From Brew to Bloom: How Your Coffee Grounds Can Help (or Hurt) Your Garden
At Win Win Coffee, we believe in second chances, and that includes your morning cup of coffee. Once you’ve brewed your perfect pour-over or frothed up your Carajillo, you’re left with something that seems like waste but is actually garden gold: used coffee grounds.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably felt a tiny pang of guilt tossing them in the trash. After all, it feels like there should be a better way. Well, good news, there is. But not all plants agree.
Let me walk you through the dos and don’ts of giving your beloved brew a second life in the garden. Plus, I’ll sprinkle in a few fun stories and tips from our Win Win community, because sharing is what we do best.
The Morning Ritual That Became a Garden Game-Changer
Back when I was experimenting with different blends for our Win Win Espresso Roast, I was going through a lot of coffee at home. I’d brew in the morning, test again mid-day, and sometimes sip late into the night (yes, even decaf has a place in my heart). My compost bin was overflowing with grounds, and I started wondering, could these benefit my sad little basil plant on the windowsill?
Spoiler alert: basil wasn’t a fan. But my roses? Thrived like they were on vacation in Tuscany.
That little experiment sparked a much bigger discovery.
Plants That Love Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds are slightly acidic and rich in nitrogen, a key nutrient for leafy growth. When used correctly (and in moderation), they can improve soil structure, water retention, and even attract beneficial worms.
Here are some garden favorites that tend to thrive with a little coffee love:
Roses – Their roots adore the acidity and nutrients. I’ve been using grounds on my rose bush for three years, and every spring, I get compliments from neighbors walking by.
Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Hydrangeas – These acid-loving plants bloom bigger and bolder with grounds in their soil.
Blueberries – If you’ve ever tried growing them, you know they’re picky. Coffee grounds give them the acidic boost they crave.
Carrots and Radishes – Mixed with soil, the fine texture of coffee grounds can help these root veggies grow strong and straight.
Camellias and Gardenias – Elegant and fragrant, they love the extra nitrogen and slight acidity.
A customer from Oregon, Liz, once told me she collects her coffee grounds every morning and mixes them directly into her garden beds. “It’s like feeding my plants a gourmet breakfast,” she laughed. And judging by the photos she sent of her hydrangeas, she’s not wrong.
Plants That Say “No Thanks”
Now, not every plant is a coffee lover. In fact, some downright reject the stuff.
Tomatoes – Believe it or not, coffee grounds may stunt their growth due to high acidity and a tendency to retain too much moisture.
Alfalfa sprouts – These are sensitive to caffeine and may struggle with even small amounts.
Lavender – This Mediterranean beauty prefers drier, alkaline soil, coffee grounds can hold too much water and make it unhappy.
Succulents and Cacti – Too much moisture-retention is a no-go for these drought-tolerant friends.
One of our longtime customers, Marvin from Texas, once tried sprinkling grounds around his lavender bushes thinking it would “wake them up.” Two weeks later, he emailed us a photo of his droopy plants with a simple subject line: “Lavender’s not a morning person.”
Lesson learned.
Pro Tips for Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Before you go scattering grounds like fairy dust, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Used grounds only – Fresh grounds are more acidic and can be too harsh. Stick to used ones.
Dry them first – Wet grounds can mold quickly. Lay them out on a tray to dry if you’re storing them.
Mix, don’t mound – Blend them into soil or compost rather than piling them on top, which can form a water-repellent barrier.
Use in moderation – A little goes a long way. Too much can throw off the pH balance of your soil.
Coffee Comes Full Circle
There’s something beautiful about turning your daily cup into something that keeps giving. At Win Win Coffee, we talk a lot about connections, between people, between nature and nurture, and between the energy we take in and the impact we leave behind.
Whether you’re composting your grounds, feeding your roses, or swapping tips with neighbors over the fence, you’re part of a community that believes in making something meaningful out of the ordinary.
And if your plants could talk? I think they’d say thanks for the brew.
Looking for the perfect blend to enjoy before your next gardening session? Try our Win Win House Blend, smooth, balanced, and bold enough to inspire your green thumb. ☕🌱
