What to do with 50 1-lb cans of old coffee?!


Question:

What to do with 50 1-lb cans of old coffee?

I have about 50 sealed cans of coffee that are about 5 years old. The manufacturer says the coffee is safe, but it tastes awful. Is there any practical use for all this coffee, or should I just throw it away? Hate to waste.

Additional Details

1 day ago
I forgot to mention, this is ground coffee (not whole beans)


Answers:

Skin and Hair Care:
* Used grounds make a good skin facial pack - sort of like a mud pack.
* They can be used for skin dermabrasion.
* Fans of homemade tattoos sometimes mix coffee and henna to create a dye for permanent tattoos.

Pest Control:
* Build a ring of coffee grounds around the areas you would like to protect from ants. It's said they will not cross the ring.
* Or, ring the actual anthills with grounds and see if they abandon them and move on.
* Earl Proulx's "Yankee Home Hints" recommends sprinkling coffee grounds around your garden to eliminate cutworms and ants. He also says that "to get rid of ants in the lawn, mix about 1 pound of coffee grounds in 1 quart of hot water and pour this on anthills. Red ants, which make big hills, will require a big dousing."

Indoor Plants:
* Use grounds to 'top off' the soil in houseplant pots, or mix it with potting soil before planting. Most plants love coffee, and will appreciate the last of your cup of coffee as well (no cream or sugar, though!)

Outdoor Gardens:
* Dump them on the ground in your garden and flower beds, and let them help enrich the soil.
* Want to start a worm farm? Mix horse manure and coffee grounds for your 'soil', just like the professionals.

Crafts and Hobbies:
* Steep coffee grounds in water to make a 'bath' for sheets of paper. Dip them, then lay them out to dry to make imitation parchment, or to cut up for collages and other crafts.
* Steep coffee grounds in water and dip Easter eggs in it for a different look.

Clothing:
* Steep grounds in hot water to make a brown dye for linens. Warning - wash coffee-dyed clothing separately - it can stain other items. Make sure you make enough to dye a full garment - you may need a lot.
* Tie-dye a shirt - Rub petroleum jelly on the areas you don't want dyed. Dip in coffee bath, let dry, then wash gently until the color has set. Wash again and line dry.

Home Care:
* Use steeped grounds and a cotton swab to touch up furniture scratches.
* Flush them down your drains and let the abrasive action clean your pipes. (Not recommend for septic systems).
* Spread them in a thin layer on a cookie sheet and dry them thoroughly. Fill old nylons with the dry grounds, and tie off the ends. Hang in closets to absorb odors. Works in the refrigerator as well.




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