ᐅ Coffee as a Remedy for Slugs

Sibille schrieb:
I can only imagine that the coffee emits a smell that snails don’t like, since they definitely won’t eat it. Fresh plants are much more attractive to them.

See you, Sibille

I think it’s more about the toxic effect of caffeine. If they eat it, they ingest so much caffeine that it kills them.

Coffee contains about 2 g of caffeine per 100 grams (approx. 0.07 oz).
A rat’s lethal dose (LD50) is around 0.38 g (approx. 0.01 oz), and for humans about 10 g (approx. 0.35 oz).
Snails probably tolerate much less.

Don’t worry, a cup of brewed coffee contains only about 0.15 g (approx. 0.005 oz) of caffeine.

I also went snail hunting this year 😱. At first, I threw them far away, then I collected them and dealt with them by sprinkling salt on them… you can’t get rid of them any other way. It’s really annoying to constantly have chewed and stuck-together flowers 😡

Unfortunately, I also can't imagine that coffee grounds help against slug infestations. I believe they will probably even find it tasty. The most effective method, unfortunately, is still chemical control. I always spread slug pellets, and that is truly the best solution. I have tried many things, but only that has led to the desired success.

You won’t believe it, but I’ve heard the same thing. Coffee against slugs! I mean, coffee looks quite suitable and doesn’t bother anyone.

But it didn’t help at all. A complete failure :-)

Maybe that’s why coffee acts as an odor neutralizer. In movies, when drugs are being smuggled, they often mix coffee into the crates to keep dogs away. Maybe the snails no longer detect any benefit from it.

Of course, coffee helps against slugs – but it needs to be hot enough! 😉