can you put coffee grounds in the garburator?

Question

I've heard that it may damage the garbage disposal, is it true?

Answer 1

My husband is Canadian and he says "garburator" too!
Yeah the coffee grounds are fine. A tip to keep your blades sharp? put about 10 ice cubes in the garburator without water and turn it on. Do this about one a month or so. Oh yeah and hold your ears..it sounds awful!

Answer 2

Well, people seem to come in on both sides of this:

From FaqFarm.com:

- From what I've read, yes, and no. I hate getting rid of the grounds from my french press, so I've done a bit of online research. If you have a septic tank, the answer is no. Solids of any kind contribute to the build up of sludge in the tank, which means having it work less efficently, and having it cleaned out more often. If you have a sewer connection, as long as your pipes aren't prone to clogging, I can't see any harm if you flush it well with water. But it could get trapped in the bend under the sink too. So it depends on how your pipes are connected.

- Garbage disposals are the real question mark. I've found two websites that encourage regular grinding of coffee grounds as a way of scouring and freshening up the drain. At least one manufacturer's site says grounds are perfectly fine. On the other hand, some sites put coffee grinds on the same level as corn husks, which I know from direct observation to be a bad idea in the disposal.

- Why don't you start a compost pile and use the grounds there? I take grounds from anybody I know for the pile. Wish I could get more. Makes it smell good, too.

- I just add more water to my french press and then swirl and toss out the door or window into the bushes. Coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen.

- Doesn't hurt a thing.

- I've been putting coffee grounds down the disposal for years with no problems. Only have it pumped out on ten year basis. Two in the house and 1000 gallon septic tank. Why have a disposer if you can't flush all your garbage?

- It really just depends on your plumbing system. I have a french press and an espresso machine. I find that the best way of getting rid of the french press is simply dump in in the trash if the grounds are only slightly moist. Otherwise compost piles are great and the coffee grounds work great for keeping some animals out of your garden. As far as the espresso machine portafilter is concerned. I found a mini puck dispenser at a specialty coffee supplier that sits on the counter. It looks much like the ones you see in coffee houses with the padded bar in the middle to hit the portafilter on to remove the espresso puck.

Personally, I like the "feed the plants" idea myself. Good luck!!

Answer 3

I used to work in a food service position, and the gack we sent down the disposals!! EEW! Chicken bones don't go well, nor banana peels, nor a lot of cucumber peelings. Learned those things the hard way...LOL!!! Never heard of coffee grounds causing a problem. If coffee grounds would damage it, what COULD you send down?? Coffee grounds seem pretty harmless to me...LOL!!!

I see someone else posted, but I will reiterate...send some ice cubes down there every so often. It sharpens the blades. Also an orange peel or a lemon peel occasionally will freshen the disposal too.

Answer 4

You can put grounds and the paper into the disposal; neither will harm the disposal. However, depending on where you live, the water/sewer company might have restrictions.

Answer 5

lol... garburator....

I could see where coffee ground could cause plumbing problems. Just dump them in the trash.

Answer 6

I've heard that, too, so I just dump the screen in the trash and wash what's left over down the drain.