Have you ever accidentally spilled coffee on paper and thought, "Hey, that actually looks kind of cool?"

Well, you can (and should) do that intentionally! Painting with coffee is a fun, natural, and budget-friendly way to express your creativity. It's safe enough for kids and easy enough for everyone. Grab a cup, call up some friends, and let's dive into coffee painting!

What You'll Need:

Don’t worry, this isn't one of those hobbies where you need tons of materials. You probably already have most things at home or can grab them easily at your local craft store.

Coffee (Espresso recommended): Why espresso? It’s the strongest, most concentrated coffee, giving you the widest range of shades. The less diluted your coffee, the richer and deeper the color. You can grab some shots of espresso at your nearest Compass Coffee cafe, or brew some yourself at home with Emblem Espresso Capsules!

Watercolor Paper: Regular paper can warp or wrinkle from moisture. Watercolor paper absorbs coffee without warping, giving you a beautiful, flat surface to paint on.

Paint Brushes: Any brush will work, but watercolor brushes are best for controlling your coffee paint.

Water: For diluting the espresso and creating different shades of brown.

Paint Palette or Small Cups: To mix and organize your coffee shades. No fancy palettes? No worries, grab any small containers lying around the house.

Pencil: A simple #2 pencil works perfectly for sketching your designs.

Step 1: Sketch A Design (Totally Optional!)

If drawing isn't your thing, don't sweat it, painting freestyle is super fun. But sketching can help if you want a bit of guidance, and can make a blank canvas less intimidating. If you're feeling stuck, lightly sketch your design directly onto your watercolor paper freehand, or try tracing a design from online (Pinterest is a great place to start!). You can even use prompts to generate your own AI-created reference images. The painting above featuring DC's iconic monuments, for instance, was created using ChatGPT!

Print and tape your chosen picture onto a sunny window, place your watercolor paper on top, and gently trace with a pencil. Pro tip: Use a soft touch with your pencil to make it easier to erase or blend into your painting later.

Step 2: Prep Your Coffee Paint

Espresso is key because it gives you more pigment to work with. Here’s how to prep your different coffee shades ahead of time:

Here are some easy guidelines to get you at a starting point:

• Darker shades: Mix 2 tablespoons of espresso with 1 teaspoon of water.

• Medium shades: Combine 1 tablespoon of espresso with 1 tablespoon of water.

• Lighter shades: Blend 1 tablespoon of espresso with 2 tablespoons of water.

Pour your mixes into different sections of a palette or separate cups. Experimenting is half the fun, so don’t be shy, play around until you love your shades.

Step 3: Time to Paint!

Now that you have your paint and your paper, grab a brush and get started! If you want to add some color to your piece, you totally can by adding regular water color paints into the mix! Here’s a quick and easy rundown of techniques you can try for painting with coffee and water color painting in general:

Wet-on-Wet:

This one's great when you're aiming for soft, flowing effects, think dreamy skies or abstract backgrounds. Just lightly brush clean water onto your paper first, then add your coffee paint right onto the wet surface. The colors will naturally blend and spread beautifully.

Wet-on-Dry:

Use this when you need sharp lines, clear edges, or finer details like building outlines, facial features, or crisp shapes. Simply dip your brush into coffee paint and apply it straight onto dry paper. Unlike wet-on-wet, your paint won't bleed or spread, so you'll have more control and precision.

Layering (Glazing):

If you want richer, darker shades and depth in your painting, layering is your go-to technique. Let each layer of coffee fully dry (it’ll look matte and feel dry to the touch), then apply another coat of coffee. Each new layer adds intensity and builds dimension.

Worried you might mess up? Don’t stress! Coffee painting is super forgiving. If something doesn't look right, just dab it gently with a paper towel or blend it out with extra coffee or water. Mistakes can easily become beautiful, intentional textures.

When you’re all set, feel free to keep your pencil sketch lines for added structure or erase them lightly once everything's dry.

Ready to Start Coffee Painting?

We hope this guide inspires you to try to make some coffee painting creations of your own! Coffee painting is one of those easy-going activities that allows you to be creative without worrying about messing up or being perfect. Whether you're spending quality time with friends, getting artsy with your family, or simply enjoying some peaceful solo time. Grab your espresso, let your creativity flow, and enjoy making something uniquely yours!