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Coffee Grounds Can Achieve Zero Carbon Dioxide Emissions When Roasting Coffee Beans, and Here's Why...

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, As the most common waste from coffee shops, coffee grounds are typically disposed of as garbage. However, as coffee becomes the daily "spiritual nourishment" for more and more people, coffee grounds are gradually increasing, making their disposal a major challenge. According to statistics, over 8 million tons are produced globally each year

The Environmental Challenge of Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds, as the most common waste in coffee shops, are typically treated as waste material. However, as coffee becomes the daily "spiritual sustenance" for more and more people, coffee grounds are gradually increasing in volume, and their disposal has become a significant challenge.

According to statistics, over 8 million tons of coffee grounds are produced worldwide annually. The disposal of coffee grounds not only releases more environmentally polluting gases but also consumes substantial energy during combustion. Some untreated coffee grounds directly enter urban sewage systems through drains. Therefore, the enormous quantity of coffee grounds not only consumes significant energy but also causes certain harm to the environment.

Transforming Coffee Grounds into Valuable Resources

Since coffee grounds themselves are fibrous and highly usable after drying and recycling, rather than discarding them, it's better to find ways to utilize them... Therefore, for the past decade, researchers have been exploring ways to "transform" coffee grounds from waste to treasure, creating mixed fuels, coal briquettes, eco-friendly building materials, clothing fabrics, food utensil materials, and more. Coffee grounds are no longer waste; they can demonstrate their advantages in clothing, construction, building materials, fuels, tableware, and other fields, becoming an environmentally friendly favorite in many industries.

Japanese Innovation in Coffee Grounds Utilization

For the Japanese, who have an ultimate pursuit of environmental protection, they have deeper research and inventions regarding the practical use of coffee grounds... Previously, it was reported that a Japanese scientist believed that the coffee roasting and brewing processes already release large amounts of carbon dioxide, polluting the environment. Therefore, the treatment of coffee grounds should avoid combustion whenever possible.

Thus, this scientist used koji mold to soften coffee ground fibers and added cocoa butter for solidification, creating directly edible coffee ground chocolates. He expressed that this approach would not only reduce the wasted energy and polluting gases from coffee ground disposal but also provide fiber beneficial to human intestinal health...

Coffee Grounds as Fuel for Coffee Roasting

Recently, a Japanese coffee roasting company stated that indeed, the carbon and fuel used in roasting coffee beans are not environmentally friendly... Using energy to treat coffee grounds afterward is certainly not eco-friendly enough. Therefore, they want to use coffee grounds to roast coffee beans, minimizing carbon use during bean roasting and eliminating concerns about energy waste in subsequent coffee ground disposal.

The roasting company mentioned that they use carbon to roast all their coffee beans because this produces better coffee quality. Compared to gas, which generates large amounts of moisture during combustion, charcoal combustion produces less moisture. Consequently, the roasted coffee beans dehydrate more thoroughly and quickly, resulting in a softer, milder coffee flavor with a unique charcoal aroma. However, using charcoal not only requires significant wood consumption but also emits polluting gases.

Developing Bio-Coke: An Eco-Friendly Innovation

As environmental awareness increases, many people have expressed concerns that their method of using charcoal to roast coffee beans is not environmentally friendly. Therefore, the company began discussions and decided to recycle coffee grounds for coffee bean roasting. However, they wouldn't burn them directly because coffee grounds contain too much moisture and require efficient dehydration before direct combustion, which still wastes energy and produces exhaust gases. Thus, in recent years, they have collaborated with a research team from Kinki University to develop "bio-coke."

Bio-coke is an alternative fuel to coal coke, made by heating organic waste and compressing it under high pressure. However, due to bio-coke's high density and weaker combustion performance, its heat intensity is insufficient for roasting large quantities of coffee beans. Therefore, they also mixed conventionally dried coffee grounds with dried corn stalks and rice straw, compressed them, and added heat enhancers during the roasting process.

Environmental Benefits of Carbon Neutral Fuel

The head of the roasting company stated that since coffee plants absorb carbon dioxide during their growth process, the carbon dioxide released during combustion is actually the carbon dioxide absorbed during plant growth. Therefore, this achieves carbon neutrality. Meanwhile, coffee ground solid fuel produces no waste, making both bio-coke and coffee bricks environmentally friendly fuels.

Well, the carbon dioxide released during combustion is the carbon dioxide absorbed during plant growth = offset = carbon neutral emissions... This "fighting magic with magic" approach is quite hilarious!

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