Ascorbic Acid alone won't develop film, but Ascorbic Acid with Sodium Carbonate will, especially if one gives this combo as much time as people did here.Ascorbic Acid alone doesn't work.
There is some chance that Coffee or other liquids will speed up the Ascorbate+Carbonate combo, and that Caffeic Acid doesn't play much role in this. Certain quaternary ammonium salts speed up development action of alkaline Ascorbic Acid, Hydroquinone or other development agents with otherwise long induction times, and AFAIK at least coffee contains such compounds.