This easy upcycling project will turn your old coffee grinds that were previously destined for the bin, into your own boutique fragrance. We love the smell of coffee mixed with vanilla and find these bars offer a real pick-me-up in the morning shower.
These soaps are seriously easy to make. They exfoliate and deodorize, leaving skin nice and healthy. The caffeine in the coffee is also scientifically proven to invigorate skin and reduce wrinkles.
Read on for the directions on how to make your own soap from coffee grinds.
Why Listen To Us? Well, because we KNOW coffee! In fact, we make our own coffee, coffee machine cleaners, and reusable capsules which we've sold to over 41 countries. Our team ouf experts include Tristan (an engineer), Claire (a food writer) and Richy (a barista). So, whether you're looking for a recipe or repair guide, we've got you covered 💚
Table of Contents
5 Key Benefits of Coffee Soap
- Exfoliates and deodorizes skin: Coffee grounds act as a natural exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth. Additionally, the caffeine in the coffee helps to deodorize the skin, leaving it smelling fresh and clean.
- Invigorates and reduces wrinkles: The caffeine in the coffee is scientifically proven to invigorate the skin, increasing blood flow and reducing puffiness. It also has antioxidant properties that can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Moisturizes and nourishes skin: Coffee soap typically contains nourishing ingredients like glycerin and coconut oil, which help to moisturize and soothe dry or irritated skin.
- Eco-friendly and sustainable: Making soap from coffee grounds is a great way to upcycle a waste product that would otherwise end up in the trash. It’s a sustainable and eco-friendly way to create a useful product.
- Customizable and fun to make: Making soap from coffee is a fun and easy DIY project that can be customized to suit your preferences. You can experiment with different essential oils and amounts of coffee grounds to create a soap that’s tailored to your skin’s needs and your personal tastes.
How Hard Is Making Soap from Coffee?
TLDR; Not hard at all!
Making soap from coffee is actually quite easy, and requires only a few simple ingredients. The most difficult part of the process may be finding glycerin soap, however, larger unscented blocks of glycerin soap can typically be found at your local grocery or craft store.
To make the soap, simply melt the glycerin soap in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Once the soap is completely liquid, add the powdered milk (optional), vanilla or other essential oils, and coffee grounds. Stir the mixture and pour it into lightly-greased muffin tins. Allow the soap to cool for several hours before removing it from the molds.
Overall this is a beginner-friendly process.
How Long Does Coffee Soap Last For?
The shelf life of coffee soap varies depending on a number of factors, such as the quality of the ingredients used and how the soap is stored. Generally, glycerin soap has a shelf life of about two years.
To ensure that your coffee soap lasts as long as possible, it’s important to store it properly. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture. If you’re not going to use the soap right away, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or parchment paper to help preserve its freshness.
When using the soap, it’s best to keep it as dry as possible between uses. This means storing it on a soap dish that allows air to circulate around the bar and drain excess water away. If the soap sits in a puddle of water, it will dissolve more quickly and won’t last as long.
By taking proper care of your coffee soap, you can enjoy its invigorating and exfoliating benefits for months to come!
How To Make Coffee Soap (Full Recipe)
What You’ll Need:
- 230 grams of glycerin soap
- 1/4 cup used coffee grounds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or any essential oils of your choosing
- 1 teaspoon powdered milk (optional)
- Coconut oil
*Glycerin soap is what most hotel mini-soap bars are made from (yes, we know you’ve been hoarding them). You can find also larger unscented blocks of glycerin soap at your local grocery or craft store.
Directions:
- Make a double boiler by filling a small saucepan with about an inch of water, then place the metal or glass bowl and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the glycerin soap to the bowl and let it melt completely while stirring occasionally. This should take a couple of minutes.
- Once the soap is completely liquid, add the powdered milk. This is optional but we find it gives the soap a bit of substance, and a slightly more creamy texture. Add the vanilla/essential oil and add around 25 grams of the coffee grounds into the bowl. You can also add some coconut oil here to make your soap a little gentler on the skin.
- While the soap is melting, lightly grease four rounds of a muffin tin with coconut oil and place a small spoonful of coffee grounds at the base of each once. You can add more or less here based on how abrasive you want the soap to feel.
- Now carefully ladle the soap into the muffin tin, filling to the top of each round. Give the mixture a little stir while it sets to incorporate the coffee. Allow the soaps to cool for several hours.. Once they’ve completely hardened, pop the bars of soap out of the molds. Wrap them in parchment paper for the perfect gift for coffee lovers!
5 Tips to Make the Perfect Coffee Soap
- Use high-quality glycerin soap to ensure a smooth and creamy texture. One way to ensure a smooth and creamy texture is to use glycerin soap, which has a luxurious feel on the skin.
- Add powdered milk to give the soap substance and a creamy texture. while glycerin soap is good, another trick to enhance the soap’s substance and texture, is to add powdered milk.. This will also give the soap a creamy texture.
- Experiment with different essential oils to create a personalized fragrance. Oils like lavender bergamot and citrus extracts go well with the earth notes of coffee.
- Use coconut oil to make the soap gentler on the skin. Coconut oil is known for its moisturizing properties and can help to soothe dry or irritated skin.
- Add more or less coffee grounds to adjust the abrasiveness of the soap. depending on personal preference, more or less coffee grounds can be added to the mixture to adjust the abrasiveness of the soap. This can be particularly helpful for those with sensitive skin who may prefer a milder exfoliant.
By following these tips, you can create a customized soap that not only looks and smells great, but is also gentle and nourishing for the skin.
TIP: I recommend trying the recipe first as it’s written, and then going back and experimenting with these ideas once you know what the base soap will turn out like
Final Thoughts:
I really enjoy making this DIY coffee soap! Not only does it save me money on expensive boutique soaps, but it’s also a great way to upcycle used coffee grounds. Plus, the caffeine in the soap has been scientifically proven to invigorate the skin and reduce wrinkles. And let’s not forget about the exfoliating and deodorizing benefits!
Making soap from coffee is actually quite easy, and with just a few simple ingredients, I create my own personalized fragrance each time i make it, trying different essential oils to create my own unique scent.
So why not give DIY coffee soap a try and see the benefits for yourself?
