Caffenol

[Trevor Sowers]

I have a bunch of 35mm HP5, FP4 and TriX in my fridge. I am really curious about trying my hand with Caffenol and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with these films and Caffenol. Which films work best, does it work with pushing etc. Any good links to resources would be appreciated. I have found some information but I'm hoping for some experienced feedback.

 

[BHuij]

Hopefully at some point someone with a lot of firsthand experience with caffenol will weigh in with insight I don't have. I've always considered caffenol to be a good option if you're strapped for cash and can't afford a "proper" developer. There's nothing about it that seems to stand out in terms of image results to me. It just has the cool "DIY with stuff you already have at home" appeal to it.

If you're interested, give it a shot. Your results will be the best way to answer your own questions about how well it works for pushing, which films it gives you results with that you like, etc.

 

[Alan9940]

I would highly recommend starting here:

The Caffenol Cookbook & Bible

The Caffenol Cookbook & Bible is a project by large format photographer Bo Sibbern-Larsen who got eight other photographers together to write a book about caffenol. It’s a free book, ava…

www.caffenol.org

I've used the Caffenol-C-L mix several times with HP-5+ and have been pleased with the results. The negatives come out a little grainer vs standard film developers, but it's not objectionable to my eye. For the coffee, I've used Sumatra beans (sold by jantz here) and cheap instant coffee.

Best thing is to read over the cookbook linked above, pick a mix or two, and experiment. All the mixes are easy to mix and development couldn't be simpler.

Have fun!

 

[aparat]

I checked my grocery store, to buy the ingredients you need for the simplest caffenol you need at least $18 worth of products, provided they are going to work properly. You can get a bunch of different conventional developers, such as D76, XTOL, Clayton F76 Plus, Arista Premium, etc., which are guaranteed to work properly. I'm all for experimentation, but the cost argument doesn't really work in caffenol's favor, unless you already have these ingredients at home.

 

[Trevor Sowers]

I would highly recommend starting here:

The Caffenol Cookbook & Bible

The Caffenol Cookbook & Bible is a project by large format photographer Bo Sibbern-Larsen who got eight other photographers together to write a book about caffenol. It’s a free book, ava…

www.caffenol.org

I've used the Caffenol-C-L mix several times with HP-5+ and have been pleased with the results. The negatives come out a little grainer vs standard film developers, but it's not objectionable to my eye. For the coffee, I've used Sumatra beans (sold by jantz here) and cheap instant coffee.

Best thing is to read over the cookbook linked above, pick a mix or two, and experiment. All the mixes are easy to mix and development couldn't be simpler.

Have fun!

Excellent! I'll check it out!

 

[Trevor Sowers]

I checked my grocery store, to buy the ingredients you need for the simplest caffenol you need at least $18 worth of products, provided they are going to work properly. You can get a bunch of different conventional developers, such as D76, XTOL, Clayton F76 Plus, Arista Premium, etc., which are guaranteed to work properly. I'm all for experimentation, but the cost argument doesn't really work in caffenol's favor, unless you already have these ingredients at home.

I'm not doing it to save money but rather just to have fun.

 

[aparat]

I'm not doing it to save money but rather just to have fun.

Of course, no worries. I was responding to another post. I am also in it for the fun of it, mostly. I have come across the low cost argument for Caffenol a lot, all over the Internet. I just don't buy it.

 

[nosmok]

Those films you mention should all be good to go in some form of Caffenol CH (the 'high speed' version of Caf C). I do Tri-X quite frequently in CH with good results, the film is usually in the range of long expired to nearly in-date. I got into Caffenol because I develop in my kitchen and I wanted low-toxicity developers since I had small children. They're not small anymore but I persist with Caffenol, the results for me are quite good enough. Have fun!

 

[Alan9940]

Those films you mention should all be good to go in some form of Caffenol CH (the 'high speed' version of Caf C). I do Tri-X quite frequently in CH with good results, the film is usually in the range of long expired to nearly in-date.

I'd have to find my notes, but some time ago I used some version of C-L whereby I did a cold start at 59F for one hour for quite expired HP-5+ that was pretty fogged. Whatever the "magic" that occurred in the tank it seriously diminished the level of fog.

 

[BHuij]

Of course, no worries. I was responding to another post. I am also in it for the fun of it, mostly. I have come across the low cost argument for Caffenol a lot, all over the Internet. I just don't buy it.

I guess this is kind of what I'm getting at.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so if someone really likes the look of caffenol-developed film, then by all means have at it. There's nothing wrong with it as a developer. But it's less convenient than HC-110/Rodinal, grainier than XTOL, less compensating than Pyro, etc. etc. Every quality one might want in a film can be better achieved with a different developer, IMO. And since most common developers cost more or less the same, then the only reason to use Caffenol would be "I already have all this stuff at home and I don't want to spend any money on developer", or "I'm just experimenting and having fun."

 

[Kino]

Be aware; the Caffenol I used once, does stink more than you'd think...

It's not like you just brewed a cup of coffee...

 

[npl]

I also recommend using the caffenol CH recipe with theses films. If you don't have or don't want to buy KBr, using ten time the amount of iodized salt works fine (I use 5g with a 500ml solution).

Expect quite some grain, especially with HP5.

The key elements are to get pure ascorbic acid, cheap instant coffee and anhydrous sodium carbonate. Add ingredients in order, agitate enough to have a good dissolution (coffee will need some time, not adding everything at once and warmer temperature help).

