We use coffee grounds to help us create that morning cup of energy in the morning. But the coffee grounds might end up down the drain or in the trash. This is a great way to be wasteful or to clog drains. But what dissolves coffee grounds? Are there better uses for coffee grounds?

Wondering what dissolves coffee grounds? We have an easy way to dissolve coffee grounds and some tips on how to use them as well! Coffee machines use just enough water to make the coffee through paper filters, but they don’t come with a way of getting rid of the coffee grounds when they’re done being used.

The two most common ways to get rid of coffee grounds after they’ve been soaked in hot water are to toss them in the trash or garbage disposal. Unfortunately, tossing the grounds in the trash is essentially food waste.

Coffee drinkers make their cup of coffee, enjoy it because it’s good coffee, and then discard the used coffee grounds. There’s nothing wrong with getting rid of them when you don’t need them anymore.

But how we get rid of them does matter. The kitchen sink drain is not the place to get rid of coffee grounds after our morning coffee. The leftover grounds will clog the drain and cause major plumbing issues.

Simply put, the drain is not a good idea for used coffee grounds. The trash can isn’t a much better place. Luckily, some are searching for alternative methods to get rid of that organic matter, which is a better option.

One of the ways people want to get rid of coffee grounds, especially any grounds in a clogged drain, is to dissolve them. But what dissolves coffee grounds? And more importantly, is this the best way to get rid of ground coffee beans?

What Dissolves Coffee Grounds?

The brewing process is done, and your coffee maker has supplied you with a delicious cup of coffee. All you did was add fresh water and coffee grinds to the coffee pot. You’re left with soaked coffee grounds, so what do you do?

One option is to toss them in the trash can and move on with your day. But did you know that coffee grounds attract fruit flies? Maybe you’ve had fruit flies but no fruit and wondered where they came from or how they got there.

The coffee grounds are a highly probable cause. We could use the organic materials trash can to prevent fruit flies. These cans are designed to seal tight so they don’t let out smells that attract these pests.

But not all of us always have access to these cans. The good news is that there are practical uses for these coffee grounds that the regular coffee drinker can handle.

Dissolving a Coffee Grounds

Hot water is all you need to dissolve instant coffee. However, ground coffee beans and grounds will require more than hot water. Instead, coffee grounds will eventually dry up in kitchen drains.

The build-up will continue, and other food scraps may also get caught. Together, they will form a clog, and then we may feel like the only option will be to call professional plumbers to perform a coffee extraction in your kitchen plumbing.

However, we can try some old wives’ tale first. Baking soda and vinegar should be able to break up any stuck coffee grounds in the drain. Once broken up, you can use hot water and soap to loosen up the oils and allow them to slip through the pipes easily.

This may not be the best method, but it could get the job done. A last resort could be to get some drain cleaners to clear the blocked drain. Drain cleaners usually use strong acids to help dissolve any blockages, so be sure they are compatible with your pipes.

Lastly, we could avoid this trouble by finding other uses for those coffee grounds.

Coffee Grounds Fertilizer

Plants require nutrients from the soil to continue to grow. However, the soil is not an infinite source of nutrients; it needs to be replenished. Fertilizer is a good choice for most gardeners, but coffee grounds can also get the job done.

Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and chromium, which plants need. The coffee grounds also serve another purpose. The grounds will absorb metals that contaminate the soil, giving your plants their best chances of growth.

Simply allow the grounds to dry a bit by sprinkling them onto a plate before leaving for the day. Come home, and sprinkle them in the soil around your plants. Beats breaking out a sink plunger or drain snake. 

Coffee Ground Meat Tenderizer

​What dissolves ground coffee? We already know ways that may help dissolve coffee grounds in a clogged drain, but did you know you can use those coffee grounds in a dry rub to tenderize meat?

Coffee grounds contain acids and enzymes that help tenderize meat when mixed with a dry rub. Simply make your favorite dry rub recipe and add some wet or dry coffee grounds before applying it to the meat.

Let the meat sit for at least two hours before cooking. The heat from the cooking process will also allow the coffee grounds to create a nice, crispy crust around the meat.

The best results will come from cuts of beef, but you can use this method on just about any meat.

​Coffee Ground Cleaners

We already know what dissolves coffee grounds, but that doesn’t mean we want to pour them down the drain. Instead, we want to avoid that as much as possible. Some places suggest using coffee grounds as a cleaner, even a sink cleaner.

Coffee grounds indeed have properties that make them a natural cleaner and exfoliator. But we should pick and choose where we use them so that we don’t end up with a clogged sink at the end of the day.

We can use coffee grounds to clean an oven, but just be sure to dump the bucket of water outside. However, the safest way to use coffee grounds as a cleaner is to put them in the fireplace.

Coffee grounds will weigh down the ashes, making it easier to scoop them up. This process will also ensure that the soot doesn’t kick up into the air and fill the home. The moisture also absorbs some of the ash, so the job will be simpler.

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