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How to Coffee-Dye Your Air Force 1s

How to Coffee-Dye Your Air Force 1s

Mar 13, 2023

Coffee-dipped AF1s? That’s right. One of the latest trends is to coffee-dye Air Force 1 sneaks. Now, you might be thinking, “Wait… Hold up. You want me to put my new kicks into a vat of coffee dye?” Yup. At least, that’s what sneakerhead social influencer Jake Polino does. All across his social media channels, Polino has made videos showcasing his coffee-stained shoes, which are typically AF1s since they’re the easiest to dye. And since one of this sneak’s most popular styles is solid white, it offers the perfect canvas to create your own coffee-stained Air Force 1s. Wanna know how? We’re glad you asked!

Step 1: Apply Acetone to the Seams

Before attempting to coffee-stain your shoes, remove the factory finish so the coffee coloring will accurately adhere to the shoe’s leather. If you don’t remove that factory finish just right, your dye job could come out looking spotty. Dip a cotton swab in acetone, and apply the acetone to the shoe’s leather edges, cracks and crevices, particularly around the Swoosh symbol and shoe seams.

Step 2: Use a Cloth to Acetone the Entire Sneak

Gently pour some acetone onto a cloth and evenly wipe down the shoe’s entire surface, including the rubber, with medium pressure. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to any one part of the shoe, as you can remove the white paint to expose gray suede.

Step 3: Prepare Your Dye

On a stovetop, heat enough water to fully submerge your shoes in the dye. The water should be hot but not boiling, which could destroy your shoes. Then, deposit the water into a container large enough to hold your shoes. After that, pour in enough coffee to make the water a chocolate brown. (It’s typically better to use more coffee as too little won’t give you a very rich color.)

Step 4: Submerge Your Sneaks

Use something heavy, such as bricks, to anchor your shoes in the water. You can use tongs to submerge your sneakers, so you don’t risk coming in contact with the hot liquid. Make sure the shoe’s tongues are also tucked into the water; however, ensure there are no creases in the tongues, as that could cause streaking. Leave them for at least two hours.

Step 5: Remove ’Em

Remove the shoes from the dye, place them in the sink and spray them off. Take care to thoroughly rinse the cloth areas of the shoe. When you do this, you’ll notice these areas become significantly lighter. Wash the fabric parts of the shoes with soap, removing any coffee remnants to prevent streaking.

Step 6: Dry ’Em

Dry the shoes with a towel. If you notice any light spots where you didn’t adequately apply acetone, you can reapply the chemical to those areas with a cotton swab and resubmerge the shoes for at least two hours. (No need to reheat the dye.)

Step 7: Wear ’Em

Now, pair your sneakers with your individual personality and style. Go toe-to-head Nike with a men’s hoodie and basketball shorts, or wear them with a color-coordinated dress for a girls’ night out. Check out our blog for other ways to wear your coffee-dipped AF1 sneaks as well as stylish lacing techniques.

Of course, you can use this method to coffee-stain any white shoes, including Jordans, adidas and Under Armours. Just stop in a Hibbett | City Gear store or shop online to find the pair that fits you best.

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