Oh and yes, caffenol is NOT a cheap developer, that's not the point.

Have fun !

 

[Trevor Sowers]

Thanks everyone! Some great responses here.

 

[fs999]

Here you have most recipes that I have tested. Most important is to have anhydrous soda not wet or backing soda. Caffenol CL is for me the best.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Caffenol CL-CN is an excellent developer for Adox CMS 20 II. Side by side tests with its recommended developer, Adotech IV, CL-CN gives it a run for the money.

(Comparison of scanned negatives begins at 6:27)

 

[VinceInMT]

I'm not doing it to save money but rather just to have fun.

^^^ THIS!!! ^^^

”Fun” is why I got into photography 50 years ago this May and why I am still “into it.” The economics have never been of concern as, when compared to my other hobbies, it is really inexpensive. A few dollars gets me outside to experience the world and bring back images that I have endless ways to develop and then hours and hours of adventures in the darkroom expirementing with various printing techniques and processes.

I started playing with Caffenol a year ago and find that it scratches my itch for adventure and serendipity. While I know that many just develop film with it, I took it to the next step and figured out how to use it as a print developer as well. Lots of trial and error were involved before I had some predictability with it. I’ve posted a few in the gallery like this one:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/media/pub-station.68064/

 

[VinceInMT]

Here you have most recipes that I have tested. Most important is to have anhydrous soda not wet or backing soda. Caffenol CL is for me the best.

I have a failure with CL and went to Delta-Std and have predictable results with it now but I need to go back to CL and get it figured out.

 

[nosmok]

I also like Caffenol CL for its results, but there's times I just don't wanna wait for an hour! Also, can vouch for the 'iodized salt for KBr' swap mentioned above, though I used 5x instead of 10x as much salt as Kbr. Maybe I'll try 10x now!

 

[Alan9940]

Most important is to have anhydrous soda not wet or backing soda. Caffenol CL is for me the best.

In my experience, I've found it to be quite important to ensure anhydrous soda. I weigh out an amount that I'll use over time, heat it under low heat in the oven until the weight doesn't change, then store in a tightly sealed glass jar. I'm sure the soda picks up some moisture every time I open the jar, but I must use it all before it becomes an issue.

 

[Trask]

I'd have to find my notes, but some time ago I used some version of C-L whereby I did a cold start at 59F for one hour for quite expired HP-5+ that was pretty fogged. Whatever the "magic" that occurred in the tank it seriously diminished the level of fog.

If you find that specific version of C-L, please post details -- appreciate it!

 

[fs999]

Caffenol CL-CN is an excellent developer for Adox CMS 20 II. Side by side tests with its recommended developer, Adotech IV, CL-CN gives it a run for the money.

Nice video ! I find CL-CN sharper than Adotech IV...

I have a failure with CL and went to Delta-Std and have predictable results with it now but I need to go back to CL and get it figured out.

Yes CL need precise weighting because of its weakness.

I also like Caffenol CL for its results, but there's times I just don't wanna wait for an hour! Also, can vouch for the 'iodized salt for KBr' swap mentioned above, though I used 5x instead of 10x as much salt as Kbr. Maybe I'll try 10x now!

Here you can see the efficacy of Kbr vs iodize salt. Photo from caffenol.blogspot.com.

In my experience, I've found it to be quite important to ensure anhydrous soda. I weigh out an amount that I'll use over time, heat it under low heat in the oven until the weight doesn't change, then store in a tightly sealed glass jar. I'm sure the soda picks up some moisture every time I open the jar, but I must use it all before it becomes an issue.

You can also multiply by 1.2 to 2.7 the amount when it is wet soda. But for better price the anhydrous is less expensive. I don't think moisture can proliferate in soda It's more humidity.

If you find that specific version of C-L, please post details -- appreciate it!

It is the CLCS (for cold start) version above.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Nice video ! I find CL-CN sharper than Adotech IV...

Yes CL need precise weighting because of its weakness.


Here you can see the efficacy of Kbr vs iodize salt. Photo from caffenol.blogspot.com.
View attachment 330991


You can also multiply by 1.2 to 2.7 the amount when it is wet soda. But for better price the anhydrous is less expensive. I don't think moisture can proliferate in soda It's more humidity.

It is the CLCS (for cold start) version above.

That bump in sharpness with the CL-CN I believe is down to the effects of semi-stand development. I need to explore this developer more!

 

[Donald Qualls]

My first use of Caffenol (coffee and washing soda only, no ascorbate yet) was on Tri-X, back around 2003. Works great, and produces an imagewise stain roughly akin to those from pyro and catechol developers. Slow, though, and loses film speed compared to the Caffenol C variants.

 

[tahomaphoto]

Of course, no worries. I was responding to another post. I am also in it for the fun of it, mostly. I have come across the low cost argument for Caffenol a lot, all over the Internet. I just don't buy it.

At the height of the pandemic, there was an additional reason to try Caffenol; many commercial developers were out of stock or not shipping. Thanks for posting the link to that Caffenol Bible! I will check it out; caffenol is on my to-try list.

Regards,

Erik

 

[aparat]

At the height of the pandemic, there was an additional reason to try Caffenol; many commercial developers were out of stock or not shipping. Thanks for posting the link to that Caffenol Bible! I will check it out; caffenol is on my to-try list.

Regards,

Erik

That makes perfect sense. I haven't thought of that particular argument. During the pandemic I wasn't doing any photography so I never felt the shortages but I bet it was a tough time for photography. And we are probably still experiencing the aftershocks.