Will Burning Coffee Keep Mosquitoes Away?

Most coffee drinkers try to avoid burning coffee. Normally, it’s a consequence of roasting your coffee too long. Burned coffee grounds will give the final brew a bitter taste and it’s not pleasant for humans. But did you know that you can use coffee grounds to repel mosquitoes? They can carry diseases like malaria or lead to skin infections from untreated (often scratched) bites. What if you go camping and forget the mosquito repellant or if you aren’t near a store that sells any? Here’s what to know about burning coffee and how it can help keep mosquitoes away.

Will Burning Coffee Keep Mosquitoes Away?

An Effective Mosquito Repellant-Burning Coffee

Burning coffee is an effective way of repelling mosquitoes and some other flying insects. When coffee grounds are lit on fire, they produce an acrid, bitter odor. It’s unpleasant for humans, but it’s even more unpleasant for mosquitoes and some other flying insects.

You can substitute some burning coffee grounds if you don’t have mosquito repellants like citronella oil or candles.

This easy DIY mosquito repellant works for at least a few hours and will keep most mosquitoes out of the chosen area.

Why Does This Work?

Coffee grounds contain compounds, in addition to caffeine, that are very unpleasant to mosquitoes when burned.

Lit or burning coffee produces smoke that carries these compounds around a specific area, helping create an area mosquitoes would rather avoid than fly through.

Mosquitoes can seemingly sense where humans are, and flock straight to them. Studies show that people producing more of certain scents could also be more attractive to mosquitoes. Yes, there’s a reason why they prefer only some of the people in a room.

The compounds produced by burning fresh coffee grounds can interrupt their seeking process, masking the scent of humans. When mosquitoes can’t find their targets, they’ll simply get bored and look for hosts elsewhere.

Once this effect has worn off, all you have to do is light some fresh coffee grounds on fire once again.

Can You Burn Any Coffee Type?

Some instant coffee types are made from freeze-dried coffee grounds. This is the ideal coffee for mosquito aversion, as it’s coffee in one of its most pure forms.

If you don’t have this type of coffee grounds, you might have actual coffee beans or be able to grind your own. If you’re wondering, yes, you can also light these types of coffee to have the same effect.

Coffee beans, whether powdered or not, still contain the same necessary oils to deter mosquitoes.

What Type of Coffee Can’t Be Used?

Grab your coffee and check the label. Some types of coffee drinks aren’t coffee at all, but substitute products like chicory. Chicory is a type of cabbage. When processed and roasted, it can resemble coffee. However, technically, it’s not the same thing.

Chicory is a great addition to coffee and sometimes a substitute, but it won’t have the same effect on mosquitoes. Coffee that is mostly chicory might have a mild repellant effect, but won’t do the same job as pure coffee grounds or beans.

Is Burning Coffee Dangerous?

Burning coffee isn’t dangerous, but some flying insects (including mosquitoes) hate its compounds. If you’re going to burn coffee, make sure that you are in a ventilated area. Also, place the coffee in a fire-safe container (or lid) you can’t knock over.

Even though burning coffee isn’t dangerous, flames are as dangerous as the last time you checked.

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