Dyeing Easter Eggs

Dyeing eggshells with coffee waste is a practical and environmentally friendly method of colouring eggs naturally. Coffee waste, such as used coffee grounds, is rich in tannins that can act as a natural colourant. When eggshells come into contact with coffee, the tannins can penetrate the porous surface of the shell and create a coloured appearance. This process is often used in the natural colouring of various materials, such as textiles and food.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup of used coffee grounds
• Water
• 2 tsp. of white vinegar
• 4 eggs

HOW IT WORKS

1. Prepare the Dye Bath

Pour the coffee grounds into a saucepan and add enough water to cover the eggs you want to colour with the coffee grounds. Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the dye bath for about 30 minutes to extract the colour from the coffee grounds.

2. Strain the Mixture

After boiling, strain the coffee grounds so that only the coffee-infused water remains. Add vinegar to fix the colour to the eggshells.  This is the colouring bath!
  

3. Dye the Eggs

Place the eggs in the dye bath. For raw eggs, make sure that they are thoroughly washed and carefully placed in the pot. For hard-boiled eggs, make sure they are fully cooled before adding them to the coffee dye. If the eggs are not fully submerged, you may need to rotate them periodically to achieve an even colour.

4. Soak the Eggs

The longer the eggs soak in the coffee dye, the deeper the colour will be. For a light tan colour, a few hours might suffice, but for darker shades, leaving them overnight is recommended.

ATTENTION:

Store in the refrigerator!

5. Remove and dry the Eggs

Once the desired colour has been achieved, carefully remove the eggs from the dye bath and leave to dry. They can be lightly rubbed with a cloth soaked in vegetable oil to make them shine.

Tipps

• Do not eat hard boiled eggs that have been left out for more than 2 hours.
• Refrigerate hard boiled eggs within 2 hours or less, eat within 1 week!
• Raw eggs can only be left out for 2 hours or less also.
  

This natural colouring method using coffee waste is not only a creative way of reusing coffee grounds, but also a safer alternative to synthetic dyes, especially in relation to food.

It also gives the eggs a beautiful, earthy colour that is perfect for decorations or as a natural option for dyeing Easter eggs.