Coffee Grounds as an Alternative to

Soil in Growing Pleurotus ostreatus

(Oyster Mushroom)
Oysters are one of the most versatile mushrooms. The oyster
mushroom is a saprotroph, meaning it feeds on dead and decaying
matter (mainly wood). Oyster mycelium is ravenous, and it will eat
through wood, paper, coffee grounds, and even petroleum products.
 In addition to helping the
environment, oyster
mushrooms can help your
body as well. Studies have
shown a link between
consuming Pleurotus
ostreatus and a lowering of
cholesterol levels, no doubt
due to the statins they
produce. Oyster mushrooms
are also a popular edible.
Fortunately Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the easiest species to
cultivate. Our study aims to make the production of these mushrooms
faster through using waste coffee grounds which would make it easier
to cultivate these goods since the coffee grounds are already
pasteurized after use, which is the requirement for growing the
mushrooms.
METHODOLOGY
1. Inoculation of Pleurotus ostreatus
2. Collection of Coffee Grounds and Soil
3. Spawn Run
4. Fruiting of Pleurotus ostreatus
(Oyster Mushroom)
5. Analysis of Results
Results and
Discussion
 In both soil setups, white particles have
completely covered the surface inside the bags. In
the coffee setup A, only the top part of the bag
has been covered. While in the coffee setup B,
there is little to no parts covered in white
particles of mushroom.
 In both soil setups, a single stalk of oyster
mushrooms grew. Within 3 days, the caps of the
mushrooms doubled in size, started to turn
convex, and were harvested.
In the coffee setups, however, the white particles
only took up a larger portion of the top bag,
without sprouting any mushrooms.
 In the soil setup A, no new stalks of mushroom grew,
although it was completely white with no trace or
pathes of soil in the surface.
In the soil setup B, two stalks grew from different
airholes from the sides (its dry in the pictures for they
were taken after week 3).
In the coffee setup A, a stalk of mushrooms grew from
the opening at the top of the bag.
In the coffee setup B, white particles covered the whole
bag. No stalks grew from its airholes whatsoever.
 Conclusions
To conclude, coffee grounds can be used to
cultivate or grow Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster
Mushroom). However, due to its density, the
mushrooms do not grow as quickly as it does in
the soil used by mushroom farms.
The activity of the mushroom spawns is present
only at the top also because of the pressure at the
bottom. It would be preferable to use the soil,
instead.
 Recommendations
It is recommended to drain the coffee grounds
completely before mixing it with the spawns. It is also
suggested to use a container with a large length and
width that has a shorter height.
This will enable the researchers to see if the spawns
would grow across the coffee more effectively, since
the pressure on it would be much smaller than in the
mushroom bags.