Packaging for coffee

The packaging material must be odorless and impervious to steam and fats. Complex materials such as plastic, polyethylene, textile or aluminum-cellulose complex are used for this purpose.

Since vacuum packaging is expensive, it is used only for high-quality coffees. Vacuum packaging meets two different objectives: air extraction with lowering of oxygen level, and use of flexible materials. The technique, which can also be used with rigid materials such as tinplate, is commonly applied to flexible materials to make the coffee ‘bricks’ sold in supermarkets.

Ground coffee packaged in flexible pouches can also be vacuumised or gas flushed. The application of a vacuum produces hard blocks, which have the disadvantage that rough edges of coffee particles may cause pinholes in the packs.

Inert gas flushing to produce pillow packs therefore is a useful alternative. Gas flushing is carried out during the vertical form-fill-seal packaging operation.

If the product is packaged in metal cans, a high level of vacuum is applied to give about 1% residual O2 level within the sealed pack.

The expiration date is written on the package because roasted coffee rapidly losses its savor and aroma.
Packaging for coffee