Dregs

Dregs are the solids that accumulate at the bottom of a liquid after processing or storage. They consist of particles that are too dense to remain in suspension and may include sediment, plant fibers, or tiny fragments of the material itself. Dregs are common in beverages and other liquids and are often removed by decanting, filtration, or settling, though some dregs are intentionally left in or repurposed for other uses.

In beverages, dregs take different forms. Coffee dregs are the used grounds remaining after brewing. Tea dregs are the fine leaf fragments that settle at the cup’s bottom. In winemaking, the sedimentation after fermentation produces lees, composed of dead yeast cells, grape solids, and other particulates. Beer can also contain sediment similar to dregs, particularly in unfiltered or bottle-conditioned varieties. In edible oils and broths, accumulated solids are likewise described as dregs and may be filtered before consumption.

Beyond food and drink, the term is used metaphorically to describe the least desirable part of a group or class, as in the phrase the dregs of society.