Spring Cleaning - 7 Things To Do With Leftover Coffee

Being a coffee enthusiast has one drawback – I am occasionally left with five or more open bags of coffee at one time and another three or four waiting to be opened!

As people dive into spring cleaning all over their homes, it is time to figure out how to spring clean your coffee cabinet. Here are 7 things to do with all of your leftover coffee.

1.Throw it out.

I know what you might be thinking, “That is abominable!” But here me out. If you don’t like the coffee you bought, it will continue to sit in your cupboard for a few more months until someone else throws it for you. I have also thrown a bag of coffee when I haven’t drank it in months, and know I don’t want to go back. This is rare!

If you absolutely cannot throw it away, move on to idea number 2. 

2. Phone a friend. 

When I get burnt out on a coffee or find one that I don’t enjoy, I first try to share it with someone who might like it, that way I can avoid the trash bin. Chances are if you ask around at work, someone else also likes coffee and would gladly try a bag for free.

If you are a more sociable person, you might also consider inviting friends or family over for coffee and making a big batch all at once, just for the occasion. 

3. Snowball the bags.

Prioritize one bag at a time. This might seem easy and straightforward, but sometimes that is the advice we need. When we get too many bags open at once, Mr. Brew and I try to finish the one closest to the end and then move on to another. We are limited on space so it is important to clear out the cupboard as often as we can. This is the easiest way for us to navigate the slew of coffee beans.

4. Get adventurous.

If you typically brew hot coffee, try mixing up your coffee routine and make a cold brew or an iced coffee. Or vice-versa. You will be amazed at the different subtleties that come with different brewing methods and it can oftentimes reinvigorate your love for one bag over another. You can also try making at-home lattes or daga (blended) coffee if you want to really branch out.

Another fun thing to do when you get several partial bags is to blend them and come up with your own unique flavors. When we have chicory around, Mr. Brew often blends some half bags with chicory to create a smoky flavor that is lower in caffeine. We have found lots of fun blends that balance flavor and roast to create a well rounded cup.

5. Find ways to cook with it.

The internet is full of recipes that include coffee: coffee cake, coffee mole, coffee steak rub, just to name a few. Get creative and get cooking!

I used instant coffee in our Chocolate Coffee Buttercream Frosting last fall for Halloween and it was such a delicious treat that I will definitely do it again. 

6. Coffee ban!

Don’t buy more coffee until you have finished off a couple of the bags you already own. Drinking the coffee you have will ensure that you drink it while it is still fresh, and will help the coffee you want to buy remain fresh until you are ready. If you buy more, you might never get your spring cleaning finished.

7. No coffee left behind.

There is a hidden cupboard in our home that has quite a few unopened bags of coffee, waiting to be consumed. I have ignored rule number six and continue to buy new coffees, but every once in a while we pull one of the hidden coffees out and brew it. However, we have to finish a bag or two that are already open before we can enjoy this treat.

Don’t deprive yourself of drinking good coffee. But you must clear out the bad in order to enjoy the good.

Happy Spring Cleaning and Cheers!

Mrs. Brew