Don’t waste your joe! Here are cool ways to use leftover coffee.
Don’t throw out that liquid joe! Repurpose your day-old cold coffee in several different ways. You may have never thought of a few I have listed below. Check out this list of ways to use leftover coffee.
We already know that repurposing coffee grounds is a thing and that repurposing day-old liquid coffee is nothing new, but perhaps you hadn’t thought of these ideas below on how to use leftover liquid coffee.
Related: 10 Reasons to Use Coffee Grounds in the Garden(Opens in a new browser tab)
Make Pancake Syrup With Leftover Coffee
Combine leftover coffee with melted butter, heat, and drizzle over your morning pancakes.
Cook With Leftover Coffee
- pour it in a pot roast
- use it as a coffee-based brine to make a roast chicken moist
- add it to a gravy
Simmering Potpourri
We all love the smell of coffee, right? Why not make a potpourri from it? Slowly heat spices such as cloves, star anise, nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. in a pot of “leftover” coffee on the stove. (I have not tried this)
Make Dressing For A Salad
For a simple coffee vinaigrette, cook equal parts brewed coffee, balsamic vinegar, and maple syrup on the stove at low heat until the mixture is syrupy. Top it off with a little lemon juice.
Use Coffee Liquid In A Box Of Brownies
Does anyone make those brownies in a box? Try adding your leftover coffee in place of the water.
Ice Cubes
Coffee ice cubes are great in iced coffee. Many people do this already, but you can also pour it into popsicle molds for a frozen adult treat, and maybe even add in some Bayleys.
Feed A Plant
Give your plants some nitrogen. Pour leftover cold coffee directly at the base of your plants. Just make sure not to do this every day. If you make a strong pot of joe, you may want to dilute it with water. Too much nitrogen would not be good.
Coffee Painting
Okay, this is probably a little out of the norm for a few of you, including me, but if you have a knack for making crafts, you might like this coffee painting tutorial.
All else fails – Make Dessert!!
Aren’t these ideas to use coffee leftovers cool?
Which uses for leftover coffee have you tried before or would like to try? Have any ideas to add? I’d love to hear about it in a comment.
PS. I crowd-sourced my friends on Facebook, and the majority said they freeze leftover coffee to make ice cubes, and others said, “what leftover coffee!”
Great article and useful! Thanks for sharing!
I am not a coffee drinker usually but these are some good ideas. I love the pancake syrup hack I think that would be an interesting way to perk your pancakes up!
I’ve heard of a few of them but never thought about using it as syrup. Now I have to try it.
I should make ice cubes out of the left over coffee. I have never tried using left cover coffee to make brownies but I sure am going to try!
These are definitely some interesting uses for leftover coffee. I’ve heard that you can prevent dogs from digging holes by adding coffee grounds to dog holes as well.
Those grain-free brownies look amazing. I haven’t made brownies from scratch in ages!
My mother in law uses it in her chili. I never thought to do that before, but her chili is amazing and she said the secret is coffee. So, save some from your pot and give it a try next time you have a craving for chili!
Well, I’ll be trying this this winter when we make chili!!
I’m of the drink every drop of coffee minded people, If by some strange occurrences did have leftovers,to the trays for ice they’d go!great ideas
These are excellent ideas that also stop added waste. I think the coffee popsicle suggestion is my personal favorite.
Great ideas! I’d never think of half of them but theres so many great ways to use left over coffee.
What? These are all so cool. I need to try it in brownies first!
Way to re-purpose leftover coffee! I don’t like being wasteful, so these ideas will come in handy.
I love these ideas! I always just throw out my leftover coffee. I think it’s time to start doing something more fun with it.
It happens on occasion: Make more coffee than we think we’ll drink. These ideas are something else. Coffee and butter over pancakes? I’m game!
We tend to always have one cup left in our pot every day so I love these ideas. Iced coffee does not hve to get waterd down what a great tip for ice.