I recently learned how to extract coffee oil from coffee beans and incorporate it into soap and other cosmetic formulations. Along with how to do it, I learned about the many benefits of coffee in skincare applications like soap, lotions and butters, etc. AND at a fraction of the cost!!! I can then turn around and add this deliciousness directly to soaps or turn it into coffee butters for soaping and making creams, lotions and butters with quality ingredients. To give you an idea ... Coffee Oil runs around $15 an ounce and coffee butters run around $23 for 8 ounces AND they're usually made with an inexpensive vegetable shortening or oil. Not a huge deal but I'd rather have quality oils and butters in my products, especially those designed for the face.
The first step in this project was to grind up the green coffee beans to extract the liquid gold from them. Vitamix Blender to the rescue!! Green coffee beans are extreme hard and waxy. While they just about killed my little stick blender food processor, they were no match for the mighty Vitamix! Follow-me on Instagram or facebook to see how the extraction changes each day. I'll probably let it sit for 3-4 days doing it's thing and then move it to a sealed container where it will sit for 2-3 weeks before use.
I'll be reformulating my already great Face Bar to incorporate some of this fabulous ingredient. Stay tuned for that one...
There are a lot of sources for information on Coffee extractions and Green Coffee Bean extractions and the benefits of the liquid gold that comes from the process. Here are a few references to check out.