Strong Brew: Exfoliating Coffee Soap
Many of the hardest-working people we know have to wake up early and spend their day outside, working with their hands. Nothing helps prepare us for the day, especially a long one, quite like a hot shower and a fresh cup of coffee. A bar of coffee soap can help to invigorate the body while nourishing our skin. This soap helps to exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturized to keep skin smooth and hydrated despite the hard work and time spent in the elements.
A base of coconut, olive, palm, and castor oils combine to make a hard, long-lasting bar of soap with a great lather. The addition of shea butter and superfatting at 5% helps to add moisture back into the skin and soothe irritation. Replacing the water with brewed coffee lends a beautiful warm brown color to the finished bar and a hint of coffee scent. Coffee grounds add gentle exfoliation to help combat rough and dry skin. Sandalwood Vanilla Fragrance Oil has a sweet, rich, yet earthy aroma that pairs perfectly with a mug of morning pick-me-up.
Ingredients
- 9oz of Coconut Oil
- 9oz of Olive Oil
- 8oz of Palm Oil
- 2oz of Castor Oil
- 2oz of Unrefined Shea Butter
- 10oz of Brewed Coffee (cooled)
- 4.3oz of Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 2oz of Sandalwood Vanilla Fragrance Oil
- 3tbsp of Ground Coffee
- 1/2 cup of Whole Coffee Beans (optional)
Supplies
- Heat Safe Loaf Soap Mold
- Immersion blender
- Digital kitchen scale
- Small bowl for essential oils
- Medium glass bowl for lye mixture
- Large glass or stainless steel bowl for oil
- Pot or double boiler
- Spoon or rubber spatula
- Gloves
- Safety glasses or goggles
Instructions
***Make sure to wear safety glasses or goggles, gloves, and long-sleeve clothing. Working with lye and high temperatures requires caution and safe practices. Always make soap in a well-ventilated area.
- Brew coffee and allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Measure and combine the fragrance oils and set them aside.
- Weigh each oil and add them to a large bowl. Place the bowl on top of a large pot that is about 1/3 full of water and bring the water to a boil. Heat the oil until fully melted, stirring occasionally.
- While the oil is melting, weigh out the lye and cooled coffee in two separate bowls. Slowly add the lye to the coffee while gently stirring until the lye is fully dissolved.
- Let the oils and lye mixture both cool to 130 degrees or below, ensuring that they are within 10 degrees of each other.
- Place the immersion blender into the oil, tapping it on the bottom of the bowl to release any air bubbles. This is a safety precaution that prevents the bubbles from coming to the surface when you begin mixing in the lye.
- Slowly and gently pour the lye mixture into the oil. You can pour down the side of the bowl or down the shaft of the immersion blender to reduce the chance of splashing.
- Pulse the blender a few times, watching as the oils and lye start to combine. Switch between short pulses and stirring with the blender until the mixture comes together to a very light trace.
- Add ground coffee and blend until thoroughly combined. Working quickly, stir (do not blend) in the fragrance oil blend.
- Once the soap reaches about a medium trace, pour it into the mold, scraping the bowl to ensure no soap is left behind. Tap the mold on the work surface to release any trapped air bubbles.
- Sprinkle whole coffee beans across the top of the loaf and lightly press them into the soap to ensure adhesion.
- Allow the soap to sit in the molds for 48-72 hours at room temperature. Unmold the soap, cut it into bars, and allow it to cure for 4-6 weeks.
- Use and enjoy!
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