In college, you most likely had done soap making in your Chemistry class. The whole process is Chemistry guided. In a typical laboratory, the crude soap is made through base hydrolysis of the fats and oils producing glycerol and the anionic surfactant soap that is composed of potassium and sodium salts of fatty acids and oils. It is made by reacting vegetable oils and/or animal fats to a strong alkaline solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide (both commonly known as lye).  The whole soap making process is called saponification.

You can try different soap making by varying the fats and oils ingredients. Saponification has two processes: hot process and cold process. One of the essential differences between hot process and cold process is the exploiting the fats and oils’ saponification value. Cold process involves analytical techniques to precisely and accurately measure the amount of lye to be used. The amount is dependent of the saponification value of the fats and oils being used. Not enough lye used can result to greasy soaps while excessive lye can cause skin irritation due to higher pH.

Equipped with the right knowledge, soap making is now made easier and exciting at home. For those who want to make a coffee soap for the first time, you will need the following items; 113 grams each for coconut oil and olive oil 227 grams of soy bean oil, 142 grams of coffee (instead of the typically used water) and 57 grams of lye (take precautions as sodium hydroxide is a caustic solution, it is better to wear protective eye glasses and gloves)

If you completed the required items, follow these easy steps to make that coffee soaps.

•    Measure the desired weights of the coffee and lye in separate pitchers.
•    Pour the lye into the coffee, try to prevent them from splashing.
•    Lightly swirl the combined solution by a wooden spoon, allow cooling to around 100° – 110°F.
•    Melt all the solid oils and heat the liquid oils then cool to 100° – 110°F.
•    Make sure that the temperature readings for both lye solution and the oils are similar or with very slight difference. Pour the lye solution in a thin stream fashion into the oils; don’t forget the continuous constant stirring.
•    Continue with constant stirring as the mixture thickens and you can see “trailing”. This will last for less than an hour. You can add essential or fragrance oils and coffee at light trace if you like.
•    The liquid soap formed is next place in a plastic mold. Cover it, wrap with towel.
•    Place in a warm surroundings for 48 hours.
•    After that, take out the soap from the plastic mold and you now have the coffee soap block. Cut to blocks into bars with a knife.

Although it takes time to finish the coffee soap making process, it’s still worth it to have that coffee inspired soap to get rid of some kitchen smells in your hands!

Jen Hopkins has worked in the skin care industry for years. She maintains websites about organic soap making}, and how to make soap. If you want to contact her, you can use the contact form at one of her sites.