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Scrub Up With Your Favorite Cuppa – Vanilla Coffee Soap

Are you an enthusiastic coffee drinker? Or do you know someone who can’t start the day without a cup of coffee? Of course you do! 

I don’t know what it is about those beans; it can’t be the taste if you ask me. I drink my coffee like I eat pie – with a glass of milk and sugar sprinkled on top. 

But the aroma, oh the rich, deep aroma, and the quick burst of energy after, is something I can get enthusiastic about! 

Here in the Midwest, where we have more cold months than hot, starting the day with a hot beverage in hand is a bit of a necessity. And when you live in the country, a drive to a coffee shop is many miles away.

So, great-tasting coffee is a treat I only encounter a few times a month. But I found a way to soak up all the comforts of a great cuppa with a homemade soap recipe for vanilla coffee soap, which anyone can make! 

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This coffee soap recipe is treat for your skin and your nose. It’s great for all skin types and any coffee will work in this quick homemade soap.

How Do You Make Coffee Soap?

Incorporating coffee into soap is easier than you might think. In fact, all you need is three ingredients! How’s that for easy? 

It starts with a melt and pour soap base that has already gone through the saponification process, which is much easier than working with active lye. If this is your first time making soap, make sure you check out the beginner’s guide, which explains the process of saponification and melt and pour soap bases. 

I used a shea butter soap base for this soap recipe for an effortless layered effect. Unlike a goat milk soap base that allows ingredients to float to the top or have the look of being suspended in movement, ingredients typically sink to the bottom in shea butter melt and pour soap bases.

And that is precisely what I wanted to happen for this coffee soap recipe! 

Related To: Beehive Goat Milk and Honey Soap Recipe

Can you put coffee grounds in soap?

You can see in the photo above the bottom of the soap has a rich, dark layer of coffee grounds. And individual coffee grounds are sparsely spread throughout. They add a pleasing layered decoration to the soap and give this homemade soap a warm latte color without any added soap coloring. 

So, after making a pot of coffee, pour the grounds onto a towel and pat dry to prepare for use in soap. I love that the used coffee grounds add a handcrafted layered appearance, rich color and grasp the scent of freshly brewed coffee without the need for soap fragrance.

Plus, coffee grounds to soap has many benefits for the skin!

One thing to point out: according to the Soap Queen, used coffee grounds are best for both melt and pour soap and cold process soap alike. From what I understand, fresh coffee grounds can bleed through the soap. While bleeding doesn’t hurt soap like it does our bodies, it can skew your intended look for the soap. 

Related To: Creative Homemade Soap Ideas

What is Coffee Soap Good For?

Homemade coffee soap is a treat for your skin and your nose. It’s great for all skin types, and any coffee will work in this quick soap recipe. Don’t miss the four gossip-worthy coffee soap benefits below! 

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Truth be told coffee soap benefits are quite numerous. Coffee can give your skin a good jolt, just like it does for you from your cup every morning. Here are four reasons why adding coffee soap to your skin care routine is worth gossiping or who I’m kidding - bragging about!

4 Gossip Worthy Coffee Soap Benefits:

Truth be told, coffee soap benefits are quite numerous. Coffee can give your skin a good jolt, just like it does for you from your cup every morning.

Here are four reasons why adding coffee soap to your skincare routine is worth gossiping about or, who I’m kidding – bragging about! 

1. Coffee is anti-inflammatory, which can help reduce water retention, making skin look less puffy and improving circulation. Both of which are good for reducing the appearance of cellulite or under-eye bags. And the natural caffeine found in coffee can be very soothing to the skin. 

2. Packed full of antioxidants, coffee contains a great source of anti-aging nutrients for skincare, which is one reason why I use my DIY puffy eye cream

3. Speaking of age-fighting abilities, coffee is also a natural astringent like witch hazel. Astringents tighten and firm skin. 

4. Using coffee grounds in this soap recipe can create an exfoliating bath soap, like my popular pink grapefruit exfoliating soap. The coffee grounds provide gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, revealing softer, smoother skin. 

All together, nutrient-packed coffee and shea butter in this melt and pour soap recipe can rejuvenate your skin for a fresh, bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed appearance. 

Incorporating coffee into soap is easier than you might think. Start with these supplies!

Vanilla Coffee Soap Recipe Ingredients:

1 lb shea butter melt and pour soap base

¼ cup used coffee grounds

30 drops coffee essential oil

(optional) 3 tablespoons pure vanilla extract, substitute for 20 drops vanilla essential oil

Follow these quick 5 steps to make vanilla coffee soap. It’s the perfect gift for coffee lovers!

How to Make Vanilla Coffee Soap:

1. Prepare a square silicone soap mold by cleaning, drying, and spritzing with rubbing alcohol. Then, carefully slice 1 pound of shea butter soap base into cubes approximately ½” to 1” in size using a soap knife

2. Scoop the sliced shea butter soap base into a large glass measuring cup for safe melting and easy pouring. Place it in the microwave and melt the soap base in 30-second intervals, stirring intermittently to avoid burning.

3. Promptly remove the melted soap base from the microwave and add 30 drops of coffee essential oil and an optional 3 tablespoons of vanilla extract or 20 drops of vanilla essential oil. Stir together using a non-stick heat-resistant spatula. Then, add a ¼ cup of used coffee grounds to the soap mixture. Stir well to incorporate into soap. 

4. Working quickly, pour the vanilla coffee soap into the prepared square silicone mold before the soap begins to harden. Carefully distribute evenly between 4 to 5 sections, avoiding overflow.  

