Fa-brew-less idea: Dutch company to repurpose coffee grounds

In Amsterdam, Caffe Inc. is building a $4.4 million refinery to convert used coffee grounds into oils that can be used in personal care products like creams and shampoos, blocks that can be used in construction, and colorants for multiple commercial uses. 

Once operational, cofounders Josephine Nijstad and Evaluna Marquez expect the operations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 75,000 would in a year. 

Amsterdam Climate and Energy Fund contributed an undisclosed amount to the project. The fund is managed by e3, which is part Amsterdam’s broader effort to support circular economy initiatives. 

“The creation of the coffee recycling plant of Caffe Inc. perfectly fits into the circular strategy of the City of Amsterdam,” City of Amsterdam Alderman Marieke van Doorninck said in announcement of the Caffe Inc. investment. “Initiatives like this assist the city in achieving its ambition to become one of the leading circular hubs in Europe.”