Why Does Coffee Packaging Matter?

Coffee packaging is usually a means to an end. A way for you to understand coffee. A way for roasters to preserve quality.

You don’t choose to buy a pack of coffee simply because the design or the colours look good. Why would you when it’s the coffee that matters, right?

For something that gets so very little attention, coffee packaging actually has a sizable market. It is currently valued at $3.29 billion and is estimated to grow further at a rate of 4.66%

As time passes, coffee packaging is slowly moving beyond just its functional purpose and taking on more meaning in the coffee world.

What Makes a Coffee Pack Work?

You know that coffee remains fresh for longer when it’s stored well. 

So coffee packs have an important job to do - to protect the coffee from oxygen, moisture and light. This makes sure your coffee doesn’t lose its aroma and flavour quickly. Coffee packs are also meant to let your coffee breathe.

Let’s take a look at the different aspects of the bag and how they work.

Right after being roasted, coffee releases gases. There’s a little round valve on the coffee pack that acts as a one-way door. It lets the gases flow out of the pack without letting air get in. 

As much as you’d love to see the freshly roasted whole beans or the coffee grounds, coffee packs should not be transparent. They are opaque and of a solid colour so that the coffee is not exposed to light. 

Finally, many people prefer to store their coffee in the pack it comes in. Resealable bags ensure that your coffee remains tightly secured in between brews and is not exposed to air for a long duration.

Not All Coffee Bags Look the Same

You might have noticed when you were walking past the coffee aisle in a supermarket or browsing online that coffee packs come in various sizes and shapes.

They are not just designed to look good. The structure of the pack serves a purpose.

• Single-Use Sachets - Coffee premixes, drip coffee bags, and single-use instant sachets all come in a thin paper or plastic casing. They are easy to store and also narrow enough to carry with you. Since convenience is the goal here, these coffee packs are manufactured for easy access and disposal.

• Stand-Up Pouches - These contain a larger serving of coffee and are typically used by small-batch roasters. They can be placed upright on surfaces like kitchen counters, shelves & cupboards. Such pouches usually come with valves and resealable closures. Stand-up pouches are great for displaying coffee.

• Side-Gusset Bags - The more traditional and popular option, side-gusset bags are also referred to as side-fold bags. The added advantage these bags have is that the sides expand to hold more coffee. They can have tin ties, zippers and degassing valves. These bags are also used by wholesale coffee producers.

• Flat-Bottom Bags - These packs have a broader base and a defined silhouette that gives them a premium look. There’s lots of room for branding, which makes these a great choice for coffee brands that want to distinguish themselves. They have more stability and can be stacked together.

There’s no one coffee pack that is the best. Each has different features and benefits.

What it’s Made of Matters Too

The common materials used to make coffee packaging are paper, plastic, and aluminium foil.

Coffee bags are usually made up of a combination of these materials since they work together to keep the coffee secure. 

While paper in itself isn’t enough to keep the coffee fresh, it gives the pack a natural look and is easy to print on. Recyclable or biodegradable paper also adds to the sustainability and helps keep packaging cost-effective.

Aluminium foil is the material that is typically used for the inner barrier layer as it is an excellent way to keep coffee away from light and air.

The Next Time You Pick Up a Coffee Bag…

You’ll know enough about it to skim through a quick checklist in your mind. 

• Does it have a valve? 

• Can the bag be resealed? 

• Does the packaging feel sturdy?

• Is it easy enough to find important information on the label like roast date, flavour profile, etc.?