Do you look forward to the first cup of coffee each morning? Bring the same fragrant aroma to the rest of your life with DIY coffee essential oil.
This warm, comforting oil is a breeze to whip up at home — only a few ingredients from your local co-op or grocery store.
If your essential oil habit is getting expensive, learning to make coffee bean oil is an easy way to save money.
Since you’re in control, it’s easy to choose skin-friendly ingredients that meet your standards for quality and sustainability.
There are two primary ways to make coffee-infused oil: cold and warm. Follow the steps below, and you’ll enjoy a rich, complex coffee bean oil in no time.
How to Make Coffee Essential Oil: Two Easy Coffee Oil Recipes
Each coffee essential oil recipe has two ingredients: coffee beans and carrier oil.
When you’re choosing coffee beans, there’s plenty of flexibility. If you’re experimenting, use any coffee you have in the house.
To maximize the fragrance, grind whole beans before adding them to the oil. Sustainable, eco-friendly, and organic beans are a great option if you’re picky about skincare products.
When in doubt, select coffee beans with a scent you love — you can’t go wrong.
Carrier oils are a matter of personal preference. Some great options include:
- Grapeseed oil
- Avocado oil
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Argan oil
- Sunflower oil
- Jojoba oil
How to Make Cold-Infused Coffee Oil
The cold-infusion process takes time, but it’s easy and hands-off. Choose this method if you don’t have time to spend hours by the stove.
1. Grind coffee beans using a coarse setting. You’ll need about 1/2 cup for every 1 cup of oil.
2. Pour the ground coffee into an airtight glass container. Mason jars work well, but you can also use recycled jam jars.
First, ensure the jar has no lingering scents, as they can transfer to the oil. Next, mix the oil thoroughly, and cover with a lid.
3. Set the jar in a cool location for 2-3 weeks, shaking it every few days to stir the mixture. Some great spots include a basement, a closet shelf, or a cupboard away from the stove.
For a slightly faster infusion, you can place the jar on a sunny windowsill for approximately two weeks.
How to Make Warm-Infused Coffee Oil
Warm infusion is an easy way to get essential coffee oil quickly. Although this method requires more hands-on time, you can start using the oil the same day.
Below, you’ll find three different warm-infusion methods. Each one offers the same results —choose the option that suits the equipment you have on hand.
Whatever method you use, prepare the coffee and oil following steps 1 and 2 of the cold-infusion process above.
Feel free to fill the jar or prepare two or three jars with different ingredients. (See ideas below.)
Warm Infusion with a Crockpot:
- Place Mason jar rings or a folded dishcloth into the bottom of the crockpot. Set your jars on top, and adjust until they feel stable. The goal is to lift the pot off the heat source. Add water to the crockpot until it reaches about halfway up the sides of the jars. Set the heat to low and wait 4-6 hours; do not cover the crockpot. Ensure the jars are stable occasionally and add more water as necessary. Warm Infusion with a Double Boiler
- Fill the bottom third of your double boiler with water. Bring the water to a boil, and reduce the heat until the bubbles slow to a simmer. Set the top of the double boiler in place. Pour your coffee oil mixture into the pan. For a less-messy alternative, place the jar into the pan. Allow the oil to sit for 5-6 hours. Check the bottom of the double boiler frequently, adding more water as needed. If you notice that the grounds are starting to settle, pick up the bottle with an oven mitt and shake gently to stir. Warm Infusion with a Saucepan
- Set three Mason jar rings in the bottom of a saucepan, and set your jar on top. Carefully pour water into the pan until it’s about halfway up the side of the jar. Adjust the arrangement as needed for stability. Place the pot on a stove burner, and turn the heat to medium. When the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to low. The water should simmer gently. Allow the pot to simmer for 5-6 hours, adding hot water to maintain the desired level. Keep an eye on the pot, as the water can evaporate quickly. Straining and Storing Your Warm-Infused Coffee Oil
Once you finish the infusion process, allow the jars to cool completely. Then, place a fine-mesh strainer or a cheesecloth layer over the bowl’s top.
If using a filter, pour the oil-coffee mix and let the infused oil drip into the bowl.
To strain with cheesecloth, line the bowl with the fabric and add the oil. Gather the edges of the cheesecloth carefully until the coffee grounds are contained in a small ball.
Continue squeezing until the oil stops dripping into the bowl.
Store the coffee-infused oil in an airtight glass container in a cool, dark spot.
Coffee Essential Oil Recipes: Add-in Ingredients
Are you ready to create a custom coffee and oil blend? Experiment with different add-ins. Coffee is wonderfully versatile and pairs easily with fruits, herbs, and other aromatic ingredients.
Some foolproof options include:
- Whole vanilla beans – Crush slightly to release the natural oils
- Grapefruit or other citrus fruit essential oils
- Fresh rosemary
- Cocoa beans
- Cardamom pods
- Whole cinnamon sticks
What are the Benefits of Coffee Oil?
Coffee is well-known as a morning pick-me-up, but did you know these delicious beans also have other health benefits?
Coffee is packed with antioxidants that help your body fight off diseases. In addition, the caffeine that’s so important in your morning routine can also be great for the skin.
If you want to maximize the benefits of your coffee oil, choose light-roast beans. They contain more caffeine than dark roasts.
Some of the top coffee oil benefits for skin and hair care:
Reduces the appearance of cellulite: The caffeine in coffee has a slight dehydrating effect on your skin, helping reduce swelling, which may help your skin look firmer.
You may also see a difference in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Shrinks eye bags: If you suffer from puffy eyes in the morning, an essential coffee oil can help.
The caffeine helps reduce puffiness under the eyes, so your dark circles appear less prominent.
If you have sensitive skin or allergies, test a tiny dab of oil first to avoid irritation.
Boosts blood circulation: When you drink coffee, caffeine increases blood flow. Coffee oil may provide a similar effect, making your skin look fresher and healthier.
Coffee Oil Uses: Put Your DIY Essential Oil to Work
Once you’re happy with your coffee essential oil, the fun begins. If you’ve used a skin-safe carrier oil, feel free to use the blend in any skincare product.
Non-comedogenic oils, including sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil, can be applied directly to your skin for a touch of moisture and fragrance.
If your locks look dry, use coffee oil as a hair mask — work it into your hair and leave it while you sit in a bubble bath. Your custom blend also works well as a coffee massage oil.
Feeling creative? Use coffee oil as the moisturizing and bonding agent in DIY products such as:
- Sugar scrub: Mix a few drops of oil with white sugar, and use it as an exfoliant in the tub.
- Coffee eye cream: Blend oil with a small amount of solid coconut oil and beeswax.
- Coffee lip balm: Heat coffee oil, shea butter, and beeswax over a double boiler. When it cools, use it as a moisturizing lip balm.
Can You Use Homemade Coffee Oil in a Diffuser?
In short, no. Most diffusers are designed for use with pure essential oils. Since your DIY coffee oil has carrier oil, it can affect the machine’s performance.
In addition, using homemade oils can invalidate the warranty.
Fortunately, there’s a great alternative — DIY diffusers enable you to fill the house with the mood-uplifting scent of coffee.
Add an inch of your coffee-infused oil to the bottom of a small glass vase to make one. Next, use bamboo skewers to place a few diffuser reeds into the jar.
Finally, add more oil if you don’t notice a fragrance after an hour.
Learning to make coffee essential oil is a quick, easy process with a big payoff.
Once you master the simple methods, you can repeat them for other herbs and aromatic ingredients — before long; you’ll have a cupboard full of affordable, fragrant oils.