3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Researcher Makes 3D Printer Feedstock From Coffee Grounds
qidi

Researcher Makes 3D Printer Feedstock From Coffee Grounds

September 12, 2023

Imagine sipping your morning cup of joe, and then using those very coffee grounds to create useful or decorative items. A new project led by Michael Rivera, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder is turning this proposal into reality, by seeking to harness the potential of used coffee grounds to reduce waste and make 3D printing more sustainable.

The idea emerged when Rivera, during his graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University, frequented a local coffee shop, Arriviste Coffee Roasters. This café used to compost its coffee grounds, but due to the pandemic, this practice ceased, leaving piles of waste behind. When the owner lamented that he had no use for the grounds, Rivera saw an opportunity.

Researcher Makes 3D Printer Feedstock From Coffee Grounds
Items printed with coffee feedstock. (Image Credit: Michael Rivera)

Most consumer-grade 3D printers today rely on thermoplastics, with polylactic acid (PLA) being the most common material. While PLA is theoretically compostable (with enough time and a few accelerants), few composting facilities accept it. Moreover, in landfills, it can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. Rivera realized that he could tackle multiple issues simultaneously by repurposing coffee grounds: reduce plastic waste, find a sustainable use for the grounds, and enjoy a steaming cup of morning joe in the process.

The Process

Rivera’s team has developed a straightforward method. They blend dried coffee grounds with two powders, cellulose gum and xanthan gum, both readily available online and compostable. Water is then added to achieve a consistency similar to peanut butter. However, this paste can’t be directly loaded into a 3D printer.

To overcome this, Rivera made modifications to a printer, incorporating plastic tubes and a syringe filled with the coffee paste. Surprisingly, the resulting creations are quite robust…or should that be… quite robusta? When dried, the coffee grounds material boasts the durability of unreinforced concrete, capable of withstanding drops and impacts.

The potential applications of 3D printing with coffee grounds are vast. Rivera and his team have crafted small planters, perfect for growing acid-loving plants like tomatoes. Once the seedlings reach the right size, they can be planted directly into the soil, pot and all. Additionally, by incorporating activated charcoal into the coffee grounds, the team can produce components that conduct electricity, making them suitable for sustainable electronics, like buttons.

Although printing with coffee grounds may never become a widespread practice, Rivera envisions it as a stepping stone towards discovering other sustainable bio-based 3D printing materials that could eventually replace plastics.

Rivera has published a paper titled “Designing a Sustainable Material for 3D Printing with Spent Coffee Grounds”, which you can access over at this link, just in case you fancy manufacturing some coffee-based feedstock for yourselves.

Come and let us know your thoughts on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages, and don’t forget to sign up for our weekly additive manufacturing newsletter to get all the latest stories delivered right to your inbox.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Phillip Keane
Phillip is an aerospace engineer from UK. He is a graduate of Coventry University (UK), International Space University (France) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where he studied Advanced Manufacturing at the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Researchers at the University of Cambridge's Center for Industrial Photonics have developed a new additive manufacturing technique called laser-assisted cold spray (LACS). The... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

Titomic Limited, an Australian company specializing in cold spray additive manufacturing, has received €800,000 in funding from the Netherlands' 3D Print Kompas program.... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

3D-Printed Insects Help Scientists Map the Limits of Mimicry in Nature

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a method to 3D print life-sized, color-accurate insect models for biological research. The team, led... read more »

Environmental

University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are working to combine 3D-printed respiratory tissue with lab-grown organoids to create functional airways for... read more »

Bioprinting
University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-sumer Flexibility

SHINING 3D has launched its newest flagship 3D scanner, the EinScan Rigil — touted as the world’s first 3D scanner featuring Tri-Mode operation... read more »

News
SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-Level Flexibility

ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

ETH Zurich students have completed a 3D-printed ice cream shop in the Swiss Alpine village of Mulegns. The project, called Gelateria, was designed... read more »

Construction
ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

Hugo, the younger brand under Hugo Boss, has partnered with 3D printing company Zellerfeld to create a fully 3D-printed loafer. The shoe is... read more »

Fashion
Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a 3D printing method that can create objects with both soft and hard... read more »

News
3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Students at Queen's University Belfast have developed what they describe as Ireland's first student-built liquid rocket engine. The Kelvin Mk.1, named after Belfast-born... read more »

3D Printing Metal
LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing