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How to Develop Film With Instant Coffee

It sounds like the stuff of urban legends and made-up myths: you can use your simple can of instant coffee to develop your own pictures. As strange as it might be, this myth is no fairy tale, but a tried-and-true fact. Instant coffee can actually be used as one of the primary ingredients in producing your own pictures. Anyone who is a zombie in the morning before his cup of joe already knows the magical powers of this heavenly drink, but coffee just got a little more interesting.

Things You'll Need

Exposed roll of film
Can opener
Scissors
Film development tank and reel
12 oz. room temperature water
5 oz. instant coffee, caffeinated only
2 bowls
Spoon
1/2 tsp. vitamin C powder
3 1/2 tsp. washing soda
Water
Prepared photo fixer
Dishwashing detergent
Clothespins
Clothesline

Instructions

- 1
  Go into a completely dark room that doesn't allow any light to enter. Even a small crack under your doorway can ruin your photos, so make sure it's truly dark.
- 2
  Pop off the bottom of the film canister with a can opener.
- 3
  Cut the slanted end off the roll, about 1 1/2 inches, until you reach the part that has straight edges.
- 4
  Feed the roll of film into the reel until the entire roll is inside.
- 5
  Place the reel into the tank and cover the top. Once the top is closed, the film is protected from light, so you can turn the lights on in your room.
- 6
  Add 5 oz. of instant coffee to 6 oz. of room temperature water. Make sure the coffee is not decaf because it won't do the job.
- 7
  Add 1/2 tsp. of vitamin C powder to the coffee mixture, and mix to combine.
- 8
  Pour 6 oz. of water into a different bowl, and stir in 3 1/2 tsp. of washing soda.
- 9
  Pour this combined mixture into the film canister, and seal it closed.
- 10
  Gently turn the canister upside down and around continuously for the first minute. Then place it down on the table, and set a timer for another eight minutes. Turn it upside down and around three times every minute for the remaining eight minutes.
- 11
  Pour out the developer, and rinse the inside of the canister with water.
- 12
  Pour in prepared photo fixer, and cover the canister again. Gently turn the canister upside down three times each minute for five minutes, then pour out the fixer.
- 13
  Rinse the canister again with water. Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent to the water to clean the film, then rinse it out.
- 14
  Remove the film, and hang it to dry on a line using clothespins.

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