Coffee is a beloved morning, afternoon, and evening treat for people all around the world. Whether you prefer a simple black coffee, cafe con leche, or a caramel macchiato with all the fixings, it wakes you up and keeps you going throughout the day. In fact, 46% of U.S. employees say coffee helps them stay productive throughout the day at work. Not only that, but countless Americans enjoy socializing and making friends over a cup of coffee.

Not only is coffee great for keeping you awake and making you warm on a cold day, but this popular beverage also has some other very surprising uses. Let's take a look at a few of the most unusual uses of coffee beans.

Painting

Oddly enough, coffee has been used by many crafters and artists as a form of paint for many, many years. By taking a cup of regularly brewed coffee, you can dip your brush in the drink and paint whatever you want onto cardstock. The coffee paint will dry with a brownish, textured look. You can even build your brush strokes up with repeated application .

Coffee Ground Meat Rub

You've seen a coffee machine for the office, and that makes sense to help employees get through the day. You've also seen hotel coffee machines scattered through numerous lobbies to help kick-start guest's days. But, did you know that you actually can rub coffee grounds on meat as a coffee rub? Toasting (unused!) coffee grounds under a broiler for about 30 seconds, rubbing them onto the meat, and letting it marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours will give your dinner a unique kick. 

Face Scrub

Not only are coffee grounds useful as a cup of hotel coffee, they can also be used as a facial scrub. Coffee grounds are rough enough to exfoliate your skin, yet gentle enough to not tear or scratch it. By gently scrubbing a few used coffee grounds onto your skin, you're helping to clear off any dead skin, while making it super soft in the process. 

Breath Freshener

Sucking on a whole coffee bean can actually help relieve your bad breath if you run out of mints. If you run out of mints, popping a whole coffee bean in your mouth will quickly give you fresh breath. There's a reason coffee beans are sometimes used as palate cleansers, and the same principle applies here.

Coffee isn't just for drinking. There are so many other things that coffee beans can be used for. Take some of the tips above and try them out!