coffee for soap

[Ruthie]

A friend owns a coffee shop and has started carrying my coffee soap. She has offered to save leftover coffee and grounds, but since I use 4X coffee in my soaps, I turned it down. Then I began thinking, since I simmer down my beer for beer soap, could I do the same with coffee? I know it would have to be done gently so as not to scorch it.

Has anyone tried this? If so, what were the results? I don't drink the stuff, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[Meganmischke]

This would probably work fine. I have never tried it though.

 

[Susie]

If you are looking for label appeal, and coffee color, then the left over coffee should be fine. If you are looking for coffee smell, then use something else. Reheating coffee to concentrate it will result in burned smelling/stale coffee.

 

[CanaDawn]

In another thread on coffee soap, concentrating coffee by heating was described by an experienced soaper, and resulted in non-burnt, non-stale coffee "syrup". I'll try to link it...

Obsidian stated it in this post: http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showpost.php?p=436557&postcount=8

 

[Obsidian]

Yep, concentrating it down slow over low heat works really well.

 

[coffeetime]

Obsidian, did the coffee smell survive saponification with the syrup?

 

[Nevada]

I would go talk to the beer brewer

A friend owns a coffee shop and has started carrying my coffee soap. She has offered to save leftover coffee and grounds, but since I use 4X coffee in my soaps, I turned it down. Then I began thinking, since I simmer down my beer for beer soap, could I do the same with coffee? I know it would have to be done gently so as not to scorch it.

Has anyone tried this? If so, what were the results? I don't drink the stuff, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[CanaDawn]

I would go talk to the beer brewer

why? I'm a bit confused (again?)

 

[Obsidian]

Obsidian, did the coffee smell survive saponification with the syrup?

Nope

 

[Ruthie]

Thanks to all for the encouragement. Susie, I usually put a mocha-type fragrance in my coffee soaps. Yummy smell!

I will contact her and ask her to save some for me.

 

[dixiedragon]

If you garden, coffee grounds are GREAT for your soil! Worms LOVE them.

I don't think you are going to be able to get enough smell out of coffee - recycled grounds or not - for your soap to actually have a coffee smell. I think it boils down to an issue of cost vs hassle. Is the money you save using used grounds worth the hassle of her saving them and you picking them up?

 

[shunt2011]

I too concentrate it by simmering after brewing. However, scent does not carry through the process. I add coffee scents to mine.

 

[Stacy]

Any coffee soap experts have opinions on coffee EO vs Fragrance? Is the EO worth it (stength of scent and longevity)? Thanks for this thread, good info!

 

[Ruthie]

If you garden, coffee grounds are GREAT for your soil! Worms LOVE them.

I don't think you are going to be able to get enough smell out of coffee - recycled grounds or not - for your soap to actually have a coffee smell. I think it boils down to an issue of cost vs hassle. Is the money you save using used grounds worth the hassle of her saving them and you picking them up?

Not doing it for the smell but for label appeal. And since I don't drink coffee myself, and go there to eat often (or for the Elvis Smoothie! ) it won't be much of a hassle. Biggest hassle will be cooking it down. Don't see it as worse than brewing.

I've toyed with the worm bed idea for years. Maybe when I retire. . . .

 

[Nevada]

My (weird) humor, if the Coffee brewer is willing to toss you his leftover coffee, maybe you could coax a beer brewer to do the same with his leftover beer.

why? I'm a bit confused (again?)

 

[Ruthie]

My (weird) humor, if the Coffee brewer is willing to toss you his leftover coffee, maybe you could coax a beer brewer to do the same with his leftover beer.

What an idea! Worth a try.

 

[CanaDawn]

What an idea! Worth a try.

Sorry, i had the notion that Ruthie brewed her own beer, and was doubly confused. I'm all caught up now I think.

 

[dixiedragon]

I totally get using coffee for label appeal, but not sure I get taking the time to boil it down to syrup, if there's no difference in the end product.

 

[CanaDawn]

Colour. My non-condensed coffee soap was no where near the deep rich colour

 

[Susie]

Coffee in soap will yield a cafe au lait color. I just refrigerate my leftover coffee and use it in place of water. If you want that deep rich color(and more label appeal!) add 2 tsp cocoa/PPO to go with your Mocha scent.