Painting with coffee

Coffee is much more than just a morning kick-starter – it's also a wonderful, nuanced, and surprisingly durable painting material! In this blog post and accompanying tutorial video, we delve into the secrets of coffee painting. You will learn how to prepare a perfect, deep coffee pigment from ordinary instant coffee and explore various painting techniques, from dry brush to pour watercolor. Grab a hot cup and join us to try this fragrant and inspiring technique!

August 12, 2026|Svetlana Ruoho

A Creative Afternoon – Welcome to Paint with Coffee!

Many of us love the smell of coffee, but did you know that this favorite everyday drink can also be enjoyed on paper? Painting with coffee is not just a fun pastime; it produces incredibly beautiful, deep, and translucent nutty brown tones. The result often resembles old graphics from the 17th-18th centuries and works by Rembrandt, for example.

This time, we will learn the basics and get acquainted with a new material. Encountering a new technique is always a little exciting, but I promise you'll quickly learn to enjoy it. "Let's try it together, just like getting to know someone new.".

What supplies do you need?

Before we begin, make sure you have the following supplies on your table:

Instant coffee powder: Any regular store-bought instant coffee will do – quality doesn't matter, and even an old jar forgotten in the back of the cupboard is perfect. Note! Regular filter coffee powder from a coffee maker won't work, as it doesn't dissolve in water and won't produce a strong enough pigment.
Warm or hot water for dissolving the coffee grounds.
A small mug or container for mixing the solution.
Watercolor paper: Preferably choose high-quality and thick watercolor paper. On very absorbent paper, the pigment might fade faster, so it's worth experimenting with different paper qualities.
Various brushes: For example, a fan brush is an excellent tool for creating versatile marks.
Water container for rinsing brushes.
(Optional) Vanilla sugar: A pinch of vanilla sugar in the mixture gives the finished painting a beautiful sheen and, of course, a heavenly scent!

Preparing Coffee Pigment and the Painting Process Steps

What's fascinating about coffee painting is its versatility. It works much like watercolor: a dried surface can later be wet, blended, washed away, or layered again to be stronger. Unlike acrylic paints, coffee doesn't form an impermeable film but leaves the surface alive and workable.

Step 1: Mixing a Strong Coffee Solution

Measure about five tablespoons of instant coffee powder into a small mug or cup. Pour in very little hot water – just enough to dissolve the grounds.

The goal is to make the mixture as dark, thick, and even slightly sticky or viscous as possible. The denser the mixture is at the beginning, the better, as it's easy to dilute with water later as you paint. If you want to add more shine and a pleasant aroma to your painting, stir in a small pinch of vanilla sugar at this stage.

Tip for storage:

If you didn't use all the coffee mixture you prepared at once, you can store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. The coffee mixture will keep well in the refrigerator for a few days.

Step 2: Experimentation and Learning the Technique on Test Paper

Don't immediately aim for a finished work; instead, start with a separate test paper. Boldly experiment with the different variations you can achieve with the pigment:

Wash (watercolor technique): Dilute coffee with water to achieve beautiful, transparent, and light tones. Layering allows you to create stronger shadows.
Dry brush: Take thick pigment on the tip of your brush and draw it onto dry paper – this creates wonderful graphic and textured structures.
Layering and thickness: The thicker you apply pure coffee pigment, the darker the shade will be and the more beautifully it will shine as it dries. Coffee pigment is also extremely durable; when done correctly, the color remains unchanged for years.

Step 3: From Abstract Idea to Representational Work

One of the most fun ways to start coffee painting is with "abstract curiosity." You can take a generous amount of pigment and even carefully pour it directly onto the paper to create random puddles and marks.

As you move the paper and let the coffee flow, you can start to look for familiar silhouettes in the shapes that emerge. A coffee puddle might suddenly reveal a horse, a rider, or a deer standing in the shelter of the forest. After this, you can use a clean brush, water, or thick pigment to strengthen the shapes and bring out details, such as shadows or winter frost.

What's next?

Once you have had your first experience with pure coffee pigment, you will surely notice the endless possibilities it offers. Next, it's worth experimenting with how coffee behaves as part of other techniques.

Coffee is perfectly suited for mixed media! You can first sketch your work with a pencil, use traditional watercolors, chalks, and opaque white paint. When you want strong contrast and character in your work, you can bring dark coffee pigment into shadows or details. It blends beautifully, for example, with ochre and wine-red tones.

What to watch next?

Learn more about mixed media: Female Figure with Coffee, Watercolor + Gouache + Ink. Learn to combine different mediums and go paint, even in a public space.