10 Ways to Reuse Coffee Sacks: Creative DIY Projects & Upcycling Ideas

ScrapHappy May 2026

It's that time of the month again when we explore what you can do with scraps—whether that's yarn, fabric, paper, or any other crafty material left over from a previous project. This month, we're focusing on something that's reached the end of its life in relation to its original purpose, but which still has plenty of potential: how to reuse coffee sacks.

A beautiful Volcafe Cafe Tuxpal coffee sack from El Salvador - the perfect starting point for any upcycling project. The authentic design makes it ideal for framing as wall art.

What Can You Make With Old Coffee Sacks?

Generally made of jute (hessian), coffee sacks are incredibly versatile materials perfect for upcycling projects and sustainable crafting. At The Snail of Happiness, we use them ourselves and are continually amazed by the creative ways our customers repurpose them. Here are 10 inspiring ideas to get you started.

10 Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Sacks

1. Grow Vegetables in Them Difficulty: Easy | Time: 20 minutes | Cost: Low

Fill your coffee sack with soil or compost and use it to grow potatoes or other vegetables. This is one of the easiest coffee sack DIY projects and perfect for small spaces or balcony gardening. The jute naturally degrades over time, enriching your soil.

2. Turn Them Into Framed Wall Art Difficulty: Easy | Time: 30 minutes | Cost: Low

Many coffee sacks have beautiful, authentic designs printed on them. Simply frame them to create unique, sustainable wall art for your home or office. This zero-waste decorating idea is perfect for kitchen spaces or rustic interiors.

A rag rug made using upcycled coffee sacks as the base. This DIY setup shows everything needed to create a colorful rag rug from fabric scraps - a perfect sustainable crafting project.

3. Make a Rag Rug Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: many hours | Cost: Low

This is one of our favorite coffee sack projects. The hessian makes a perfect base for a rag rug, allowing you to use up loads of little fabric scraps. This sustainable craft project transforms waste materials into a functional, beautiful home accessory. See our earlier ScrapHappy post for detailed instructions.

4. Create Quirky, Sturdy Cushions Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 1-2 hours | Cost: Low

Cut coffee sacks to size, stitch them together, and stuff with reclaimed materials. These upcycled cushions are great for kitchens, outdoor spaces, or adding rustic charm to your home. The durable hessian fabric holds up well to wear and tear.

5. Strengthen Traditionally Built Walls Difficulty: Advanced | Time: Varies | Cost: Varies

One of our customers purchased several coffee sacks to use in wall construction. Jute fibres can be used to add strength to traditionally constructed walls, such as those built with raw earth mortar. This ancient technique combines sustainability with durability.

6. Make an Oogie Boogie Difficulty: Intermediate | Time: 2-3 hours | Cost: Low

If you've seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, you'll remember Oogie Boogie (he's the character with absolutely the BEST song!). One of our customers creatively used coffee sack scraps to make an Oogie Boogie toy for her bug-obsessed son - then made all sorts of bugs and worms from scrap materials to fill it with. A fun project for families!

7. Use as Garden Mulch for Weed Suppression Difficulty: Easy | Time: 20 minutes | Cost: Low

Simply spread coffee sacks on the ground to suppress weeds naturally. Weight or peg them down and leave them showing, or cover with a layer of bark for a neater appearance. The biodegradable jute will eventually enrich your soil as it breaks down.

8. Organize Sack Races at Summer Events Difficulty: Easy | Time: N/A | Cost: Low

Perfect for summer fetes, sports days, or family gatherings. After the races, they're sturdy enough to sit on, making them a multi-purpose addition to your outdoor events.

9. Use as Speaker Grill Cloth Difficulty: Advanced | Time: 1-2 hours | Cost: Low

According to one of our customers, hessian is ideal for covering amp speakers. You need a fabric that doesn't stretch, won't fall apart, and is acoustically neutral and, apparently, coffee sacks fit the bill perfectly. A unique solution for audiophiles and musicians.

10. Use Them As A Sack! Difficulty: Easy | Time: N/A | Cost: Low

Sometimes the simplest reuse is the best. Use coffee sacks to store vegetables, toys, or craft supplies. Flexible and durable, they're perfect for organization in garages, pantries, or kid's rooms.

A collection of repurposed coffee sacks in various designs, ready to be transformed. The natural jute texture is perfect for rag rugs, cushions, or other creative projects.

Where to Find Coffee Sacks for Your Projects

We always have reclaimed coffee sacks in stock at The Snail of Happiness in our shop in Lampeter, Ceredigion. If you're further afield and looking to start your own coffee sack upcycling project, drop us a line and we can send them directly to you.

Have You Tried These or Any Other Projects?

We'd love to hear about your creative coffee sack reuse ideas! Share your projects, tips, and inspiration in the comments below. Have you found an unusual way to repurpose coffee sacks? Tell us your story!

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Frequently Asked Questions About Coffee Sacks

What are coffee sacks made of? Coffee sacks are typically made from jute or hessian - natural, biodegradable fibres. Some modern sacks use synthetic materials, but traditional jute sacks are preferred for upcycling projects due to their durability and sustainability.

Are coffee sacks biodegradable? Yes, most traditional coffee sacks are biodegradable. Jute naturally decomposes over 5-10 years, making it perfect for garden projects and sustainable crafting. Synthetic versions will take longer to break down depending on the specific material.

Where can I buy coffee sacks for DIY projects? You can purchase reclaimed coffee sacks from our shop in Lampeter, specialty craft suppliers, or sometimes directly from local coffee roasters. Contact The Snail of Happiness to order yours.

Can I use coffee sacks for gardening if they're synthetic? While synthetic sacks are more durable, natural jute sacks are recommended for gardening applications. They'll eventually break down and enrich your soil, whereas synthetic materials won't decompose naturally.

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On the 15th of each month a group of bloggers share their ScrapHappy activities, encouraging others to get creative with scrap. You can check them out by following the links: Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Alissa, Hannah and Maggie