Increase the perceived value of your coffee with a satin finish

Hayley Osbourne
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April 4, 2023
An image of a consumer holding a black multilayer coffee bag with a satin finish in an article on how to increase the perceived value of your coffee with a satin finish

Many brands choose to cover their product packaging with a finish in order to help protect its contents and create a particular look.

Packaging finishes often include varnish styles, such as gloss, satin, and matt. Each has a different result, and each adds a unique element to the packaging design.

The design of your coffee bag is one of the most effective ways to capture a customer’s attention. 

Furthermore, the perceived quality of the packaging, and in turn, the product, can entice the customer to purchase.

Discover how a satin finish on your coffee bags may help increase the perceived value of your product. 

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Satin finish: How can it be used on coffee packaging?

When used on packaging, a satin finish falls between a glossy and matte style.

It tends to have a medium shine that is less prevalent than a gloss finish but provides more reflectiveness than a matt finish.

The overall effect is one that is of a softer aesthetic than gloss. This allows other design elements to radiate while maintaining the premium appeal of matte.

A satin finish is soft and smooth to the touch. Additionally, it provides greater resistance to fingerprints and smudges.

To create a satin finish, the varnish is applied to the packaging materials during the final stages of the printing process.

A clear liquid is spread across the entire packaging material or the specific area that is to be accentuated. Then, it is exposed to an ultra-violet (UV) light that dries the varnish instantly.

An image of a roaster holding a black, custom-printed coffee bag with a satin finish in an article on how to increase the perceived value of your coffee with a satin finish

How can a satin finish increase the perceived value of a product?

Premium design techniques on packaging can be an effective way to increase the product’s perceived value among customers.

Notably, two studies conducted in 2021 found premium packaging designs have a strong positive impact on consumer quality perception, and in turn, purchasing decisions.

This implies customers are likely to determine that a product is of higher quality based solely on the packaging.

 Premium packaging design techniques that are often used on coffee packaging include:

Embossing: This refers to a 3D effect often used to make typography stand out on the packaging. However, it can also be used to create designs and highlight illustrations.

Debossing: This technique is the direct opposite of embossing. Often, a design is pushed into the packaging to create a depressed effect.

Hot foil stamping: This technique is often used on the typeface or design elements of coffee bags. Hot stamping creates a foil effect that can be placed on parts of the packaging to accentuate the parts of the design.

Spot UV: This refers to applying a shiny coating to particular areas of a design in order to make it stand out.

Interestingly, a 2021 study found consumers have internalised negative associations with glossy packaging, as the finish is often connected with unhealthy or low-quality foods.

The same study found customers tend to dislike the attention-grabbing nature of overly glossy packaging. Additionally, many tend to believe glossy packaging materials are unsustainable.

More so, the study revealed a matte finish may appear too flat in comparison to a glossy finish.

Therefore, a satin finish may be the best of both worlds: it provides an appealing balance of looking high quality without being gaudy.

As a result, using a satin finish for coffee bags may help increase the potential of further sales for the roastery or coffee shop.

A satin finish on coffee packaging may also appeal to a number of consumers due to its appealing texture.

Humans are genetically responsive to touch. The texture of coffee packaging with a satin finish may help consumers recall your coffee the next time they touch a product with a similar coating.

This forms part of a highly effective marketing strategy, as it can subconsciously help increase brand awareness and mindshare.

A satin finish is highly resistant to fingerprints and smears. This means, with clean storage and display, it is likely the coffee bags will continue to look new. 

With that in mind, this packaging finish is the ideal choice for gift bags, special edition coffee offerings, or seasonal blends.

An image of a black, custom-printed coffee bag with a satin finish in an article on how to increase the perceived value of your coffee with a satin finish

Additional factors to consider

A recent study revealed 70% of consumers consider themselves to be ‘environmentally aware’.

More so, 86% showed a willingness to pay more for a product that has eco-friendly packaging.

Finally, more than half of consumers admit to having chosen a product based solely on its sustainability credentials within the last six months.

It is evident that luxurious and premium branding is key to bringing in sales. However, it is equally important that the branding and packaging materials remain sustainable and eco-friendly.

As sustainable packaging materials have become more common, roasters have the option of combining premium finishes with eco-friendly coffee bags.

These materials include kraft paper, polylactic acid (PLA), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and rice paper.

That said, it is always advisable for roasters to conduct research prior to choosing materials for their packaging.

For instance, toxic volatile organic compounds may enter the air during the initial drying process of a varnish application.

However, roasters can choose to use a soy-based varnish instead of a petroleum-based varnish in order to protect the surrounding environment.

Additionally, roasters should consider whether a satin finish fits with the style of the brand and the aesthetic of the roastery or coffee shop.

MTPak Coffee understands the need to offer high-quality, attractive coffee packaging that is also sustainable. 

Our range of packaging options is made from renewable materials. Our coffee boxes are made using recycled cardboard, while our sustainable coffee bags are made using kraft paper, rice paper, or multilayer LDPE packaging with an environmentally friendly PLA lining.

Our coffee bags and coffee boxes can be customised to reflect your brand’s characteristics, as well as vital information about your product.

MTPak Coffee offers a wide range of customisation techniques, including spot UV with a glossy, satin, or matte finish, embossing and debossing, as well as hot foil stamping in a variety of colours, to name a few.

We also offer our clients a quick turnaround time of 40 hours and 24-hour shipping time in addition to low minimum order quantities (MOQs) for those looking to remain agile while showcasing a commitment to the environment.

For more information on how to add a satin finish to your sustainable coffee packaging, contact our team.

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