Coffee Painting Techniques for Beginners

COFFEE PAINTING FOR BEGINNERS

My mom wrote a picture book about painting with raw cacao for Adèle, so of course she wanted to try and make her own “chocolate paintings.” Adèle has never actually eaten chocolate due to caffeine (stimulant) and sugar content and I am in the process of quitting chocolate/raw cacao. So, instead, I suggested she use coffee and Adèle loved the idea, as did her friend.

***Disclaimer: Please note that this activity is NOT for babies or toddlers who still put their hands in the mouth and is more suitable for older kids. Also, this site contains affiliate links, and if you decide to purchase anything from suggested links or companies, I may receive a commission. Recommended products are either things I love sing or think would be helpful for you. Making your purchase using these affiliate links helps keep this site running, so thank you kindly!***

WHY SHOULD YOUR CHILD PAINT WITH COFFEE?

It’s non toxic.
Coffee is easily accessible.
It’s an activity that can be done at a cafe – this way you can enjoy coffee together, just in slightly different ways. 🙂
The painting will smell like coffee, so this activity is multi-sensory.

Materials

(Organic) Instant coffee
Warm Water
Watercolor Paper
Brush
Dropper / Pipette (optional)

Instructions

Use just enough water to melt the coffee – this way it will be nice and rich.
Explain that the water is warm/hot so that your child doesn’t get burnt.
Dip the brush into your coffee and paint. There are no rules, just observe what your child does without making any suggestions. I’m sure she’ll surprise you. Mine did. 😉

COFFEE PAINTING TIPS

Encourage your child to use other materials together with coffee. Pencils, watercolors, markers, whatever they want.
Try dipping a pencil into coffee and draw to see what happens.
Put a lot of watery coffee on your paper and blow at it to move it around. You can also blow through a straw.

Use a paper towel to lift off coffee for an interesting effect. (Tip: Don’t throw out the paper towel. Instead, unfold it and dry flat – it will make a beautiful paper towel artwork).
Make a “bloom watercolor effect” by allowing drops of coffee and watercolor to mix, or experiment with other water-color effects.
If you have a Dropper / Pipette, you can use it with coffee. Adèle wanted to mix coffee with her home-made liquid watercolors and they worked beautifully together.
Next time you are at Starbucks or your local cafe, remember to order a cup of cacao, cocoa or strong coffee for your child so that she can make art on napkins. She can do it with her fingers or the back of a teaspoon and dry the napkin on the saucer. ;)