PubMed · 2026-06-01
Researchers found that certain wood-decay fungi can break down spent coffee grounds—a major waste product—while producing useful enzymes in the process. This offers a biological route to recycle coffee waste instead of sending it to landfills.
Pleurotus dryinus (oyster mushroom relative) achieved the highest carbohydrate breakdown at 43.32% reduction in spent coffee grounds
Trametes versicolor (turkey tail fungus) produced the highest laccase enzyme activity at 721.193 ± 41.72 U/L, indicating strong oxidative potential
All three fungi—Irpex lacteus, Pleurotus dryinus, and Trametes versicolor—successfully colonized and metabolized spent coffee grounds, with T. versicolor and I. lacteus reducing carbohydrates by 39.07% and 35.55% respectively