Circular Coffee Project

The Circular Coffee Project is an ongoing research and development initiative by 1930 Coffee Company, focused on transforming coffee waste into sustainable fuel solutions.

By analysing coffee beans, roasting by-products, and spent coffee grounds, we develop and test eco-friendly briquettes through controlled experimentation.

Using specialised analytical tools and real café data, we study material composition, moisture levels, and combustion performance to optimise product quality and consistency.

This initiative demonstrates our commitment to innovation, circular economy principles, and the development of scalable, environmentally responsible solutions within the coffee industry.

The idea for this project originated in winter 2024, following observations of canal life in London, where many boats rely heavily on solid fuels such as wood, coal, and diesel for heating during colder months. This often results in high fuel costs for boat dwellers and environmental concerns, including smoke and emissions affecting nearby communities.

Further discussions within the local community highlighted a shared challenge: the need for a more sustainable and cost-effective heating solution.

This led to the exploration of coffee waste as a potential alternative fuel source. Coffee grounds, which are produced in large volumes by cafés, presented an opportunity to be repurposed rather than discarded.

Initial research involved reviewing industry materials, technical resources, and participating in university-led innovation programmes. Early experimentation with coffee waste began in 2024, focusing on material composition and combustion properties.

While initial trials were unsuccessful, ongoing experimentation and refinement of the process led to significant progress. 

As part of the development process, we conducted a series of controlled experiments to determine the optimal composition and treatment of coffee waste materials.

Different material ratios were tested, including simple blending of components as well as controlled composting in separate containers over varying time periods.

These trials allowed us to evaluate how composition and decomposition time affect binding properties, structural integrity, and combustion performance.

Development is an iterative process - each test, including unsuccessful ones, contributes to improving material composition and overall performance.

The results were used to identify combinations that provide improved durability and longer burn time.

By early 2025, a viable method was developed to convert coffee waste into fuel briquettes.

The resulting briquettes demonstrated strong performance comparable to traditional solid fuels, including sustained burn time, low smoke output, minimal odour, and reduced residual waste.

We utilise laboratory-grade analytical tools to support ongoing research into coffee extraction, material properties, and by-product behaviour.

The DiFluid Omni Plus allows us to assess moisture levels, water activity, density, structural characteristics, and colour, providing insight into how different coffee profiles affect both brewing performance and waste composition.

The R2 Extract refractometer is used to measure extraction yield and total dissolved solids, enabling precise control over brewing consistency while also informing analysis of residual material in spent coffee grounds.

Hanna Instruments are used to monitor water quality, including TDS (ppm), pH, and temperature - critical variables that influence extraction efficiency and chemical stability.

This work laid the foundation for a scalable circular solution, enabling coffee shops to significantly reduce waste while contributing to more sustainable energy alternatives.

Our current research is focused on understanding how key coffee parameters affect its potential for reuse. This includes analysing coffee chaff, as well as the influence of bean moisture levels, growing altitude, and coffee variety (Arabica, Robusta, Liberica) on material composition and processing outcomes.

We work with coffee beans sourced from a range of origins, including Brazil, Costa Rica, Kenya, Ethiopia, Peru, Rwanda, and El Salvador, across different processing methods such as washed, natural, and anaerobic. This allows us to compare how origin and processing impact both extraction behaviour and by-product characteristics.

In the next phase, we plan to explore the potential of coffee by-products - including spent grounds and chaff - for use in soil enhancement and cosmetic applications.

This integrated analytical approach allows us to better understand the relationship between coffee processing and waste transformation, forming the foundation for developing consistent and scalable circular solutions.

The coffee industry produces significant waste, with over 500,000 tonnes of used coffee grounds discarded annually in the UK. Most of this ends up in landfill, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Our solution transforms coffee waste into eco-friendly fuel briquettes, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels while reducing environmental impact.

This approach creates a circular system where waste is repurposed into a valuable product, combining sustainability, innovation, and practical application.

With growing demand for cleaner and more efficient heating solutions—particularly within canal communities—this model presents a scalable opportunity to reduce waste and introduce sustainable energy alternatives.

We are actively open to partnerships, collaboration and knowledge exchange to further develop and scale sustainable solutions within the circular coffee ecosystem.