Don't Toss Your Old Coffee Maker: Turn It Into A Hummingbird Water Fountain

If you have an old drip coffee maker, espresso machine, or Keurig in your home that you're not quite ready to part with, there's an easy way to upcycle the appliance into something beneficial for the hummingbirds in your yard. While hummingbirds may not be large enough to enjoy a traditional bird bath, they still appreciate a water feature more appropriate for their size, like a fountain or sprinkler. This DIY coffee-machine-turned-bird shower is the perfect size for these minuscule winged creatures, as well as other birds that may come visit your property. It utilizes a simple water pump and other affordable materials to make the cutest DIY fountain. Not only is this a fun piece of garden decor, but it can bring a myriad of new birds to your yard. 

YouTube creator Robbie from the Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy channel, who is based in Southern California, is no stranger to a bird fountain DIY. She's repurposed a tumbler into a creative hummingbird bird bath, and now she's onto coffee makers. Even before she officially set up the contraption outside, birds were already flocking to the machine out of curiosity. If you don't have an old coffee maker on hand, but you still want to give this DIY a go, you can search your local secondhand store for an old model. Robbie was able to find one thrifted for just $1. Note that the machine itself doesn't have to work at all in order to create this adorable water fountain for hummingbirds. 

For this project, you will need some flexible tubing. The goal is to feed the flexible tubing through the coffee machine. Fish the tubing either through or around the machine, making sure it runs out the brew basket. You can even just secure it around the machine with tape, if you'd prefer. Make sure the tubing isn't pinched, so the water can easily run through. 

For the set up, you will need a large bin or container for the water, a stand for the coffee machine, a basic mat to cover the container, and finally, a coffee cup for the final look. Add the USB pump into the bin, as well as the stand with the mat placed on top. (Note that you should cut a sizable hole in the mat so that the water can easily run through the mat back down into the bin.) The coffee machine can sit on top with the end of the flexible tubing sitting in the bin. 

Robbie used a USB water pump, which you find for as little as $8, like this BZSHXTF Mini Submersible Water Pump. Add water, plug in the pump to an extension cord, fit the tubing to the pump, and turn it on. The water should run through the tubing, out of the coffee machine, and through the hole in the mat, back down into the bin. (Optional: Add faux flowers to the water reservoir for a colorful touch.)

Grab an old coffee mug or thermos as the water-catcher, and decorate it as you wish. The hummingbirds in your backyard will love this miniature fountain and they can sit on the mug. To keep them coming back, add nectar feeders around the coffee machine.