Recipes

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
  • 24g Washing soda (multiply by 2.7 if your soda is crystalline -> 65g)
  • 20g Vitamin C
  • 45g Instant coffee

Teaspoon measuring:

  • 1000ml (1l) Water
  • 12 levelled teaspoons Washing Soda (32 if your soda is crystalline)
  • 3 teaspoons of Vitamin C
  • 18 teaspoons Instant Coffee

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 g instant coffee
  • 32 g washing soda (multiply by 2.7 if your soda is crystalline -> 86g)
  • 10 g 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

Harmony Recipe

20oz Water (Tap is ok)
6.25 tsp Na2CO3 (Washing Soda) (17 if your soda is crystalline)
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)

240ml Water, 7 rounded Teaspoons of Instant Coffee
100ml Water, 4 Teaspoons of Washing Soda (11 if your soda is crystalline), 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.

80 Comments

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How the heck do coffee and Vitamin C develop film? (all about caffenol) · October 25, 2021 at 5:31 am

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