Developer Recipes

My Very Own Developer Recipes

Slow Caffenol

This is a recipe I derived from some others... It is not really strong, so development time is usually around 18min.
Measures are in spoons (the kitchen measures that is, not your random spoons!).
I mix this in 2 different vessels with about half the liquid each!

• 250ml water (Jobo 1510) @ tap temperature
• 2 teaspoons of soda (vessel 1)
• 1/2 teaspoon of ascorbic acid (vessel 1)
• 5/2 rounded teaspoons of coffee crystals (vessel 2)
• 1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt (vessel 2 - for B&W film only)

When the liquids on both vessels are settled (no more bubbles, no more solids), I mix 'm together.
For developing, I use the recommended Caffenol method (constant agitation during the first half 30s, 3 slow shakes, or 10 sec, agitation during the begin of every further minute).
NOTE: For C41 x-processing, leave out the iodized salt!

Chardonnol

Chardonnay wine seems to contain the highest concentration of caffeic-acid, what wines are concerned. This wine forms the basis of a very simple developer.
Recipe:

• 250ml cheap Chardonnay
• 3/8 teaspoons ascorbic acid => measured pH 4
• 1 teaspoon washing soda => measure pH > 11 (maybe 3/4 tea spoons washing soda will be better)

The soup was brown by now and ready for action. Develop at least for 17min. I used this developer for C41 x-processing, which works.

Pure Caffenol

This is the most simple recipe I tried and believe to be a pretty good developer, even suitable for C41 negative film. Next to being simple, it is the cheapest possible.
I use this recipe for a 17min development.
Again, I use 2 vessels to dissolve the solids.
Recipe:

• 250ml water
• 2 tsp of soda (vessel 1)
• 6 tsp of coffee crystals (vessel 2)

When the liquids on both vessels are settled (no more bubbles, no more solids), I mix 'm together.
For developing, I use the recommended Caffenol method (constant agitation during the first minute, 3 slow shakes, or 10 sec, agitation during the begin of every further minute).

Caffenol + C

One tablespoon of coffee crystals, from the recipe above, is replaced by half a table spoon of ascorbic acid.
The developing time for this mix is about 15min.
Recipe:

• 250ml water
• 2 tsp soda (vessel 1)
• 1/2 tsp ascorbic acid (vessel 1)
• 5 tsp coffee crystals (vessel 2)

Let the soda dissolve first, before adding the ascorbic acid. There will be some action going on, when the sodium carbonate reacts with the ascorbic acid. Wait until the action in vessel 1 is over and the coffee in vessel 2 is dissolved and froth-less, then mix together.
Agitation as above.

Caffenol for Paper

I am using take-away trays, which only need 125ml to cover a 9x12 negative.
The developer recipe I am using is

• 125ml water
• 3 tsp of coffee crystals
• 3/2 tsp of soda
• 3/4 tsp of ascorbic acid

I used this developer for paper negatives with great success. Actually, the very same soup I use some days later for yet another paper negative, although with a lot longer developing time. In fact, using the old developer resulted in some sort of stand development. Luckily, with paper, one can observe the progress under safe-light conditions.