Making coffee paint darker can be done in a few different ways. The most common methods involve using more coffee grounds, brewing a stronger coffee concentrate, adding darker roast coffee, or mixing in cocoa powder. With some simple adjustments, you can easily deepen and enrich the color of coffee paint for all your crafting needs.
Use More Coffee Grounds
One of the easiest ways to make coffee paint darker is to simply use more coffee grounds. Most basic coffee paint recipes call for about 2-3 tablespoons of used coffee grounds mixed with 1-2 tablespoons of water or acrylic paint medium. To make the paint darker, try doubling the amount of grounds to 4-6 tablespoons per 1-2 tablespoons of liquid.
The more saturated the grounds are, the richer the color will be. Just keep in mind that using a lot of grounds can make the paint quite thick and grainy. You may need to thin it with a bit more water or medium to achieve the right consistency for painting or dipping.
Brew a Stronger Concentrate
Another simple method is to brew an extra strong batch of coffee to use in the paint. The darker and more concentrated the coffee, the darker the paint will be. To do this:
- Use about 1/3 more ground coffee when brewing
- Reduce the amount of water to concentrate the brew
- Opt for a dark roast coffee which will produce a richer, darker liquid
- Let the coffee brew for a few extra minutes before straining to extract more color and oils
Let the brewed concentrate cool completely before mixing it with paint. Be sure to strain out all grounds so they don’t make the paint gritty.
Try Darker Roast Coffee Grounds
The specific roast of coffee used will impact the shade of brown in coffee paints. Darker roasts produce deeper, richer browns while lighter roasts create lighter tans and browns.
To make the darkest brown coffee paint, use grounds from a French roast, Italian roast or espresso. These extra dark roasts have been heated longer, producing coffee beans that are almost black in color.
You can use 100% dark roast grounds or mix darker and lighter roasts to achieve the exact shade you want.
Add Cocoa Powder
One unique way to darken coffee paint without brewing strong coffee is to add pure unsweetened cocoa powder. The deep brown color of cocoa will enrich the shade of the paint.
Start with about 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder per 2-3 tablespoons of prepared coffee paint. Mix it well and check the color. Keep adding more cocoa, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until you achieve the desired darkness.
The chocolate undertones from the cocoa pair nicely with the toasty coffee notes. This works especially well for painting objects like wood decor, terra cotta pots, or fabric.
Thicken with Brown Sugar
For coffee paint with a smooth, glossy finish, try adding brown sugar. The sugar will slightly thicken the paint while also contributing a rich brown molasses hue.
Start by mixing 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar per 1 cup of prepared coffee paint. The sugar will dissolve easily into the liquid. If needed, keep adding more 1 tablespoon at a time until the paint reaches the thickness and darkness you want.
Deepen with Burnt Umber Pigment
For an intense dark brown coffee paint, consider mixing in some burnt umber artist’s pigment. This very opaque shade is one of the darkest brown hues available.
Start with just a small amount of pigment – dip a toothpick in burnt umber and swirl it into the paint. Add more as needed until you achieve a rich espresso brown.
The thick consistency of the pigment will also help thicken the coffee paint nicely.
Enrich with Burnt Sienna Pigment
For a slightly different take, add burnt sienna pigment to the coffee paint. Burnt sienna is more reddish-brown compared to burnt umber.
Use the same method of dipping a toothpick in the pigment and mixing into the paint. The sienna will deepen the brown while also introducing warm undertones.
Darken with Black Acrylic Paint
For the quickest shortcut to darker coffee paint, add a small amount of black acrylic paint. Start with just a few drops of black and mix it thoroughly into the coffee paint base.
Keep adding black, a few drops at a time, until you reach the desired darkness. The acrylic black will deepen the shade evenly without altering the finish of the paint.
Considerations When Making Dark Coffee Paint
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making dark coffee paint:
- Avoid over-thinning the paint with water or medium since this can cause the color to appear washed out or translucent.
- Use hot or boiling water when making a coffee concentrate to extract the most color.
- Store coffee paint in an airtight container in the fridge to prevent it drying out.
- The natural sugars and oils in coffee paint can lead to spoilage after 1-2 weeks.
- If the paint develops any fuzziness or strange odors, discard it and make a fresh batch.
- Applying coffee paint in multiple coats will also intensify the color vs a single coat.
Achieving Different Shades of Dark Brown
Coffee paint dries a shade or two lighter than its wet appearance. To get an idea of the actual dried color, test a swatch before painting an entire project.
Here are some techniques to achieve different shades of rich, deep brown:
| Desired Color | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Espresso | Espresso concentrate + dark cocoa powder |
| Dark chocolate | Dark roast grounds + burnt umber |
| Mocha | Medium roast + cocoa powder |
| Maple | Medium roast + burnt sienna |
Uses for Dark Coffee Paint
Once you’ve mixed up a batch of rich, dark coffee paint, here are some ways to use it:
- Paint terra cotta pots for plants
- Create faux woodgrain finishes on furniture
- Paint coffee mug designs
- Stain or antique paper for crafts
- Create abstract art paintings
- Stain canvas for a textured look
- Paint cheap wood crafts from the dollar store
- Dye fabric like linen, cotton, or muslin
The possibilities are endless! With its versatility and rich color, dark coffee paint is perfect for all kinds of home decor projects, art crafts, and more.
Conclusion
Deepening the color of coffee paint is simple with just a few extra ingredients and techniques. More grounds, a darker roast, brewed concentrate, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and complementary acrylic pigments are all easy ways to make the paint richer and more intense.
Take your time experimenting to find your perfect shade of dark brown. Always remember to store the paint properly to maximize its shelf life. With the right preparation and handling, you can easily use coffee paint to enhance your homemade crafts and decor pieces with beautiful
moody brown tones.