. You don’t need to cover the whole yard—just the high-traffic bug zones.
For guidance on proper reuse, especially when storing grounds, check out when it’s safe to reuse coffee grounds.
It can. Darker roasts often carry more aroma, and that scent is what does most of the repelling. But the real secret is freshness—not of the brew, but of the beans.
If you tend to use fresh, high-quality beans, your grounds will retain more scent and be more effective. Curious how bean origin affects that? Read the benefits of single origin coffee.
You might also enjoy learning how blooming coffee reveals just how fresh your beans really are. That freshness plays a role in how useful the grounds are after brewing.
Coffee grounds are more versatile than you might think. Once you get into the habit of saving them, you’ll find all kinds of ways to repurpose them.
A few favorites:
What You’ll Need:
Steps:
🔥 Optionally, burn dried grounds in a fire-safe dish to repel mosquitoes
You already brewed the coffee—why not get a little more use out of it?
Whether you’re dealing with mosquitoes, ants, or just want a greener way to protect your space, this simple trick is worth a shot. No harsh chemicals, no expensive gadgets—just the power of what’s already in your morning routine.
Try it. You might be surprised how effective a few spoonfuls of used coffee can be.
SHARING IS CARING
Welcome to Coffee Slang—I’m Nick Puffer, a former barista turned coffee enthusiast. What started behind the counter became a passion I now share with others. Join me as we explore the craft, culture, and lifestyle of coffee.
We care a lot about the experience you have with coffee. A lot of work has gone into getting great beans to your door.
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