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Printing With Coffee

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Coffee for Developing Photos

 

 Cafegrafia, or Coffee Art, the unique process of developing photographs using coffee as a pigment was invented by Saul Bolanos. His photos are of Costa Rican Coffee processing from a century ago.

In this lens you will also learn how coffee is now produced at Cafe Britt in Costa Rica. So... pour yourself a cup of Cafe Britt Coffee. Check out the Cafegrafia or Coffee Art that Saul Bolanos produces. Imagine Saul Bolano's Coffee Art on your walls with a copy of Higher Grounds on the coffee table and enjoy a bit of Costa Rica.

 

Cafegrafia or Coffee Art 

What is Cafegrafia or Coffee Art?

Coffee ArtSaul Bolaños is an artist from Costa Rica who has invented a new way of printing photographs. He calls it Cafegrafia or Coffee Art. In the late 1980's he discovered a way of using coffee as the pigment. The results give a rich brown patina to the photos evoking romantic images of times gone by.

Saul Bolanos often chooses antique photographs depicting Coffee growing and processing as it was practiced about a century ago in his native Costa Rica. The coffee gives the photos a sepia tone evocative of the photo processing of that era.

Cafegrafia 

Saul Bolaños invented the Coffee Art Process

Coffee Art
Cafegrafia© was invented by Saul Bolaños in Costa Rica in about 1990. This new Coffee Art Form was the result of research carried out over a long period of time in a small photochemical lab. Saul Bolaños produced more than 100 different subjects and sold about 30,000 pieces until he began the production of Coffee Filter Art. Hundreds of Coffee Print Photos were sold to tourists as souvenirs at La Plaza de la Cultura, in the heart of downtown San José, Costa Rica, where the Saul had a permanent art show from 1993 until about 1995. This was Coffee Art that the world had never seen before.

These rare Coffee Images are no longer being produced but some works may be still available. I have been trying to get a hold of Mr. Bolanos to see about the possibility of selling his work through this site. Please leave a comment below if you are interested.

How did I discover this beautiful Coffee Art Photography? 

I Hang my Coffee on the Wall

/I have lived in and visited Costa Rica many times. It is a place where you can still ocasionally find true artists inventing and producing incredible works of art. Saul Bolaños is one of those artists.

While strolling through the Plaza de la Cultura around 1990 I met Saul at his booth. His technique is so fascinating that I bought a couple of his prints and had them framed. Over the years when people come to visit they always notice and comment on them.

Cafegrafia has more information about Saul and his work.

Cafegrafia® is permanent 

Saul's Coffee Art won't fade, even in direct sunlight.

Coffee ArtSaul Bolanos develops these images without a darkroom! Having previously treated the surface for imaging, Saul simply strokes the surface with coffee, and the subject appears. The beautiful golden tone images are produced on other mediums such as paper, wood, glass and ceramic.

Cafegrafia® is permanent. After two years of direct exposure to sunlight, the images show no evidence of fading. I have had his photos on my walls for about nearly 20 years and they still show no sign of fading.

Grab a Cup of Coffee and Read On... 

Costa Ricans see coffee as vital to their existence. Just like in the US they drink it to get going in the morning. Instead of Teatime, there is Coffee Hour and coffee is always the first thing offered to guests. Many Ticos (Costa Ricans) seem to drink nothing but coffee.

CoffeeDrink Coffee

Cafe 1820 is a staple of Costa Rican households.

La Minita plantation is famous for its fanatic reputation for quality. This classically complete coffee is known for its rich body, excellent acidity as well as it's nutty and sweet undertones.

Deep and intense, Cafe Britt Organic fills the senses with earthy pleasure.

Doka Coffee makes a wonderfully balanced cup with a relatively high acidity and a medium body. You'll notice a hint of sweet tanginess.

Now you can choose from six green coffee bean varieties from U-Roast-Em.

COFFEE IMAGE Filter Paper: 

With Coffee Art you can have your art and drink it too!

Coffee Image
Coffee Images can also be produced on coffee filter paper. They have the Aroma, Color and Taste of Pure Coffee and are 90% Costa Rican Coffee with 10% humidity. There are no other ingredients. Each Coffee Filter Image is a work of art that comes mounted and suitable for framing.

Or, just put it in your coffee maker and drink your coffee art.

Saul sells his Coffee Art to Coffee Producers for labeling their best Coffee 

Coffee Art
Custom coffee Art on the front of packages of Coffee, is an effective way to to make your product stand out and make the others look "ordinary".

Indestructible Art 

Coffee Art could be the answer to preserving your family photos in case of a hurricane or house fire.

Coffee Art
By printing his photographs on ceramic with his unique coffee pigments Saul Bolanos has made his works both water and fireproof. Since they are indestructible by the weather there is no better way to create Fine Photo Realistic Portraits that will last thousands of years.

Coffee 

If you can't find Saul's Coffee Art, at least you can drink the coffee he drinks.

Coffee Growing

100% Arabica Green Coffee Beans from Costa Rica are grown in volcanic soil which produces a very bright and very clean cup of coffee and can take the heat of an Italian or French roast.

Coffee Art Question 

Would you rather mount your Coffee Art Filter on the wall or Smell the Aroma and then use it for a decadent Coffee Art Party?

Coffee Art

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More Coffee Art by Saul Bolanos 

Coffee ArtCoffee Art

Not only is the process interesting but also the subjects which often show coffee processing from the beginning of the last century.

