Rustic Coffee Cocoa Salt Soap Recipe

This coffee cocoa salt soap recipe makes a soap that stimulates the body and senses with coffee, cocoa and essential oils.

It exfoliates and cleanses, removing toxins from the skin. Not only that but the salt provides skin beneficial minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium. Coconut oil softens and nourishes the skin and overall this is a unique and deeply aromatic bar of soap.

Salt soap creates a heavy and firm bar of soap. It is rich brown with deep brown speckles. It lathers nicely with the use of a loofah or shower mitt but slightly more effort than typical soap is required to work up a lather using your hands.

The soaps unique appearance paired with the intoxicating scent and unusual ingredients makes it unique and broadly appealing.

About the ingredients in this Salt Soap Recipe

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are perfect for exfoliating the body, especially dry areas like feet and elbows. This recipe calls for freshly ground coffee beans. I use organic coffee but you can use whatever coffee makes you happy!

Brewed Coffee

Brewed coffee is used in place of the distilled water that you will add to your lye. It helps to deepen the soaps final color while also adding a very subtle coffee scent.

Himalayan or Dead Sea Salt

Natural salts contain upwards of 84 minerals including calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. They are known to cleanse and detoxify the skin while leaving it smooth and soft. They are also known for treating a variety of skin disorders.

Salt is known to be an essential chemical for cellular function. As far back as the Romans, where salt was the coin by which soldiers were paid, it was understood that salt was necessary to hydrate. Not too much, but not too little. (source)

Coconut Oil

Where would we be without coconut oil? It's steadily becoming an essential ingredient in natural skincare. According to a 2018 study coconut oil is found to be rich in antibacterial, anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.

How to make Coffee Cocoa Salt Soap

Salt Soap Recipe: Rustic Coffee Cocoa Salt Soap

Soap Making 101

If you are new to soap making please read this tutorial from soapqueen.com before you get started on this recipe. Soap making is EASY so please don't be intimidated but this is a more advanced recipe.

This recipe makes 8-10 bars of soap (depending on your preferred thickness) using the Crafters choice 1501 regular silicone soap mold which makes one (1) 40-44 oz loaf. You can also use individual molds if you don't want to worry about cutting the soap.

Ingredients

Coconut oil – 756g (26.66oz)
Cold Coffee – 220g (7.76oz)
Lye– 110g (3.88oz)
Himalayan Sea Salt– 378g (13.33oz)
Fine coffee grounds – 30g (1.05oz)
Cocoa powder – 10g (.35oz)

Essential Oils (Optional)

Patchouli - 1/2 tsp (.26 oz)
Ylang Ylang - 1/2 tsp (.26 oz)
Lavender- 1 tsp (.312 oz)
Rosemary - 1/2 tsp (.208 oz)

Directions

Step 1 – In a well ventilated area, wearing long sleeves, protective goggles and rubber gloves make your lye solution. Weigh the coffee and the lye into separate containers. I do this work in my sink so that if there are spills they are contained to the sink. You can also do this outdoors if you have a suitable work area.

Pour the lye into the coffee container and stir. (Important: never pour the liquid into the lye - this is important because this can cause the mixture to bubble and flow out of your container). Leave the lye to cool down.

Step 2 – Weigh the coconut oil and gently melt it using your lowest heat setting. Mix in the cocoa. Leave it to cool.

Step 3 – Weigh the salt and gather up your essential oils.

Step 4 - When the oil and the lye are between 120-130 ° F, Add the lye solution to the oils. Mix with an immersion hand blender until you get a very light trace.

A light trace is when the mixture is the consistency of a thin cake batter, well mixed but quite loose still. Remember this salt soap sets up very quickly compared to most other soaps.

Step 5 – Add the essential oils (optional) and coffee grounds and stir to combine.

Step 6 - Add the salt and mix thoroughly but work quickly. This soap hardens very quickly and if you work too slowly it can be harder to pour into the mold.

Step 7 - Quickly pour the soap into your mold. Cover with parchment paper and a towel, and let it sit for a few hours.

Step 8 - Press on the top of the soap loaf. If it seems firm/solid, release it from the mold and cut. If it isn't ready wait a few more hours and check again. The loaf will still be very warm. Remember that salt soap is very unique and you must cut it before it becomes too hard. NOTE: Be sure to wear gloves and be mindful that the soap will still be quite warm.

Salt soaps set up very quickly compared to non salt soap recipes.

Allow the cut soap to cure 4-6 weeks before using.

Soaping Tools Used In This Salt Soap Recipe

The tools that I used when making this soap recipe (all of which are reusable) are as follows:

Safety Goggles

Nitrile Gloves

Non-contact Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun

Regular Silicone Loaf Soap Mold - 1501

Soap Mold Loaf Cutter Cutting Tool

Silicone spatulas

Immersion hand blender

Digital weight Scale

Pyrex Jugs (For Lye) You can also use plastic with #5 listed on them

Stainless Steel pot (for melting oils & mixing the soap) You can also use plastic with #5 listed on them for mixing and storing your oil (not for melting of course!).

Make sure that your pot it is stainless and not some aluminum/steel mix because certain metals can cause a reaction and ruin your soap. You can also use plastic containers or pails with #5 listed on the bottom. Often if you buy your oils in bulk and they come in pails, you can use those containers to make your soap!