How to Make ink and Stain From Coffee

 I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love the smell of coffee and coffee's wonderful color on paper and cloth.

 

In my search for something friendlier than bottled ink (The Organic Artist by Nick Neddo), I found a recipe for coffee ink and stain.

I don't use it for ink, I may not have made my batch strong enough, but then again I haven't tried it on watercolor paper, but I have noticed the longer it sits, the darker the coffee has gotten. Any who, I use my coffee to stain pages, to dye lace and cotton string in my junk journals.

 

I found another book called "Green Guide For Artist by Karen Michel and Kristen Hampshire" in this book, if you're making your own inks, paints etc... she suggest to put a few drops essential oil to help preserve your homemade recipes.

 

I'll share the list:

Citronella                      Juniper                     Rosemary                Wintergreen

Clove                            Lavender                  Sandalwood

Cinnamon                     Lemon                      Tea Tree                      

Eucalyptus                    Peppermint               Thyme

 

The site Jade Bloom is very reasonable in price for essential oils.

But white vinegar or salt will also preserve it and keep the color from fading (acts as a mordant.)

 

***A note on essential oils...not for food consumption nor to use directly on skin, it can burn or cause a severe rash. Essential oils are very potent and should always be used with a carrier, like an oil, Jade Bloom gives great information about essential oils.***

I chose cinnamon essential oil, cinnamon smells good with coffee. So remember what ever oil you use make sure the fragrance isn't gonna clash.

 

I'm not a coffee drinker so there isn't a coffee maker soooo....

 

I used a small pot and two cups of water  and put 4 tablespoons in a coffee filer and tied it and boiled the hell out of it.

 

I added a teaspoon of salt, but I also added about 3 drops of cinnamon oil as a preservative.

 

After you bring it to a boil, simmer coffee on low heat for 45 minutes to an hour, reducing it will make the color stronger. Let it cool down completely before storing it in a clean glass jar.

Make sure you shake the jar before you use it. It should be good for about a month or two, although what I made lasted close to a year. It will smell bad if its no longer good.

I store my coffee in a clean glass jar, I noticed the longer it sits in it's little jar, the color has gotten darker and has the sweet fragrance of coffee, laced with cinnamon. Don't worry that fragrance won't pass on to your project.

 

Peace and love everyone!

 

Dolores