Coffee ArtCoffee Art

Coffee Picking 

Coffee Picking

Learn How Coffee is Processed in Costa Rica 

Coffee wetmilling process

Cafe Britt teaches you about the gourmet coffee wetmilling process in Costa Rica. Cafe Britt te enseña el proceso del beneficiado de café gourmet en Costa Rica.

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Organic Coffee Growing Helps the Birds 

Organic Coffee Farm

Visiting an organic, bird-friendly, shade-tree coffee farming in San Ramon, Costa Rica.

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Drinking Coffee Around the World 

People drink coffee differently all around the world. Which is your favorite way to drink Coffee?

Irish CoffeeCafe con LecheEspresso
Irish Coffee_____________Spanish Cafe Con Leche________Italian Espresso


Italian Espresso

Espresso or caff%uFFFDspresso is a concentrated co more...5 points

German Milchkaffee

Literally milk coffee. A very milky latte, served more...3 points

Italian Latte Macchiatto

Hot frothed milk with a shot of espresso. It is se more...3 points

Irish Coffee

Irish coffee (Irish: Caife Gaelach) is a cocktail more...2 points

Spanish Cafe Con Leche

Cafe Con leche is a coffee-based beverage, which t more...2 points

Greek Coffee

Greek coffee is a strong brew, served with foam on more...2 points

Spanish Cortado Coffee

http://www.squidoo.com/cortado1 point

Turkish Coffee

What is Turkish Coffee? Turkish coffee is a very f more...1 point

Cuban Coffee (Cafe Cubano)

What tequila is to liquor, cafe cubano is to the w more...1 point

Madras Filter Coffee

Also known as South Indian Coffee or Kappi. It's m more...1 point

Books about Coffee and Coffee Art 

Saul Bolanos and his Coffee Art Photography process is mentioned in the book Higher Grounds.

Coffee and a Book

Drink a cup of coffee, hang some coffee on your wall and pick up a great book about coffee to read. What could be a better way to spend the morning?

Coffee on Every Wall 

Can there be enough coffee in your house?

I just tried painting with coffee. It makes an interesting medium.

How do you feel about Coffee Art?

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I want to drink it with my coffee.

stargazer00 says:

People are just so inventive. Creativity always finds an outlet!

darr11 says:

This is the first time I've heard of this art form. Thanks so much for introducing me to it!!!

LisaKnowsTheSecret says:

I can't paint but I adore coffee and probably drink far more than is good for me. These pictures are fantastic.

themagickbox says:

I would love to see coffee-made designs on notebook/journal covers, especially those that use recycled or brownpaper covers. :) I know that if a journal like that existed, I'd definitely buy it!

Rico2008 says:

Wow! I've never see this type of art before. Fantastic! I need to learn more about it.

Thanks for sharing!

I need to fly to Costa Rica today.

misspatricia says:

Looks great! Wonderful Lens! I have to try painting with coffee sometime :-)

SherryHolderHunt says:

Love It, I love coffee! Love to drink it and I especially like to see how creative the artists have been using it as a medium. The pictures and paintings from coffee are beautiful. Thanks for this lens, I learned a lot!

FoxMusic says:

this is great!! I will have to give it a try, thanks!!

Luvi says:

Fantastic lens, it's definitely something I have to try. It's unique and worth indulging some of my time in.

Lorie says:

It's very cool art- I'm going to try it!

 
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Fly to Costa Rica Coffee 

Coffee on the Wall or in your Cup

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Bags to Tote your Coffee Art and a Journal to Keep your Coffee Art Thoughts 

It is difficult to find Saul Bolanos' Coffee Art outside of Costa Rica. The following items are, however, reminiscent of his work.

Costa Rican Coffee 

Drink the Best! Drink Costa Rican Coffee!

Costa Rican Coffee PickersCosta Rican Coffee Cart

When I first visited Costa Rica in 1979 coffee pickers still used oxcarts to transport the coffee beans to the collection center.

You may not be able to buy Saul Bolanos' art but you can drink the coffee he drinks. Buy some Costa Rican coffee today.

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Coffee 

Coffee Art

Pour yourself a cup of coffee or espresso and indulge in the richness of your environment. In the picture above you see the way Costa Ricans typically made coffee until about 20 years ago.

The stand is made of wood and the bag is made of white cotton felt with a wire around the top to hold it open.

To use it you put coffee in the bag, put a cup under the bag and pour hot water into the bag.

What are people saying about Coffee? 

Coffee Cup ArtWhen your coffee cup breaks your can tile it .
He'll always have Luxembourg
... the lead singer of Cancer Bats, is a different species of punk-rock star: The 28-year-old vegetarian coffee aficionado is more into record shops and art ...

Coffee Art on eBay 

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Cafegrafia in the News! 

Coffee Art
Costa Rica's Coffee Artist
Photographer Saul Bolanos uses coffee as pigment for his photographs (from Tea & Coffee Trade Journal)
Squidoo Lens of the Day: Printing with Coffee
Printing with Coffee
Java junkies and art aficionados, this one's for you.
Evelyn Saenz's "Printing With Coffee" lens is a fascinating look at Saul Bolaños' Coffee Art -- the unique process of developing photographs using coffee instead of other chemicals. This results in nostalgic, warm, orga

My Favorite Coffee Lenses 

There are lots of lenses out there about coffee but these are the best.

Tell me about the Coffee Art that you own or would like to own. 

Congratulations!!!

Toasting with CoffeeLens of the Day!

Thank you for helping make this lens in the Top 100 Squidoo Lenses and Lens of the Day.

EasyW

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Cool lens!

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Wow, very impressed, Evelyn!!
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Good stuff Evelyn ;-)
Pete
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