I'm considering using coffee to stain some white basswood busts I have. Has anyone experimented with this technique? I'm curious about how well it works and if there are any tips for achieving a nice, dark finish without too much hassle.
3 Answers
I’ve given it a shot, but honestly, the results didn’t wow me. The coffee I used might not have been strong enough. Definitely give it a go yourself though! Oh, and coffee is great for enhancing kolrosing if you ever want to try that too.
Yeah, I’ve stained wood with coffee before, but getting a deep color was tricky. I ended up soaking the wood multiple times, and it was still just a light hue. If you want a strong coffee look, you might end up spending more on coffee than if you just went for a traditional oil stain.
That’s really helpful info! Sounds like it could be more effort than it’s worth.
Honestly, the best you might get is a subtle discoloration. Coffee isn’t as effective as other stains, so don't expect a dark finish from this method. Testing on a small piece first could save you some disappointment.
Good to know! I'll keep that in mind for future projects.