Comments on: BOM Coffee Grounds Update

By: asaf

asaf — Wed, 24 May 2017 14:12:11 +0000

my understanding is that red wigglers do not directly feed on the feedstock, but on the microorganisms that grow on in.
This would explain why they like pre-composted coffee grounds, not fresh.
Fresh coffee grounds are pasteurized by the brewing process and are therefore void of edible microbes for the worms.

By: Elle

Elle — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 18:45:46 +0000

There is a difference between the grounds based on the roast. The variables in the coffee grounds could have an affect on the experiment.

By: Bentley

Bentley — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:12:34 +0000

KOREY – Are you saying you have a bin outside in Texas, and added coffee grounds to it? Yikes.
I would probably mix in more bedding and (definitely) rotate multiple frozen water bottles (or something similar) between the bin and your freezer (but definitely DON’T add frozen food waste – this will only create more trouble)

By: Korey K.

Korey K. — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:24:25 +0000

I added probably a full 5-gallon bucket to my existing worm bin. (3 months old, originally peat moss/aged manure). When I added the coffee grounds to the worm bin, the next day I felt it with my hands and it was really hot. Is there anything I should do? It is already getting hot here in Texas. (around 93 degrees) Should I just let them be? Add water? Take it out and replace it with other bedding? Thanks guys!

By: John Donaldson

John Donaldson — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 20:58:36 +0000

Thanks for all of this discussion on coffee grounds and VC. It’s helping me a lot!

By: Larry D.

Larry D. — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:17:02 +0000

Just be careful about breathing that much powdered eggshells.From what i have seen,lime and eggshell dust should not be inhaled.I crush egg shells,but i quit grinding them.If they come out in the vc,i sift and throw it back in the bin.

By: Iva

Iva — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:29:03 +0000

Just read this article. I feed my worms almost exclusively the “homemade manure” mix that Bentley suggested. I keep my covered bucket in my kitchen and stir it every day, and whenever I have coffee grounds (make a 12 cup pot about 7x a wk) I throw them in there along with the filter. I let the mix sit and brew for about 2-3 weeks (though the coffee grounds I keep adding don’t brew that long) and my worms are chomping on it practically the minute I spread it in my bin. They LOVE the mix, and that’s with a decent amount of grounds, uncomposted, in it. We also use a huge amount of eggs every week (about 5 dozen? sometimes more?) so I keep busy drying and grinding up eggshells. Every time I feed, every time, I sprinkle on a layer of eggshell powder. So far, I’ve not had a problem with a sour bin so I am thankful.

By: Kator

Kator — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:51:05 +0000

Thirty days in and seeing more interest in grounds planted in the flow-through. This is encouraging.

Larry, I envy your climate. Too late in the year to hot compose outside here, but I’m hopeful that I can build a small indoor composter that will work for the grounds. I’m trying to find someone with a working model that I can copy.

By: Kator

Kator — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:48:10 +0000

It’s been 25 days since I added coffee grounds to two of my bins – a Rubbermaid and a wooden flow-through. This morning I discovered a number of wigglers in the grounds in the flow-through, which is promising. There were none there three days ago. It’s interesting since the alternative is pumpkin located in a separate area of the bin. I have about 25 lbs of grounds waiting for a hot compost system. The stash is being aired and tumbled but I’m seeing no increase in temperature.

By: Larry D.

Larry D. — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:52:11 +0000

I’m no expert! But i am in Florida.If it doesn’t matter the location,maybe you can post,or get with Bentley.I can use several hundred pounds for sure.I prefer huge loads,so i don’t have to counter act by burning a lot of gas to pick it up.Kind of makes me feel like i am defeating the purpose!But i do choose routes wisely,and make sure a starbucks is on the way!