We get through a staggering amount of coffee sacks here at Limini Coffee. Every time a shipment of green beans arrives from Brazil, Ethiopia, or Colombia, it comes wrapped in these beautiful, rugged, and incredibly textured jute bags. While the coffee inside is obviously the star of the show: and you can grab some of that freshly roasted goodness right here: it always feels like a bit of a crime to just toss the packaging aside.
Jute (or burlap) is a fantastic material. It’s durable, breathable, and biodegradable. Plus, it has that rustic, industrial-chic vibe that fits perfectly in a modern home or a cosy café. So, what do you do with them once the beans are in the roaster?
We’ve put our heads together to come up with 25 creative ways to upcycle those old coffee sacks. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or just looking for a fun weekend project, there’s something here for everyone.
Home Decor & Soft Furnishings
1. Rustic Cushion Covers
This is probably the most popular use for old sacks, and for good reason. The bold typography and logos from the coffee farms look incredible on a sofa. Just remember, burlap can be a bit scratchy, so we recommend using the sack for the front and a softer cotton or linen for the back.
2. An Upholstered Ottoman
Got an old footstool that’s seen better days? Strip it back and wrap it in a clean coffee sack. It adds an instant industrial feel to your living room. It’s tough enough to handle feet being rested on it daily, though you might want to give it a good vacuum first!
3. Framed Wall Art
Some coffee sacks are genuine works of art. We’ve seen beautiful illustrations of birds, mountains, and intricate stamps. Simply cut out the best part of the design and pop it in a chunky wooden frame. It’s a cheap way to get a high-end look.
4. A Statement Table Runner
For a farmhouse-style dining table, nothing beats a jute runner. Cut a long strip, hem the edges (to prevent fraying, which burlap loves to do), and you’re done. It looks particularly great paired with white ceramic plates.
5. Industrial Lampshades
This one is a bit more "out there," but the way light filters through the loose weave of a coffee sack is stunning. You can wrap an existing wire lampshade frame in burlap for a warm, textured glow.
6. Draft Excluders
Practical and stylish. Sew a long tube from the sack, fill it with sand or old fabric scraps, and place it at the base of a drafty door. It’s heavy, durable, and does the job perfectly.
7. Cafe-Style Curtains
If you have a small window in a pantry or a utility room, a simple "cafe curtain" made from a coffee sack adds privacy without blocking all the light. Use curtain clips to hang them for an effortless look.
8. Heavy-Duty Storage Baskets
By lining a coffee sack with a stiff interfacing or even just inserting a cardboard base, you can create upright baskets for toys, blankets, or even laundry. They look much better than plastic tubs!
In the Garden
9. Potato Grow Bags
Because jute is breathable, it’s actually the perfect environment for growing potatoes. Fill the sack with soil, plant your tubers, and watch them thrive. When it’s time to harvest, the bag will likely be ready to compost anyway.
10. Hanging Basket Liners
Forget those expensive pre-cut liners. Cut a coffee sack to size and tuck it into your wire hanging baskets. It holds the soil in while allowing excellent drainage.
11. Weed Suppressant Mats
If you’re starting a new garden bed, lay down flattened coffee sacks before adding your mulch. They’ll block the weeds but allow water to reach the soil. Eventually, they’ll biodegrade and add organic matter back into the earth.
12. Protective Winter Wrap
Have some delicate plants that don’t like the frost? Wrap their pots or even their trunks in burlap sacks during the winter months. It’s like a little jumper for your garden.
13. Firewood Log Carrier
Burlap is incredibly strong. You can fashion a simple log carrier by adding two sturdy handles to a thick strip of coffee sack. It makes bringing wood in for the fire much less of a mess.
14. Composting "Blanket"
If you have a compost bin, placing a damp coffee sack over the top helps retain heat and moisture, which speeds up the decomposition process. Plus, the worms love it.
Lifestyle & Accessories
15. The Ultimate Tote Bag
This is a classic. A coffee sack tote bag is strong enough to carry your groceries, your laptop, or even your gym gear. We suggest lining these with a soft fabric so the jute doesn't snag your clothes. If you want to see what kind of coffee should go inside your bags, check out our latest roasts.
16. Reusable Coffee Cup Cozy
Stop using those cardboard sleeves at the coffee shop! A small scrap of coffee sack, a bit of elastic, and a button make a stylish, reusable cozy that protects your hands from the heat.
17. Christmas Stockings
For a "shabby chic" Christmas, sew some stockings out of old sacks. They look amazing hanging over a fireplace, especially when decorated with a bit of red ribbon or some holly.
18. Wine Bottle Gift Bags
Don’t buy those flimsy paper gift bags. A slim bag made from a coffee sack, tied with a bit of twine, makes a bottle of wine (or a bag of coffee!) feel like a much more thoughtful gift.
19. A Barista Apron
If you want to look the part while dialling in your espresso, a burlap apron is the way to go. You’ll definitely need to line this one, otherwise, it’ll be the itchiesthours of your life, but the aesthetic is unbeatable.
20. Yoga Mat Carrier
Roll up your mat and slide it into a custom-sewn coffee sack sleeve. It’s breathable (which is great for a post-hot-yoga mat) and looks much more unique than the standard nylon bags.
For Pets & Fun
21. A Durable Pet Bed
If you have a dog that loves to dig or scratch at their bed, burlap is a great choice. Stuff a clean sack with old pillows or foam, sew it shut, and you’ve got a heavy-duty bed that can handle a bit of roughhousing.
22. Cat Scratching Post
Cats love the texture of jute. Wrap an old wooden post in a coffee sack and secure it tightly with non-toxic glue or staples. Your sofa will thank you.
23. The Classic Sack Race
Let’s not forget the simplest use of all! If you’re hosting a summer BBQ or a kid's birthday party, nothing beats an old-fashioned sack race. It’s harder than it looks, trust us.
24. Party Bunting
Cut the sacks into triangles, stencil some letters onto them (maybe "COFFEE" or "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"), and string them together with twine. It’s a great, sustainable decoration for any event.
25. A Gardener’s Tool Roll
Sew some pockets into a strip of coffee sack, and you have the perfect roll for your trowels, pruners, and seeds. It’s tough, it can get dirty, and it looks great hanging in the shed.
A Few Tips Before You Start
Before you go wild with the sewing machine, there are a few things we should mention about working with coffee sacks:
- The Smell: Fresh sacks often smell like "green" coffee (which is quite earthy) or the jute itself. A good airing out or a gentle hand wash usually does the trick.
- The Shedding: Jute sheds fibres like crazy when you cut it. We recommend working outside or in a garage if possible.
- The Fraying: As soon as you cut burlap, it wants to fall apart. Use a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine or a bit of fabric glue on the edges to keep it together.
At the end of the day, upcycling is all about having a bit of fun and being a little more sustainable. We love seeing our coffee go out to happy customers, but seeing the bags live a second life as a cushion or a potato patch is the icing on the cake.
If you’ve enjoyed these ideas and want to try some of our speciality coffee for yourself, head over to our shop and see what’s currently in the roaster. Who knows? Your next bag might just become your next DIY project!
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