The Clever Way To Upcycle A Coffee Jar In Your Kitchen

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If you're an instant coffee drinker, you know how nice the glass jars are that it comes in. Doesn't it seem like an absolute shame to just toss them in the recycling bin? Instead, start saving your old coffee jars and transform them into beautiful storage containers for your spices or other kitchen essentials. Not only do they add a touch of elegance, but it's an excellent way to clean up a cluttered spice cabinet, too. In fact, they're just one of many different glass jar types you can upcycle into something useful and attractive.

Coffee jars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it's a DIY project that you can make your own. The 7-ounce jars would work perfectly for bulk spices, like cinnamon, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper, that you use frequently. Tinier 3.5-ounce jars could be used for spices you don't typically keep large amounts of. Using a variety of sizes helps create more visibility in a cabinet since you could line the smaller ones up in front of the others. The lids also come in different colors that can help with color-coding. If you prefer coffee with caffeine, you likely have black, red, or brown lids, while decaf drinkers tend to have green. You can always spray paint the lids to change the look, too.

The first thing you need to do is remove the labels from the glass. A good way to do this is by soaking the jars in hot water to help loosen the sticky labels. If they don't come off cleanly and there's leftover residue, a little olive oil on a rag can help do the trick. Run the jars through the dishwasher to make sure they get extra clean; then hand wash the lids.

While your jars are drying, begin pulling out all of the spices from your kitchen cabinet. If you run into expired products, keep in mind that adding old herbs and spices to a compost pile can be beneficial, so you might choose that option instead of the trash. Now, fill your glass coffee jars with all your favorite spices, whether it be paprika, rosemary, or cumin. Although you might be able to differentiate the spices just by looking at them, consider buying sticker labels, like these charming Monest Floral Pantry Labels, to avoid any confusion. Write the spice names with a black Sharpie.

The last thing to do is either put the spices away in the cabinet, or find a new spot for them. Since the jars are stylish, it's not necessary to hide them away. Line a few of them up on your kitchen countertop, or set them in a cluster near the stove. You can repurpose a lazy Susan into a mini spice rack with the upcycled coffee jars on it. You can even decorate the lids inexpensively with things like these Square Puffy Jewelry Stickers from Dollar Tree, which look like vintage-style gems. Or, grab some rustic twine and make bows around the necks of the containers. 

Naturally, it doesn't have to stop with spices either — you can fill the jars with other pantry staples, such as flour, sugar, or baking soda. If you have guests overnight, create a little breakfast bar by filling them with cereal and granola. Or, use the jars to beautifully store your dried beans and noodles. With how many options there are, it might have you drinking more coffee.