Left in a disposable cup or thrown in a garbage bin, large quantities of coffee grounds are wasted every day. This prompted a café in Saudi Arabia to create a new, first-of-its kind idea: using dried coffee grounds in planting and turning the drunken cups into small plants.
"We had this new idea because we believe in the importance of recycling and using coffee grounds for good," explains Sarah al-Maqit, head of marketing at the Perfect Pick Company located in Al Jubail Industrial City.
She notes the project's main aim is environmental, to stop wasting tons of coffee grounds that can be used in agriculture or skincare products. Al-Maqit explains that for the project, they had to find an outdoor space to enable visitors to dry their coffee in sunlight and then plant it in the soil, adding that the tools used in the process are many including basins, soil, fertilizers, dried coffee grounds, small plants, gloves, and name tags. Then, the plants are left in the coffee shop so interested visitors can learn more about this novel idea and try it.
"Visitors partaking in this project are from all ages, working with the organizers who guide them how they can use coffee grounds to plant," she says in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.
Al-Maqit believes that coffee shop visitors need new and unfamiliar experiences that break the routine in these places, noting that this novel idea has been qualified to partake in the "Sharqiya Gets Creative Initiative" held currently in the Eastern Province by King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture – Ithra (Dhahran), with the participation of a large number of entities and individuals who have demonstrated new, innovative ideas and products.
"This project is the first-of-its-kind in Saudi Arabian coffee shops, and has been applauded by visitors, mainly children who loved the idea of planting with coffee. It's an easy process that requires just few minutes, and educates the little ones about agriculture."
This idea comes as the popularity of coffee and coffee shops is growing in the Kingdom. Saudis spend over Rs 1.16 billion ($310 million) on coffee a year, equaling Rs 3.18 million ($85,000) per day, according to estimates of Saudi Customs. Recent figures show that Saudi coffee imports hit 80,000 tons in one year.
Brazil, Ethiopia, and Malaysia are the top coffee exporters to Saudi Arabia. According to recent data, the average cost of one cup of coffee in the country ranges between Rs 8 in small coffee shops, and Rs 35 in luxurious cafes. These numbers show how using coffee grounds can be way more feasible than of throwing it.
