Coffee Body Scrub: How to Make a DIY Coffee Scrub with Shea Butter
Melt 2 oz (57 g) shea butter with 2 oz (57 g) virgin coconut oil, then stir in 3 oz (85 g) dry ground coffee and 3 oz (85 g) sugar. Baraka's shea butter is made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana.
How do you make a coffee body scrub?
A coffee body scrub is dry ground coffee and sugar held together by a melted butter and oil. The coffee and sugar do the scrubbing. The shea butter and coconut oil leave your skin feeling soft once you rinse. This recipe makes about 10 oz (284 g), which fits comfortably in a 12 fl oz (355 ml) jar.
The one rule that matters is to keep everything dry. Coffee spoils if water gets in, so the bowl, spoon and jar must all be completely dry before you start.
Ingredients
- 3 oz (85 g) dry ground coffee, fine grind
- 3 oz (85 g) granulated sugar
- 2 oz (57 g) shea butter
- 2 oz (57 g) virgin coconut oil
You will also need a heatproof bowl, a small saucepan, a clean dry jar with a lid and a dry spoon.
Shea butter is the base of this scrub because it is solid at room temperature and melts on contact with skin. Our shea butter is unrefined, strained and filtered only, and the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre make it by hand. Wayne Dunn has worked directly with the centre for over 15 years. Its natural colour runs from ivory through cream to pale yellow and varies between batches. A mild nutty smell is normal and is not a fault.
Virgin coconut oil makes the scrub easy to scoop. It is solid below about 75°F (24°C) and clear liquid above it, and it absorbs quickly rather than sitting on the skin. You can use virgin coconut oil here. It keeps its fresh coconut aroma because it is unrefined and undeodorised.
For a firmer scrub that holds its shape, swap 1 oz (28 g) of the shea butter for cocoa butter. It is harder than shea, melts close to body temperature and keeps the chocolate smell of the bean, which goes well with coffee.
Directions
- Check that your bowl, spoon and jar are completely dry. If you are using used coffee grounds, spread them on a tray and dry them fully first. Damp grounds will spoil the scrub.
- Put the shea butter and coconut oil in the heatproof bowl. Set it over a saucepan of barely simmering water and stir gently until both are just melted.
- Take the bowl off the heat and let it cool for a few minutes, until it is warm rather than hot.
- Stir in the coffee and sugar until every grain is coated in the melted fat.
- Spoon the mixture into the clean, dry jar and press it down lightly. Leave the lid off until it has cooled.
- Let it firm up at room temperature, or in the fridge if your kitchen is warm. Then close the lid.
What does a coffee scrub do for your skin?
A coffee scrub gives your skin a gentle rub that buffs away loose surface skin, and the shea butter and coconut oil leave a moisturising layer behind. People who make their own commonly report skin that feels smoother and softer after a rinse. Some also report a temporarily tighter look. That look is a reported experience, and it does not last.
Coffee contains caffeine, and caffeine is often given as the reason for the tighter look. It does not mean a coffee scrub changes your skin in any lasting way. A coffee scrub does not remove cellulite, and it is not a treatment for any skin condition. Shea butter itself is traditionally used on dry skin, which is why it makes a good base for a scrub.
This is DIY advice, not medical advice. See a doctor or pharmacist about any skin condition.
Can you use a coffee scrub on your face?
No, this scrub is made for the body, not the face. The coffee grounds and sugar are abrasive, and they are meant for the larger areas of the body such as arms, legs and shoulders. Keep the jar in the bathroom for body use only.
For your face, a small amount of shea butter on its own is a simple choice. It is traditionally used on dry skin and lips, and it melts on contact with skin. Skip the scrub on the face and on any skin that is freshly shaved, cut or broken.
How long does a homemade coffee scrub last?
A homemade coffee scrub has no fixed shelf life, because the coffee is the part that spoils. Kept in a closed jar and scooped with a dry spoon, it lasts as long as it stays dry. Make small batches that you will use up soon rather than one big jar.
Once water gets into the jar, coffee can spoil quickly. Throw the scrub out if it smells off, looks mouldy or has got wet. Do not rely on the butter's long life here. Shea butter keeps 2+ years when stored properly, but a scrub with coffee in it is a different product.
How to use it in the shower
Use the scrub on your body only, in the shower, once your skin is wet and warm. Skip freshly shaved skin and any skin that is cut or broken.
- Take a spoonful with a dry spoon. Do not dip wet hands into the jar.
- Massage it over your skin in slow circles, using light pressure.
- Rinse well with warm water and pat your skin dry.
- Keep the jar out of the water stream and put the lid back on straight away.
The shower floor gets slippery. The butter and oil that rinse off leave a film underfoot. Use a non-slip mat, stand carefully and rinse the floor when you finish.
Storage
Store the scrub in a closed, clean, dry jar in a cool place, away from heat and the steam of the shower. Keep the lid tight so no water gets in. If the coconut oil softens in a warm room, that is normal. It will firm up again as it cools, and it does not affect quality.
Keep your shea butter itself away from heat and direct sun. Stored properly, it keeps 2+ years.
Making it as a gift
A jar of coffee scrub is an easy gift to make and the ingredients cost little. Use a clean, dry jar and write a label with the ingredients and three short notes: body only, keep it dry and use a dry spoon. Add the date you made it so the person can use it up soon.
If your friends like a lighter, sweeter scrub, try our DIY sugar scrub guide. For more ideas to make and give, see our guide to homemade Christmas gifts and natural skincare gifts you can make. For more recipes to make and give, see the Baraka recipe book bundle.
Quick answers
How do you make a coffee body scrub?
Melt 2 oz (57 g) shea butter with 2 oz (57 g) virgin coconut oil, then stir in 3 oz (85 g) dry ground coffee and 3 oz (85 g) sugar. Spoon it into a clean, dry jar and let it set. Use it on the body in the shower.
What does a coffee scrub do for your skin?
It buffs away loose surface skin, and the shea butter and coconut oil leave a moisturising layer. People report smoother, softer skin and a temporarily tighter look. A coffee scrub does not remove cellulite and is not a treatment for any skin condition.
Can you use a coffee scrub on your face?
No, this scrub is made for the body, not the face, because the grounds and sugar are abrasive. Also avoid freshly shaved or broken skin. For your face, a small amount of shea butter on its own is a simple choice.
How long does a homemade coffee scrub last?
It has no fixed shelf life, because coffee spoils if water gets in. Keep it dry in a closed jar, use a dry spoon and make small batches you will use up soon. Throw it out if it smells off, looks mouldy or has got wet.
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