From Instant Coffee to Stunning Shots: Discover How to Develop Your Own Analog Film with Caffenol

Developing Analog Film in Caffenol: A Guide for Beginners

Are you a film camera enthusiast who wants to try developing your own analog film at home? Or are you looking for an alternative to using traditional chemicals for developing your film? Look no further than Caffenol, a developing solution made from simple household ingredients.

In this article, we will cover the basics of developing analog film in Caffenol. We will also answer some common questions about film cameras, analog film, darkrooms, and developing kits.

What is Caffenol?

Caffenol is a developing solution made from instant coffee, washing soda, and vitamin C. It is an alternative to using traditional developing chemicals like D-76 or HC-110. Caffenol is not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but it can also produce unique results that cannot be achieved with traditional chemicals.

What do you need to develop your own film with Caffenol?

To develop your own film with Caffenol, you will need the following materials:

• Instant coffee (the cheapest one from a discounter will do just fine)

• Washing soda (sodium carbonate)

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

• Fixer for black and white film

• Water

• Film developing tank

• Scale

• Thermometer

• Timer

• Film retriever

• Changing bag or darkroom

• Scissors

• Negative sleeves

How to develop your film with Caffenol

1. Mix the Caffenol solution

To mix the Caffenol solution, you will need to follow a recipe. In my opinion the best resource for everything about Caffenol is Caffenol.org. There you will find One recipe that works well is:

• 8 grams instant coffee

• 16 grams washing soda

• 1 gram vitamin C

• 500 ml warm water

Mix the ingredients together in a container until they are fully dissolved. Let the solution cool down to room temperature.

1. Load your film into the developing tank

In a darkroom or changing bag, load your exposed film into the developing tank using the film retriever. Make sure to use a film retriever that is compatible with your film format. Cut the film leader using scissors and place the film in the tank.

1. Add the Caffenol solution

Pour the Caffenol solution into the developing tank, making sure to cover the film completely. Close the developing tank and agitate it gently for the first 30 seconds, then agitate it for 10 seconds every minute for the duration of the development time.

1. Stop the development

After the development time has elapsed (usually around 15 minutes), pour out the Caffenol solution and add stop bath to the developing tank. Agitate the tank for one minute, then pour out the stop bath.

1. Fix the film

Add fixer to the developing tank and agitate for the recommended time (usually around 5 minutes). Pour out the fixer and rinse the film with water.

1. Dry the film

Remove the film from the developing tank and hang it up to dry in a dust-free area. Once the film is completely dry, cut it into strips and store it in negative sleeves.

Tips for developing with Caffenol

• I encourage you to experiment with different Caffenol recipes and development times to achieve the desired results.

• Use a thermometer and timer to ensure accurate development times.

Conclusion

Developing analog film in Caffenol is a fun and cost-effective way to take your film photography to the next level. While it may take some practice to get the hang of it, the results can be unique and rewarding. By using simple household ingredients, you can develop your film in a more environmentally friendly way.

Lastly I want to encourage you to watch this video of my favourite coffee nerd James, explaining how he attempts to develop his black and white film in Caffenol. There are many other videos you can watch on the topic. I am just a fan of the way James explains things. Cheers!