Why You Shouldn't Reuse Coffee Grounds In A Moka Pot

Though the iconic moka pot has been around since 1933, it still ranks high among the most popular ways to make perfectly brewed coffee. The way it works is simple. Water is placed in the bottom chamber, and coffee grounds go in the funnel. Then the moka is placed on the stove, where it heats up the water in the lower chamber. This creates lots of steam, leading to pressure buildup. The pressure pushes the water up through the coffee grounds and into the top chamber, where it becomes coffee ready to be poured. When you've finished every last cup and you're ready for another round, it might be tempting to refill the water chamber and just put the moka back on the stove for another round of caffeine using the same grounds. However, it's crucial that you don't reuse the old coffee grounds — they've already given it their all.

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This rule of thumb applies to other coffee-brewing techniques, too. When you extract all that goodness out of your coffee grounds, no matter the size of them, you get the very best flavors during that first extraction. The hot water dissolves the grounds and flavor compounds present in the coffee to give you that delicious and fragrant cup. So, if you try to run the same grounds through your moka pot again, you'll find that the coffee tastes weak and bitter because all that goodness and rich flavor has already been extracted. If you've been reusing your coffee grounds and have wondered why your coffee tastes bad, now you know. Thankfully, there are other ways you can reuse those soaked coffee grounds.

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Inventive ways to reuse your coffee grounds

There's nothing stopping you from using your coffee grounds in other ways that don't involve brewing coffee. One of the best uses for used-up coffee grounds is basic but important: composting. Coffee grounds are a good addition to your compost as they increase its nitrogen levels, which aids in decomposition. Plus, fungi and bacteria are attracted to coffee, and in turn, they help break down the organic matter within your compost, so it's a win-win.

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You can also use old coffee grounds for skin-care purposes to keep you all nice and exfoliated. Coffee grounds are a natural exfoliator with an incredible scent. Their grittiness will help scrub off dead skin cells, leading to brighter skin. Mix them with a natural oil, like coconut or almond, and you can add other ingredients, too, like oatmeal, salt, or sugar for additional exfoliation. Even the simplest of combinations will leave your skin feeling amazing.

If you don't have the ability to compost or you'd rather use your spent coffee grounds for something culinary-related, you can reuse them to make an easy saccharum for cocktails. A sacchharum (or an oleo-saccharum, as it's traditionally known) is a syrup made from citrus and sugar. Instead of extracting citrus peels, this saccharum is made by mixing used coffee grounds with sugar plus some brewed coffee or vodka (or both), and then straining it. It can be added to your favorite coffee-based cocktails, like the espresso martini, for an additional flavor kick.

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