Coffee & Goat’s Milk Cold Process Soap Recipe: A Natural Treat for Your Skin

If you’re a natural health enthusiast who loves the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, this Coffee & Goat’s Milk Cold Process Soap recipe is for you! Designed with natural ingredients, it creates a luxurious, creamy soap that leaves skin feeling soft, moisturized, and refreshed. This recipe is especially handy for cooks, as the coffee grounds work wonders at neutralizing strong kitchen odors, while goat’s milk adds a beautiful lather and rich moisture, making this soap gentle and nourishing.

What You’ll Need (Makes About 1.6 kg / 3.5 lbs of Soap)

• 480 g / 17 oz Coconut Oil: Adds firmness and cleansing properties to your soap.
• 480 g / 17 oz Olive Oil: Moisturizing and gentle on the skin, with a silky lather.
• 225 g / 8 oz Cocoa Butter: Adds richness, making the soap creamy and hydrating.
• 225 g / 8 oz Frozen Goat’s Milk: This is key to achieving that luxurious, moisturizing effect.
• 225 g / 8 oz Double-strength Coffee (made with distilled water): Cooled before use; coffee absorbs odors and adds an earthy scent.
• 175 g / 6.2 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Essential for the soap-making process (saponification).
• 60 g / 2 oz Vanilla Essential Oil: Adds a warm, comforting scent to balance the coffee aroma.
• 35 g / 1.2 oz Coffee Grounds: These provide gentle exfoliation and add visual texture to the soap.

Instructions

1. Get Set Up and Safe

• Soap-making involves working with lye, which can be dangerous if mishandled. Set up in a well-ventilated area, ideally near an open window or fan.
• Wear Safety Gear: Protect yourself by wearing gloves, goggles, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toe shoes. Ensure your arms and legs are covered to avoid contact with lye.

2. Mix the Lye Safely

• Add Lye to Liquid, Not the Other Way Around: In a heat-safe container, always add the lye to the cooled coffee slowly and never the other way around. This prevents splattering and excessive fumes.
• Cool the Coffee: Make sure your coffee is completely cool. Adding lye to hot coffee can cause a strong reaction, intensifying fumes.
• Pour Slowly and Stir Carefully: Gradually pour the lye into the coffee, stirring gently but continuously. The mixture will heat up quickly, so be prepared for this reaction.
• Avoid Fumes: Stand back and avoid inhaling fumes. If possible, position yourself to the side and use a mask for extra protection.
• Cool the Lye Mixture: Set the lye mixture aside and allow it to cool to around 65°C (150°F) for best results.

3. Melt the Oils

• In a separate heat-safe container, combine coconut oil, olive oil, and cocoa butter. Melt the oils over low heat until fully liquefied, then set aside to cool.

4. Combine Lye with Frozen Goat’s Milk

• Once the lye mixture has cooled to about 65°C (150°F), slowly add it to the frozen goat’s milk. Stir until the goat’s milk melts and the mixture reaches around 49°C (120°F). Freezing the milk helps prevent overheating and preserves its beneficial nutrients.

5. Blend Oils and Lye-Milk Mixture

• Add the lye-milk mixture to the melted oils. Use a stick blender to blend until the mixture reaches “trace,” a pudding-like consistency. This ensures that the soap will hold its shape and layers well.

6. Adding Layers and Coffee Grounds

• First Layer (Creamy Goat’s Milk Base): Pour half of the soap mixture into your mold. Tap the mold gently on the counter to release air bubbles, then let it sit for a few minutes to firm up slightly.
• Second Layer (Coffee and Exfoliation): In the remaining soap mixture, add the coffee grounds and vanilla essential oil. Blend thoroughly to ensure the grounds are evenly distributed, then pour this mixture over the first layer. This layering technique creates a beautiful visual effect with two distinct colors and textures.
• Feel free to experiment with the different layering in a different ways. 

7. Final Mold Setting

• Pour the soap mixture into your chosen molds, layering as desired. Tap the mold gently again to remove air bubbles. Let the soap sit in the molds for at least 48 hours.

8. Unmold, Cut, and Cure

• Once fully hardened, remove the soap from the molds and cut it into bars. Place the bars on a drying rack to cure for six weeks, which allows the soap to harden and become more long-lasting and mild.

Tips for Success

• Temperature Control: Keeping your oils and lye mixture at similar temperatures helps ensure a smooth, consistent texture and successful layering.
• Customization: Try other essential oils like cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced coffee scent or add ground cinnamon to the coffee layer for a marbled effect.
• Storage: Once cured, store your soap bars in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight to preserve their scent and increase shelf life.

Find some great soap recipes in the following Amazon Kindle eBook: Beginner Soap Making: Simple Homemade Recipes