Caffenol Recipes that are proven to work can be found here. If not stated differently, the temperature of the solution should be 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit. For all other temperatures, please adjust the developing time accordingly.
If you have never used caffenol before, I suggest that you start with films that are proven to deliver decent results, for example the 400 ISO films Ilford HP5 Plus, or Kodak TMAX 400. Slow films that work are Ilford FP4 (ISO 125) and Ilford PanF (ISO 50). Developing times and links to example pictures can be found in the Film Development Chart.
If you have recipes you want to share or other experiences with any flavor of Caffenol, feel free to contact me.
Ilford Delta 400
Delta Recipe for 1000ml stock (Delta-STD)
Mix Coffee and Soda seperate, as it makes it easier to see if the Soda is completely dispersed.
- 1000ml (1l) Water
- 45g Instant coffee
- 24g Washing soda
- 20g Vitamin C
Let solution stand for about 5 minutes to clear microbubbles.
9:00 – 11:00 minutes at 20 degrees, fix and rinse as usual.
Agfa Copex Rapid
Delta MICRO for 1000ml stock (Delta-MIC)
For high contrast Microfilms I have made some adjustments to the Delta-STD recipe, but I don’t think that I am there, yet. Here is the current recipe for 1l stock:
- 1000ml (1l) Water
- 22 grams instant coffee
- 32 grams washing soda
- 10 grams Vitamin C
Let solution stand for about 5 minutes to clear microbubbles.
9:00 – 11:00 minutes at 20 degrees, fix and rinse as usual.
Arista EDU 100
Arista EDU 100
20oz Water (Tap is ok)
6.25 tsp Na2CO3 (Washing Soda)
10 tsp Instant Coffee (Must be regular)
2.5 g L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C (Tablets ok))
Arista EDU 100: 7-8 minutes
Old T-Max 100: 8-9 minutes
Ilford HP5 Plus
Caffeafine (two step developer)
Ilford HP5 Plus
240ml Water, 7 rounded Teaspoons of Instant Coffee
100ml Water, 4 Teaspoons of Washing Soda, 2 Teaspoons of Vitamin C
Put the Coffee mix into the developing tank, agitate once per second for the first minute
leave it for another 2 minutes, agitate for 10 seconds every minute.
Pour out 100ml of Water and add the Washing Soda mix.
Agitate once per second for the first minute
Agitate for 10 seconds every minute for 9 miutes
Stand development for another 4 minutes.
If you have other proven recipes that you want to share, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.
Dirk Essl is the founder of caffenol.org And has done a tremendous amount of coffee development in the past. 
for the Delta Micro recipe, can I do this without agitating? I have three ww2 films on micro film that I want to process and they are just too tiny for my tank and I donot have access to a dark room, I was thinking pacing them in the tank and treating that as a tray only stomping to get rid of bubbles. I don’t want to sacrifice the film in a test unless I can find another micro film.. DO you think this would have a chance of success??
I have successful gotten images (dark ones) from 1960s film with caffenol. A work in progress..
Yvonne,
If it is high contrast microfilm, I would say it is OK to not agitate, as agitation increases contrast and most microfilms are high contrast films. Even if you take normal 135 Film and process it like usual but without agitating, you will get a picture. I am very intersted to see some pictures from 1960
cheers,
dirk
Sure
Here is one of dogs but I think it’s the 1970s
And one from the UK
Oops try the links :-/
cars
UK
ferry
You filter the solution prior to use right?
Hi my student wants to try this method of developing. Before i let him do this I want to know what Washing Soda is? I also would like to know if there is any instant coffee that is the best one to use.
thanks jake
Jake,
Washing Soda is Sodium carbonate, you can usually get it in any drug store. From which country are you from? Maybe I can give you some tips where to get it.
As for instant coffee we found out that the cheaper the coffee is, the better it works for caffenol.
–
cheers,
dirk
Perfect
My student said she has seen sodium carbonate at the drugstore.
We are in California.
cheers Jake