Learn how to make coffee and cinnamon soap step by step — a natural recipe that gently exfoliates, gets the circulation going and leaves your skin smelling incredible. Here’s what it does for your skin, how to store it, a few variations worth trying and my own tips for getting it right at home.
Today I want to share one of my all-time favourites. It’s easy, it smells amazing, and it turns an ordinary shower into something you actually look forward to. I’m talking about homemade coffee and cinnamon soap — a little treasure for your skin.
A few years back, while hunting for natural alternatives to shop-bought shower gels, it dawned on me that I could make my own soap from things I already had in the cupboard. This was one of the first ones I tried, and it hasn’t left my bathroom since.
It doesn’t just cleanse and exfoliate. It leaves skin soft and wide awake, with a scent so warm and cosy it’s basically a hug. Every time I use it, I feel like I’ve got a bit of a head start on the day.
In this post I’ll take you through the lot: where this soap comes from, what it does for your skin, how to make it step by step, how to store it, and all the variations you can play around with. My guess is that once you’ve made a batch, shop-bought bars won’t get much of a look-in.
1. A little background: coffee and cinnamon on the skin.
Before we get stuck into the recipe, let me tell you where this pairing comes from. Coffee and cinnamon have been used for centuries, both in beauty rituals and in homemade body care.
1.1 Coffee, more than just a drink.
Coffee has been finding its way into cosmetics for years, thanks to its reputation for waking things up. It contains caffeine, which is widely thought to help get the circulation moving and can leave skin looking temporarily firmer and more toned.
The grounds also make a brilliant natural scrub. They help lift away dead skin, smooth things over and bring out that healthy glow we’re all after.
1.2 Cinnamon, the warm, reviving touch.
Cinnamon doesn’t just smell wonderful — it’s long been valued for its antibacterial and stimulating qualities. It brings warmth, is said to help the circulation along, and leaves a scent that sits beautifully alongside coffee.
Together they make a great double act: coffee cleanses and wakes the skin up, cinnamon warms and perfumes. Best of all, both are easy to get hold of.
2. Why it’s worth making your own soap.
There’s something special about making your own soap. You know exactly what’s going on your skin, and you get to enjoy the process along the way. I always say soap making is almost therapeutic — the stirring, the smell, watching the texture shift. It’s a bit like cooking something nice just for yourself.
2.1 No harsh chemicals.
Shop-bought soaps often rely on strong detergents that can strip the skin of its natural oils. Make it yourself and you call the shots: the oils, the scent, whatever extras you fancy.
2.2 Kinder to the planet and to your wallet.
You reuse containers, cut down on plastic and work with natural ingredients. And one batch tends to go a very long way.
2.3 Yours to tweak.
Play around with the oils, throw in oats, honey or cocoa, switch the scent with the seasons… it’s entirely up to you.
3. Ingredients for coffee and cinnamon soap.
Here’s the base recipe I use — the most balanced one, and the easiest place to start.
3.1 Ingredients.
- 100 g glycerine soap base.
- 1 tablespoon ground coffee.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (or coconut, jojoba — whichever you prefer).
3.2 What you’ll need.
- A glass or stainless steel bowl.
- A wooden spoon or spatula.
- A pan to set up a double boiler.
- Silicone moulds.
4. How to make coffee and cinnamon soap, step by step.
It takes a bit of patience and care, but once you’ve done it there’s no going back. Here’s how I make mine.
4.1 Melt the soap base
Pop the soap base into the glass bowl and melt it over a double boiler.
4.2 Stir in the coffee and cinnamon.
Once the base has melted, add the coffee, the oil and the cinnamon, and stir until everything is evenly mixed through.
Add a few drops of essential oil too, if you’d like a stronger scent.
4.3 Pour it out and leave it to set.
Pour the mixture into the moulds and leave it to cool.
If you’d rather watch than read, the video is up on YouTube — and do subscribe to the channel if you like it
https://youtu.be/7WuOtwcAOyk?si=mdR77FU60Gaq9ax2
5. What coffee and cinnamon soap does for your skin.
This one’s a real treat. It’s gentle, it smells like a dream and it leaves skin feeling fresh. If acne is what you’re dealing with, though, I’d point you towards this other soap instead — it works a charm.
5.1 A natural scrub.
The ground coffee helps lift away dead skin, so you’re left feeling smoother and looking that bit brighter.
