Homemade Inventions: Coffee Insect Repellent

For many people, coffee is the perfect drink to start a day with, end a meal, or help to recover after a tiresome weekend. But while humans may tend to love the rich flavor (or mayhaps with some cream and sugar), some insects find it as toxic as they come.

One of these coffee-hating pests is the mosquito, the species Aedes albopictus for a start, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito. This one can be found in virtually any tropical area of the world as well as most of Europe and the United States. As with all mosquitoes, it's a potential plague, and a bite can lead to a bump and that unnerving itchiness.

As awful as mosquitos (and their bites) are, most repellants we find on the market are also pretty awful. If you decide to spend a lot of time outside during mosquito season, you can count on spending a serious amount of money buying these sprays or creams. Even worse than its cost, is the fact that they could put your health in danger as well as a mosquito bite.

As surprising as it sounds, the alternative solution lies in coffee grounds. According to the EPA, coffee grounds are a safe, natural and effective way to keep insects away. Coffee grounds can help repel not only mosquitos but also other dangerous pests like wasps.

“Why are coffee grounds effective?” You may ask. Well, most bugs have a powerful sense of smell. Coffee grounds have a naturally strong smell, but it’s even stronger when they are burned.

This smell will overflow the pests’ senses and keep them away. Insects also generally associate smoke with fire and thus with danger, so the smoke is a signal to them to find refuge elsewhere.

Scientist Experiment with Coffee as an Alternative Regarding Mosquitoes Repellent

Back in 2003, coffee was proven to kill off the larvae of the Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. Although the mechanism wasn't entirely figured out at the time, the authors believed some of the chemicals in the beverage blocked some of the important stages of the larval development. They couldn't grow into adults. A closer inspection showed that some of the molecules were similar to those of insecticides. But the effect was far more intense, and the insects couldn’t develop resistance.

The research for coffee as a mosquito control measure improved in 2007 when a team used both coffee grounds and water infused with coffee to show the same effect on other larvae. The concentration to achieve this kill was low, meaning there was no need to concentrate (and thus invest) the coffee. The authors at the time concluded that coffee could be a great way to prevent the mosquitoes from growing in gardens and urban areas, thus preventing diseases like yellow fever.

How to Burn Coffee Grounds to Make an Insect Repellent

Using coffee grounds to keep some insects away is the best repellent alternative. It’s as cheap as it can be, especially if you’re already a coffee lover and have grounds on hand. It’s so easy to do as well. It’s also 100% natural and much safer than any commercial product.

• Start with dry grounds. If you are reusing grounds, put them in a bowl covered with foil and let it dry itself in a cool, dark place until the grounds are completely dry
• Put the grounds either in a bowl or on a flat surface outside. A piece of aluminum foil could work
• Burn the grounds just like you would burn incense
• Choose an upwind place of your location for best results
• For an extra dose of this repellent, add fresh bay leaves to the fire
• For an outdoor event, you could set up several of these burning plates with grounds surrounding the area of the gathering

Simple, economical and 100% natural, that's how That Coffee Roasters likes a good insect repellent, and if it’s made with coffee, all the better. We hope you enjoyed our article. If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please leave them in the section below and don’t forget to subscribe to our social networks.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

The Importance of Keeping Your Coffee Equipment Functioning

A clean set of utensils will make the difference when you serve coffee. 

Making a good coffee cup requires high-quality ingredients, but also it depends on a neat workspace and a good equipment. Most of the machines need a lighten maintenance once in a while. Whether passing a cloth on its surface or applying special products on its internal parts, espresso machines require constant maintenance for its efficient operation.

For a former barista, tools are like a third hand. Without proper supplies, the final drink could be adulterated by harmful substances to the customer's health. That's why, if you own an espresso machine and a grinder, surely you know how important it is to keep them clean.  

Why should you do a backflush?

Using the pressure valves, backflushing forces water mixed with cleaner travel through the machine's system to remove any particles and leftovers.

It's recommended to do a backflush once a week. Although your daily routine doesn't allow you with enough free time, you should do a backflush at the end of the working day, while you're calculating your earnings.

Doing a backflush is simpler than it looks. First, you need to make sure your machine is turned on and that the pressure valves are not clogged. After this, check if the drift tray is empty. Remember, your machine should be filled with clean water.  

Next, put a blind filter into your portafilter adding a special cleaner. When it's ready, insert your portafilter and start your machine. Experts recommend to do it 5 times in a row. That way, you'll be sure that there is no dirt on the system.

Are there other processes you can do to maintain your espresso machine?

• To keep your workspace dirtless, always have close a cloth exclusive for your espresso machine. Clean it every time you use it to maintain its particular glow (also, this habit makes your work more hygienic for customers security!).
• Brushes are a great way to clean these difficult spots in your espresso machine. Use them according to your device's model. Usually, the companies that manufacture the machines sell the brushes separately.
• Once every three months, check out the rinser spare parts. It's recommended to change it once in a while to avoid bad functioning. Also, inspect the valves, even if you don't have any problem with pressuring.
• Once every year, disarm your espresso machine rebuilding steam assembly, the water tap, and the boiler level probe to clean the dust and putting some oil if it's needed.

Just as you like to make the best coffee, you should also be aware of the needs of your machine. Here at That Coffee Roasters, we work to prepare you for the coffee industry. Read more of our entries to get the latest info about coffee and the wonders of this delicious beverage. Tell us your experience!

Keep all your machines and equipment under constant maintenance to ensure everything works properly.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters