You might be wondering why you should consider making this soap when there are so many homemade soaps to choose from. Well, if you love the smell of fresh coffee with a hint of vanilla, then this recipe is for you!
Soap-making is so simple these days. Thanks to the melt-and-pour soap process, you can have a batch whipped up in no time. Plus, it smells absolutely amazing. To get that heavenly aroma, you don’t even have to use fresh grounds for this recipe — consider using your leftover grounds from this morning’s brew.
I used The Alternative Daily’s own specialty organic and fair trade Lucy’s Bru Coffee, but you can use any brand that you already have on hand. Lucy’s Bru is a coffee lover’s dream because it’s sustainably grown and tastes absolutely delicious, so you know you’re getting high-quality coffee.
Easy DIY Vanilla Bean and Coffee Soap
Ingredients
- 2 pounds white melt-and-pour unscented soap
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 cup coffee grounds
- 1 vanilla bean
Equipment
- Scale
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Knife (or soap cutter)
- Plastic silicone soap molds
- Coffee grinder (if using whole coffee beans)
Instructions
1. Using the scale, measure out soap and place pieces in a microwavable bowl. Set aside.
2. If you are not using your coffee grounds from your morning brew, grind up some beans and measure 1/2 cup. Make sure to grind them well so there are no large pieces in the soap. Set the grounds aside.
3. Using a sharp knife, make a slit down one side of the vanilla bean. Using the dull side of the knife, carefully scrape the beans out of the pod and set them aside.
4. Measure out coconut oil and make sure it’s at room temperature for easy melting.
5. Place the bowl with soap in the microwave to start melting. Begin with 30 to 60 seconds, stirring occasionally until melted.
6. Stir in vanilla bean and coconut oil, making sure everything is completely mixed together.
7. Place a small amount of coffee grounds into the bottom of the mold.
8. Pour melted soap over the coffee grounds in the mold.
9. Carefully mix the soap and coffee grounds together, taking special care to get the grounds out of the corners. Note: Coffee grounds that do not get mixed in properly will not stick to the soap.
10. Finish filling your mold with the rest of the soap mixture. If the soap hardens during the process, pop it back in the microwave and melt it back to pouring consistency.
11. Place mold in the freezer for several minutes. When it no longer feels warm to the touch, take it out and carefully pop each bar of soap out of the mold — it’s as easy as that.
Let the soaps set overnight to allow the bars to dry and harden. Now go and enjoy your wonderful homemade vanilla bean and coffee scented soap!
— Leilani Hampton