How used coffee grounds and tea leaves can help the environment.

Using coffee and tea residues
Urban and rural farmers (and gardeners) are finding that organic residues like used coffee grounds and tea leaves provide valuable nutrients and soil-amending capability.

Practice and research has shown that:
Earthworms seem to have a particular affinity for coffee grounds; using coffee grounds in your compost pile, worm box or as mulch will attract these helpful creatures.

Coffee grounds and used tea leaves are acidic. Use them around acid-loving plants, or mix with a little ground limestone for plants needing a neutral or alkaline soil.

An excellent source of nitrogen, coffee grounds and tea leaves are considered "green" sources in composting. Carbon sources such as dried leaves and straw are considered "brown" and should be used in larger quantities than the green materials. The nitrogen-rich coffee grounds will kickstart the composting process.

Samples of our coffee grounds have shown a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25:1, which is the ideal range for composting.

Where appropriate, these residues can be used as a soil amendment. A soil test (usually available from your local extension service) lets you know what nutrient levels are too low or too high. Experiment with small quantities of coffee grounds and tea leaves to bring your soil into balance.

The addition of coffee grounds can help loosen up heavy clay soil.

Coffee grounds are NOT recommended for container plants because of their salt level.

Experiments with coffee and tea residues
We've been working with farmers and researchers to find new and innovative uses for our coffee and tea residues.

A farmer near Davis, California has been tilling our used coffee grounds into his heavy alkaline soil. The "acidic" grounds are lowering the pH and improving the tilth of the soil. He recommends a soil test to determine the pH of your soil.

A soil scientist has developed a fertilizer using coffee grounds as the basic ingredient. Using our nutrient analysis, he was able to add other plant-based material to come up with a balanced-nutrient blend.

A company that makes a compost catalyst uses coffee grounds and tea leaves to enhance the final product. This catalyst speeds up the composting process and makes it more efficient.

Gardeners are reporting that their roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, berries, potatoes fare much better when coffee grounds are added to the soil. Start with small quantities and experiment.

Commercial composters are picking up food scraps (including coffee grounds and tea leaves) and composting them along with yard trimmings on a grand scale in California's Central Valley. The compost is offered to local farmers at a low cost. One composter offers a certain percentage of the finished product free to local school and community gardens.