Transforming Household Spent Coffee Waste into Biodegradable Plant Pots
READY TO MAKE YOUR OWN PLANT POTS?
Fantastic!
Before you race to make your own coffee biodegradable plant pots please read the tips and considerations first to make sure the experience moves as smoothly as possible!
​
​
Tips and Considerations to Keep in Mind
01
The plant pot is to be made using any combination of oven-safe cups/bowls/moulds that you can find at home. The possibilities of sizes and shapes for your coffee plant pot are endless! If you can't find any/many oven safe cups at home, you can find affordable cups, bowls and cupcake moulds at your local op shop for very affordable prices
03
When cooking the mixture on the pan it is important to turn the
heat off as soon as the mixture starts to thicken. Otherwise the
mixture will harden too much and create large air pockets when
cooking in the oven.
02
When choosing cups/bowls/ cupcake moulds to use to make your coffee plant pot, make sure there is at least a finger width’s gap to ensure adequate wall thickness of the plant pot. Much thinner and it is unlikely that the plant pot will be able to uphold it’s structural integrity for 8 weeks.
04
The plant pot can only be baked using the oven. This is due to the natural characteristics of the mixture. it must be cooked for a long time at a low temperature. This is why the air fryer/microwave/air-drying is unable to sufficiently ‘bake’ the plant pot.
Ready?
Here is the Recipe!
01 - Gather Cooking Utensils
Two oven safe silicone or ceramic mugs/cups/muffin moulds
(ensure that one cup is smaller than the other. This will be used to
create a mould for the coffee plant pot)
Spoon
Tablespoon
Baking paper
Small/Medium Size Pan
Oven
02 - Gather Ingredients
10 tablespoons Spent Coffee Ground Waste
6 tablespoons Tapioca Starch
1 tablespoon White Vinegar
100ml Water
​
If you want to create coffee plant pots more keep the ratio. this recipe will make 2 medium sized coffee plant pots
03
Preheat Oven to 130°C (266°F)
04
Gather your cups/bowls/moulds.
​
If they are ceramics or glass, cover them with baking paper to prevent
sticking.
If using silicone, baking paper is not needed as the coffee mixture will not stick to the silicone
​
Make sure there is roughly a finger's gap between the smaller and larger cup. this will ensure the coffee plant pot will not degrade too quickly
05
Using a small to medium sized pan, mix together the coffee
ground waste, tapioca starch and water and stir until a watery consistency is reached.
06
Once the watery texture is reached, turn the stove on to a low heat.
​
On low heat, mix in the vinegar and stir gently. The mixture will
begin to thicken after 2-3 minutes.
07
As soon as the mixture starts to thicken, turn the heat off and continue to stir for another 30 seconds.
The mixture should reach a texture that is thick but still pourable.
08
Once a thick, pourable texture is reached, transfer the mixture into your oven safe moulds and flatten the mixture using a spoon if needed.
09
Take the smaller cup and press it into the middle of the mixture.
​
Be careful to not push the cup all the way down as there should be an even thickness all around.
10
Place the plant pot mould into the oven to bake for 2.5 hours.
(150 minutes)
11
After 2.5 hours, Use oven mitts to gently remove the plant pot mould from the oven.
Let it rest in a well ventilated area for atleast 2 hours until cool to the touch. Do not remove the plant pot yet.
12
After 2 hours once the plant pot has cooled down, gently remove the coffee plant pot from the mould by firstly
removing the smaller cup from the top and then the larger cup.
13
Once the coffee plant pot has been removed from the oven safe moulds, let the plant pot sit in a dry, well ventilated area for
24 hours to dry completely.
​
14
Once the coffee plant pot has rested for 24 hours, it is finally ready to use!
15
Check out our 'Learn More' page to see how your own coffee waste biodegradable plant pot has made a positive impact to your home garden and the environment!