5.2 Gets the circulation going.
Caffeine and cinnamon have long been used to help stimulate blood flow, and plenty of people find it evens out skin tone and softens the look of dimpling for a while. It won’t get rid of cellulite, but skin does come out feeling wonderfully wide awake.
5.3 A proper pick-me-up of a scent.
Coffee and cinnamon together is warm and comforting. It wakes up the senses, settles the mind and generally puts you in a better mood.
5.4 Cleanses without drying you out.
Thanks to the olive or coconut oil, it cleans up nicely while going much easier on the skin’s natural oils.
5.5 Suits most skin types.
It exfoliates, but it’s fairly gentle with it. It tends to sit well on normal and combination skin, and even on sensitive skin as long as you don’t overdo it. If yours is prone to reacting, do a patch test first.
6. Versions and variations.
One of the things I love most about homemade soap is how easily you can tweak it. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
6.1 Coffee, cinnamon and honey.
Stir in a tablespoon of honey just before you pour. Honey helps soften and hold on to moisture, so it’s a good shout if your skin runs dry.
6.2 Coffee and oats.
Add two tablespoons of fine oat flakes. Lovely on sensitive skin, or any time you want a gentler scrub.
6.3 Coffee, cinnamon and cocoa.
Add a tablespoon of pure cocoa powder. The smell is unreal, and skin comes out soft and nourished.
6.4 Coffee and orange.
Swap the cinnamon for sweet orange essential oil. Fresher, more citrusy, and just the thing for a morning shower.
7. How to store your coffee and cinnamon soap.
Storing it properly makes all the difference to how long it lasts.
- Keep it somewhere cool, dry and airy.
- If you’ve made a few bars, wrap them in wax paper or a cotton cloth.
- Try not to leave them sitting somewhere damp, like the shower, between uses.
Mine live in a wicker basket inside the cupboard. The scent works its way through all the clothes, and it’s a real treat opening the door to that hit of coffee and cinnamon.
Summary.
Learn how to make a homemade coffee and cinnamon soap using nothing but glycerine soap base, vegetable oil and natural spices. It exfoliates, smells incredible and is lovely for cleansing, softening the skin and helping to get the circulation going. Quick, easy and very doable even if you’re new to making your own skincare.
Total Time: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Chop the glycerine base
Chop the glycerine soap base into small cubes so it melts evenly
Melt the base
Put the base in a bowl and melt it in the microwave in short bursts, or over a double boiler, until it’s completely liquid.
Add the rest of the ingredients
Add the coffee, the cinnamon and the oil, and stir well.
Pour into the moulds
Pour the hot mixture into the soap moulds and tap them gently to knock out any air bubbles.
Leave to cool
Leave to cool for 1 to 2 hours, until the soap has firmed up.
Turn out of the mould
A few cautions
Don’t use on irritated skin or open wounds.
Avoid direct contact with the eyes.
Patch test on a small area if you have sensitive skin.
Store somewhere cool and dry.
Supply:
- • glycerine soap base
- • ground coffee
- • ground cinnamon
- • vegetable oil
Tools:
- • knife or cutter for the glycerine base
- • microwave-safe bowl or double boiler
- • spoon or spatula
- • soap moulds
Materials: 100 g glycerine soap base 1 tablespoon ground coffee 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon vegetable oil (olive, almond or coconut)
8. Frequently asked questions about coffee and cinnamon soap.
Can I use it on my face?
You can, but keep it to once or twice a week. It’s a scrub at heart, so it can be a bit much on delicate skin.
How long does it keep?
Stored properly, it’ll usually be good for six to eight months.
Can I use instant coffee?
You can, though naturally ground coffee tends to give a better texture and colour.
This is a soap that doesn’t just clean — it comforts. There’s something almost emotional about it, as though looking after yourself had quietly turned into a little ritual.
Coffee and cinnamon soap isn’t really a cleansing product, it’s an experience. It smells wonderful, it wakes up your skin and your mood, and it puts you back in touch with something natural and honest.
And making it yourself brings that quiet satisfaction of turning out something useful and pretty with your own hands. You can personalise it, wrap it up as a gift, or just make it your everyday bar. Give it a go — you don’t need to be an expert, only curious enough to enjoy the process.
Now over to you: have you ever made soap at home? Would you like me to share more natural recipes?
Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear from you and to keep sharing this world of mindful self-care with you
