07/07/2026
With the sunshine sticking around, many of us are making the most of eating outdoors.
A few years ago, while visiting the beautiful Greek island of Alonissos, we picked up a tip that we've never forgotten.
When we sat down for lunch on the beach, we noticed the restaurant burning used coffee grounds. It wasn't for the smell (although it was rather pleasant!) – it was to help keep the wasps and mosquitoes away.
It turns out that many insects have a very strong sense of smell, and the aroma from smouldering coffee grounds is something they'd rather avoid.
If you'd like to give it a try at home, make sure your used coffee grounds are completely dry, pop them into a heatproof dish, and light them so they gently smoulder, rather like incense.
A simple way to reuse something that would otherwise go in the bin – and it might just make those summer lunches a little more peaceful.
Have you ever tried this, or do you have any other old-fashioned tips for keeping insects at bay? We'd love to hear them.
