You most likely had experimented in soap making back then at you college days at Chemistry class. Of course, you know that Chemistry is vital in it. Crude soap is the product of the basic hydrolysis of vegetables fats and animal oils producing this anionic surfactant and glycerol. Saponification is the term in producing soaps. The fats and oils are reacted to strong basic lye (either sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) producing the crude soap.

You can try different soap making by varying the fats and oils ingredients. Saponification has two processes: hot process and cold process. One of the essential differences between hot process and cold process is the exploiting the fats and oils' saponification value. Cold process involves analytical techniques to precisely and accurately measure the amount of lye to be used. The amount is dependent of the saponification value of the fats and oils being used. Not enough lye used can result to greasy soaps while excessive lye can cause skin irritation due to higher pH.

Equipped with the right knowledge, soap making is now made easier and exciting at home. For those who want to make a coffee soap for the first time, you will need the following items; 113 grams each for coconut oil and olive oil 227 grams of soy bean oil, 142 grams of coffee (instead of the typically used water) and 57 grams of lye (take precautions as sodium hydroxide is a caustic solution, it is better to wear protective eye glasses and gloves)

If you completed the required items, follow these easy steps to make that coffee soaps.

%u2022 Measure the desired weights of the coffee and lye in separate pitchers. %u2022 Add the lye to the coffee as gentle as possible to minimize splashing. Never add water (or coffee in the recipe) to lye, it's dangerous. %u2022 Gentle stirring is needed to the solution, cooled to temperature of 100° to 110°F %u2022 Heat the oils. Cool to 100° to 110°F %u2022 Check whether the temperature of the lye solution and melted/heated oils identical (or less than 10°F in difference). If so, mix the solution together by pouring thin stream of lye solution into the melted/heated oils. Ensure a constant swirling. %u2022 Keep that constant stirring. The mixture will eventually thicken and trailing will be obvious. Do this for less than an hour. Apply essential or fragrance oils and coffee at light trace if it's suits you. %u2022 Pour the liquid crude soap into a plastic mold, cover and wrap with towel. %u2022 Place in a warm surroundings for 48 hours. %u2022 After that, take out the soap from the plastic mold and you now have the coffee soap block. Cut to blocks into bars with a knife.

Although it takes time to finish the coffee soap making process, it's still worth it to have that coffee inspired soap to get rid of some kitchen smells in your hands!