There are three essential materials I recommend if you want to get the best results from your painting experience.
First, use high quality watercolor paper
Second, invest in a good round watercolor brush. If you have a good brush and take care of it your brush will last “forever” or close to it.
Third, strong black coffee to paint with. I think espresso is the best coffee to paint with.
One of the unique values of painting with coffee is the minimal expense of the materials needed. Additional materials are items you probably already have around the house.
Basic Materials needed to paint with coffee explained in detail.
I suggest reading the descriptions and suggestions for each of the materials. This will help you get the most from your painting experience. Especially if you are just starting. Painting with coffee is similar to watercolor painting but there are important differences to explore.
Black Coffee Basic choices
House-coffee works fine but Espresso is better because it’s more concentrated. Coffee Painting Tutorials often suggest using Instant coffee in various strengths. Instant coffee is a time-saver and works fine but for me it’s a last resort.
I paint with Espresso and enjoy the ritual of painting with straight shots from my favorite Cafe. My current favorite espresso is Equator
There are two versions of coffee to paint with.
Straight Shots of espresso - in a small cup for washes and most of the overall painting.
Dried coffee - that has hardened or dried on a small white saucer for darkest possible stroke. This is similar to watercolor.
Aging The longer the coffee sits in it's container the thicker and darker it will become - especially when kept at room temperature. When coffee is left sitting for longer than a few days a thick layer will begin to form at the bottom of the container. This creates a darker color to paint with.
Storage Store leftover coffee in an airtight containers. I store all coffee in the refrigerator until I’m ready to paint again. Beware of mold if not used over long periods of time.
Paper
Coffee can be painted on any paper surface. The more layers the darker and deeper the images become. The two basic weights of watercolor are #140 and #300. Cold Press is rough and Hot press is smooth.Watercolor paper has the advantage of allowing more saturation which creates depth and richness.
Drawing paper offers a smoother surface but has a tendency to buckle when it dries when it has been too saturated with coffee. Quick dry washes are best for drawing paper and can be layered with patience. Poster board is another option.
Sketching Pencils
Drawing can be kept at a minimum and may be just for outlining or to sketch the initial image in the beginning. Start with a soft pencil because it is easier to erase. The pencil outline helps hold the image in place until the bottom layer of coffee has been painted. This first step is similar to painting inside the lines in a coloring book. Keep pencil marks as light as possible because once you have painted over the pencil lines they can no longer be erased. The coffee seals the pencil line into the paper. This can add an extra texture or color but it’s better if you allow it to be your choice.
Erasers
Kneaded Erasers are sometimes called putty-rubber. They have more options than traditional erasers and are recommended. They can be molded to clean specific areas and never leave eraser-dust in their path. When not available use a white eraser (Not a pink one unless you want pink streaks on your painting.)
Paper towels
Paper towels are used as blotters and as erasers. Coffee is unexpectedly "forgiving" and can be immediately lifted (blotted out) if you've made a mistake. Also when the coffee has dried you can re-wet an area with clean water and blot out or erase the unwanted coffee. Paper towels are the un-sung hero in painting with coffee. Cut them up in small squares and always keep them handy. Brush Rolling is used to check the intensity of the coffee and to remove excess water. To do this roll the brush sideways on a paper towel.
Clean Water
Water Containers
Glass of water for clearing coffee out of brush to keep it clean. Change this water often to keep it clean.
Glass of clean water to be used in the painting (You will be painting with water) Keep very clean water available at all times. It's important to use a clean brush each time you move to a different area of your work - especially when moving to a lighter area. This keeps the dark and the light separated needed to get stronger tones and contrast. Keeping your brush clean is a big deal. Even the slight amount of coffee left in your brush will affect your next color choice - especially if you are going lighter.
Drying -Time / The waiting period
I consider Fresh Air an essential material. Without allowing for a pause of drying time your painting will be one big Blur! You must wait until the previous layer is completely dry before adding the next. If you don’t wait until it’s dry your coffee will blend into the previous, still wet, layer. It will not make it darker. Under layers of details you liked and wanted to keep can also be washed away. Coffee slightly lightens when it dries, so no matter how dark your thickest mixture is, you will probably want it to appear even darker on the paper. You will need to add more layers until you reach the look you want.
Not necessary but helpful additional materials
Hair dryer or direct sunlight
A hair dryer will speed the drying process. This will not affect the quality of your work of art. You can keep your creative flow moving when impatience is in your way.
Watercolor Paint Brushes
The two basic shapes are square and round. The quality of the brush is worth the extra expense. Take care of your brushes and they will last forever. The size and shape depends on what you are painting. Both shapes come in a variety of sizes.
Water Spray Bottle
Often your watercolor paper will buckle as your painting dries. Keep a spray bottle of water handy and spary the backside of your painting with a soft mist of water. Put the painting inside a book and let it dry. Whe dry the pantng surface will be flat again.
Masking Tape
Taping your paper down with masking tape around the outside edges of the paper will keep your painting flat while it is drying.