5. If needed, spritz with rubbing alcohol to remove bubbles in the soap. Allow coffee soap to cool in the mold for one to two hours or until solid before removing. 

Incorporating coffee into soap is easier than you might think. In fact, all you need is three ingredients! How’s that for easy coffee soap recipe?

Vanilla Coffee Soap

Yield: 4 - 5 soap bars
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

This melt and pour soap recipe is a breeze to make with only three ingredients, perfect for soap making beginners.

Materials

  • 1 lb shea butter melt and pour soap base
  • ¼ cup used coffee grounds
  • 3 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

Tools

  • square silicone soap mold
  • soap knife
  • large glass measuring cup
  • non-stick heat resistant spatula

Instructions

    1. Prepare a square silicone soap mold by cleaning, drying, and spritzing with rubbing alcohol. Then carefully slice 1 pound of shea butter soap base into cubes that are approximately ½” to 1” in size using a soap knife
    2. Scoop the sliced shea butter soap base into a large glass measuring cup for safe melting and easy pouring. Place it in the microwave and melt the soap base in 30 seconds intervals, stirring intermittently to avoid burning.
    3. Promptly remove the melted soap base from the microwave and add 3 tablespoons of vanilla extract. Stir together using a non-stick heat resistant spatula. Then add a ¼ cup of used coffee grounds to the soap mixture. Stir well to incorporate into soap. 
    4. Working quickly, pour the vanilla coffee soap into the prepared square silicone mold before the soap begins to harden. Carefully distribute evenly between 4 to 5 sections, avoiding overflow.  
    5. If needed, spritz with rubbing alcohol to remove bubbles in the soap. Allow coffee soap to cool in the mold for one to two hours or until solid before removing. 

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This melt and pour soap is a breeze to make with only three ingredients, perfect for soap-making beginners. Add the exfoliating and tightening benefits of coffee to your skincare routine. And don’t forget to give one to the coffee lovers in your life. 

Pin this quick coffee soap recipe to make soon and tag #lifenreflection on Instagram to share your soap making adventures with us.

27 Comments

  1. Angela Carr Krug says:

    If I wanted to add some coffee EO to this soap, how many drops would you recommend? Thank you

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Angela, essential oil dilution for daily usage for adults is recommended at 2%. So, you can safely add 25 to 50 drops to this recipe. Just make sure it is extracted from coffee, not a fragrance as that could cause irritation to your skin. Have fun soap making, I love making this soap!

  2. This is a very bad idea. Never put coffee grounds down your sink. It will eventually clog your drainage system.

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Coffee scrubs are very common and I haven’t had an issue after using this recipe off and on for more than year.

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Thanks Sonali

  3. Can I use olive oil melt and pour soap for the coffee soap?

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Sure, the coffee grounds may not sink to the bottom, that’s no biggie

  4. I have a honey soap base can I use that as well or does it have to be just Shea butter?

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Yes, you can but the soap won’t look the same.

  5. Justine Wiedemann says:

    I just doubled this recipe but I used Vanilla EO not extract, will this still be OK to use?

    1. lifenreflection says:

      even better!

  6. I’m planning on doing this sometime this week! If I were to use EO in place of extract, how many drops would you suggest?

    1. lifenreflection says:

      20 to 25 drops will work well

  7. Can i use vanilla powder instead of vanilla extract and if yes how much !! Thank you

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Yes, you can, I love vanilla powder, but I have a hard time finding it. Depending on how much vanilla scent you want, I would go for a tablespoon.

  8. Amanda Burns says:

    Can I substitute ground coffee for instant coffee? I sustained nerve damage after breaking my ankle back in January and I need fewer steps to make my soap. Thanks!

    1. lifenreflection says:

      I haven’t made soap with instant coffee. Does it havve other ingredients than coffee in it?

  9. Veronica Henderson says:

    How did you get your soap to where it looks like 2 layers?

    1. lifenreflection says:

      I used a shea butter melt and pour soap base in this recipe because add ingredients tend to sink to the bottom with this base. So the coffee grounds sank to the bottom and made it appear that it was layered.

  10. Julie ONeill says:

    I’m curious. How do I store the homemade soaps? Can they stay in the shower as store bought soaps can? If I add peels, coffee grounds, flowers etc to my soaps, do they get moldy? Thank you in advance for your response. 🙂

    1. lifenreflection says:

      You can keep one in the shower. I like to keep mine a soap saver. Coffee grounds and dried flowers won’t get moldy. Just avoid adding fresh ingredients and water to your soap bars.

  11. Charles Whealton says:

    Kristy:

    Hello again! I just made this one. I did forget to spritz the mold with alcohol to prevent bubbles. Fingers crossed I get lucky and the grinds cover up any bubbles.

    I wanted to point out that while you do mention the coffee essential oil in your steps above, the version we can print appears to (accidentally) omit adding them, in case you wanted to update that portion of it.

    Your website seriously rocks. Thanks!

  12. Just a question. What’s the problem of adding fragrances instead of essential oils? Tks,

    1. lifenreflection says:

      It’s honestly up to you, but some fragrances are made poorly with ingredients that can cause health issues or at the very least irritate the skin.

  13. Elizabeth says:

    Just made this soap. Didn’t have quite enough vanilla essence but I don’t think 2 and. Bit tablespoons will make that much difference still smells gorgeous, but I didn’t get the layered look, just looks like solid espresso! Lol still a bit sticky to touch but then I only made it half an hour ago 😘

    1. lifenreflection says:

      Doesn’t it smell so good! Give it an hour or two to cure, the ground coffee may settle to the bottom of the soap in the process for the layered look.

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