Tried staining book edges with coffee instead of store-bought dye

Soaked the edges of a cheap paperback in cold brew for 2 hours and the color came out way more even than the $12 bottle of edge stain I used last month. Had to let it dry flat for a full day though or the pages would warp. Has anyone else tried this with tea or something else?

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john64811h ago

It's funny how often the expensive stuff is just the cheap stuff with a fancy label and a bigger price tag. Coffee grounds cost what, five bucks for a whole can? That will edge-stain a hundred books easy. People pay extra for "antiqued" or "distressed" looks and you can get the same result from whatever's in your kitchen cabinet. Happens with furniture too. Paid fifty bucks for a "rustic wood finish" table once. Neighbor showed me how to get the same effect with a can of Coke and a rag. Felt like a fool.