Coffee in Your Cup… and in Your Hair? The Surprisingly Fun Side of Your Morning Brew

Most mornings, my coffee and I have a standing date.
It’s not fancy, just me, my Win Win pour-over setup, and the deep, rich aroma of freshly ground beans. But the moment is sacred. My day hasn’t truly begun until I’ve taken that first slow sip.

Coffee, for me, has always been about flavor, comfort, and connection. But recently, I stumbled across something surprising: coffee can also do more than just perk you up, it can add a completely different kind of color to your life. Literally.

Wait… Coffee as Hair Color?

Yes, you read that right. According to a recent article, brewed coffee (and tea) can be used as a natural way to enhance or deepen brown tones in hair. No chemicals. No salon chair. Just the same beans you brew to wake up in the morning.

At first, I laughed, imagining myself standing over the sink, pouring my favorite Guatemalan roast over my head like some caffeinated shampoo ad. But then I thought about it.

Coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a plant. It’s rich in natural pigments, antioxidants, and oils. And if it can make my morning brighter, maybe it really could give hair a subtle, warm boost, too.

Why I Love the Idea

The thought of coffee going “beyond the mug” got me thinking about how versatile and personal our coffee rituals can be.

In our Win Win community, coffee already shows up in so many unexpected ways. We’ve had customers tell us they use cooled coffee in marinades for steak, as a base for homemade coffee scrubs, or even to dye Easter eggs naturally. Now hair coloring joins the list.

There’s something poetic about this: the same coffee that fuels your mind in the morning could also give your hair a gentle, chemical-free glow.

How It Works (and a Few Tips)

If you’re curious to try it, here’s the gist:

1. Brew it strong.
   You’ll want a concentrated pot, think 1–2 tablespoons of ground coffee per cup of water. Darker roasts give richer color.

2. Cool it completely.
   No one wants to scald their scalp. Let it cool to room temperature before applying.

3. Apply generously.
   Pour it over your hair or use a spray bottle, making sure it’s evenly distributed from root to tip.

4. Let it sit.
   Wrap your hair in a shower cap and let the coffee soak for about 30 minutes to an hour. The longer it sits, the deeper the tone.

5. Rinse and condition.
   Rinse with cool water and follow with conditioner. The effect is subtle and may need repeating to build up color.

Now, will this turn blond hair dark? Probably not. But for brunettes, it can add warmth and shine, like a little coffee hug for your hair.

My Brewing Ritual (for Drinking, Not Dyeing)

While I’m not turning my kitchen into a coffee hair salon just yet, this whole concept reminded me how personal coffee really is.

My own daily ritual is simple: a pour-over with our Win Win Ethiopian roast. It’s bright, citrusy, and makes me feel like I’m drinking a beam of morning sunlight. I take those five quiet minutes to grind, bloom, and brew without rushing. It’s as much about the process as the drink itself.

That’s the beauty of coffee, whether you’re sipping it, cooking with it, or experimenting with it, the experience can be whatever you make it.

Stories from the Win Win Coffee Family

One customer, Amelia from Oregon, recently told us she uses leftover Win Win coffee to make an exfoliating body scrub with sugar and coconut oil. “It smells like heaven,” she said, “and my skin is so smooth I don’t need half the lotions I used to.”

Then there’s Jay in Florida, who swears by adding a tablespoon of brewed coffee to his homemade barbecue sauce. “It’s like a smoky secret ingredient,” he wrote.

These little stories remind me that coffee is more than a drink, it’s a shared resource of creativity and joy.

Why This Matters

It’s easy to think of coffee as just “morning fuel.” But when you start seeing it as an ingredient, a ritual, and a community touchpoint, it becomes something much bigger.

Whether you’re brewing it to drink, brushing it onto your hair for a subtle tint, or sharing a cup with a neighbor, coffee has a way of enriching life in ways that go far beyond caffeine.

And that’s why, at Win Win Coffee, we focus on sourcing beans you can trust, clean, fresh, and versatile, so no matter how you use them, you know you’re getting the best.

Want to try coffee that’s as creative as you are? Explore our roasts here and find the perfect beans for your next cup or your next experiment.