The importance of coffee packaging for preserving freshness

Key takeaways

• Multi-layer, high-barrier bags (often made from plastic or foil) provide the most reliable protection to preserve roasted coffee’s freshness.
• Oxidation is a particular concern, as it can dull the coffee’s flavour notes and complexity.
• One-way degassing valves are a key part of the importance of coffee packaging, as they preserve your coffee’s shelf life by allowing carbon dioxide to escape the bag.
• Resealable features like zippers are also important for retaining the coffee’s freshness once the bag is opened.

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For specialty coffee roasters, freshness and quality are two of the most important factors. After all, they dedicate time and money to source exceptional green coffee, refine roast profiles, and market it to consumers. However, that work can be undone if the coffee isn’t packed properly after roasting. The importance of coffee packaging cannot be understated as the final safeguard in the value chain, and its role in preserving freshness cannot be overstated.

As soon as coffee is roasted, the volatile aromatic compounds developed during roasting begin to escape and degrade. To preserve these compounds, which contribute to the coffee’s unique sensory profile, you need high-barrier, protective packaging. Otherwise, the coffee may be dull or underwhelming when it arrives with consumers. The importance of coffee packaging is just as vital for preserving your roastery’s reputation as it is for coffee quality.

To explore the importance of coffee packaging in this regard, I spoke to Pack Katisomsakul. He is the founder of Newbery Street, a roastery based in Boston, USA. Read on for his insight into how packaging protects coffee, which materials work best, and how long coffee can remain fresh when packaged well.

The importance of coffee packaging for keeping coffee fresh

Your packaging needs to keep coffee fresh because, as soon as it is roasted, coffee becomes susceptible to flavour and aromatic degradation.

Roasted coffee is especially susceptible to oxidation. Oxygen reacts with and neutralises the oils and aromatic compounds that are responsible for sweetness, clarity, and complexity in the cup. Factors like light and heat accelerate the rate of this reaction, meaning your coffee will have dull flavour notes even sooner. Therefore, the importance of coffee packaging extends to protection, or it will lose its defining characteristics far sooner than expected.

Pack notes that when packaging fails to preserve freshness, the impact is immediate and noticeable. “When freshness falls short, the coffee quickly loses aroma, clarity, and sweetness,” he says. “This impacts the customer experience and, over time, a roaster’s reputation.” Consumers may perceive this as inconsistent or even low-quality coffee, which can impact their trust in your roastery.

Even once your coffee is packaged, the degassing process adds another layer of complexity. This is where the coffee expels carbon dioxide after roasting, a process that can last up to two weeks. You need to account for this in your packaging, or the carbon dioxide can cause uneven extraction when consumers brew the coffee.

“As roasters, we carefully manage degassing so the coffee opens up at the right moment,” Pack explains. This means identifying how long the coffee needs to degas before packaging, and including features like one-way degassing valves. They allow carbon dioxide to escape from coffee bags during shipping and storage without allowing oxygen in, preserving its freshness. 

Evidently, the importance of coffee packaging cannot be understated when it comes to preserving freshness. Factors like visual design, sustainability credentials, and shelf presence all matter – but none can compensate for coffee that tastes flat or dull.

“At Newbery Street, freshness is essential because it directly affects how long our coffee can stay enjoyable in the customer’s hands after purchase,” he says. In other words, packaging determines not just how fresh the coffee is when it arrives, but how it retains its flavour over time.

This is why freshness preservation often takes priority over other packaging considerations. “Good packaging allows us to control these processes while preserving the flavour and character we worked hard to create,” he adds.

Learn more about the importance of coffee packaging in this video.

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Which materials are best at keeping coffee fresh?

Not all packaging materials offer the same level of protection, and the differences can have a significant impact on freshness. Popular choices include plastics like low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is waterproof, light-resistant, and provides high-barrier protection against physical damage.

Regardless of the materials you choose, the importance of coffee packaging is to limit oxidation, prevent light and moisture interaction, and manage degassing effectively. Pack shares that Newbery Street relies on plastic-based bags with one-way degassing valves.

“We strongly believe in bag format packaging with one-way degassing valves,” he says. “They’re simple, effective, and easy for customers to understand, and the valve plays a major role in maintaining freshness.”

High-barrier coffee bags are typically made from multiple layers of material, including paper, plastic, and foil. Inner layers are often made from aluminium foil and provide an oxygen and moisture barrier. The outer layers, normally consisting of LDPE or kraft paper, add physical durability and protect against light. Together, these layers create a stable environment that slows oxidation and preserves flavour for longer.

Alternative formats, such as boxes or rigid containers, offer aesthetic appeal and a premium feel – but often they complement, rather than replace, bags.

“While boxes or alternative formats can be visually beautiful, they often require more labour, time, and coordination,” Pack says. “As a small team, efficiency matters to us. We’ve found that high-quality bags with valves remain the most effective and realistic solution for protecting the coffee.”

Therefore, from a practical standpoint, multi-layer plastic bags, or paper bags with a waterproof inner lining-barrier, are the most reliable choice for most roasters. They are inexpensive to source, easy for consumers to use, and protect coffee effectively during storage and transport.

How long does coffee remain fresh in high-quality packaging?

Roasted coffee in high-quality packaging can remain fresh from several weeks to a few months, provided you include resealable features like zippers.

For Pack, the period of freshness is dictated just as much by the roast level of each coffee as the packaging used. “Roast level is one of the most important factors,” he says. “Darker roasts release more gas, so valve bags are necessary to safely manage degassing. Without a valve, pressure can build up and compromise the packaging.” 

For other roast profiles, the Newbery Street team takes a slightly different approach to packaging. “Lighter roasts degas more slowly,” he explains. “For these coffees, we sometimes tape the valve to slow gas release and limit oxygen exchange, which helps preserve freshness for a longer period.”

That said, grind size also plays an important role in keeping coffee fresher for longer. In this regard, the importance of coffee packaging is one vital part of the equation, but not the only contributing factor.

“Whole bean coffee will always stay fresh longer than ground coffee,” he says. This is because grinding significantly increases the coffee’s surface area – and as such, its potential exposure to oxygen. “But thoughtful packaging choices help both roasters and consumers enjoy coffee closer to its peak.”

A longer freshness window benefits roasters by reducing waste, improving consistency across sales channels, and allowing the coffee to travel further without compromising quality. By choosing high-barrier, protective materials coupled with degassing valves and resealable closures, you can preserve your coffee’s freshness for much longer.

At MTPak Coffee, we understand the importance of coffee packaging and support roasters with packaging designed to preserve freshness at every stage of the coffee’s journey. Our high-barrier materials and one-way degassing valves protect coffee from oxygen, light, and moisture while meeting roasters’ practical needs.

Contact the MTPak Coffee team to learn more about the importance of coffee packaging and our high-quality packaging to preserve your coffee’s freshness.

FAQ

What is the importance of coffee packaging for freshness?

Roasted coffee starts to lose its flavour compounds immediately after roasting. The importance of coffee packaging is to create a barrier against oxygen, light, heat, and moisture to prevent these factors from causing degradation.

What happens if coffee isn’t packaged properly?

Without high-quality packaging, the coffee’s flavour notes will dull, it will lose its aroma, and consumers may be disappointed with the final cup.

Which materials keep coffee fresh the longest?

Using high-barrier materials, such as LDPE, alongside aluminium foil inner linings is the best way to preserve the coffee’s shelf life.