Quality is a tenet of specialty coffee. Packaging – both for green and roasted coffee – plays an integral role in preserving it.
Shipments can take weeks to reach importers and roasters. Recent delays mean even longer transit times, increasing the risk of drops in cup scores and freshness.
Given that specialty coffee is of higher quality and often has more nuanced flavours, it’s essential that packaging is designed to protect these lots and maintain their unique characteristics. At the same time, sustainability is another key concern that coffee companies need to consider.
I spoke to Mark Zhou, founder of MTPak Coffee, to learn more about why the industry needs better-quality packaging for specialty green coffee.
You may also like our article on how specialty coffee can push for a circular economy model.
Green coffee is transported thousands of miles from origin to majority-consuming countries, usually by cargo ship. Given the distance, it often takes several weeks for coffee to reach port.
Shipping delays – which have become more common in recent years – can extend the transit time to over a month. Delays can happen for a number of reasons, including customs checks, geopolitical issues, and adverse weather conditions.
The Red Sea crisis, which began in December 2023, is a case in point. In response to Israeli attacks in Gaza, the Houthis – a political and military organisation in Yemen – attacked commercial shipping vessels travelling through the Red Sea. This narrow inlet, which separates the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea from those of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, is one of the most important trading routes in the world. According to the Guardian, about 12% of global trade passes through the Red Sea every year, including 30% of global container traffic.
To avoid the conflict as much as possible, major shipping companies like Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC halted or rerouted their vessels. The Atlantic Council reported that seven of the ten largest shipping companies suspended operations in the Red Sea in December 2023.
According to its July 2024 market update, Maersk reported that most companies had diverted around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to avoid the conflict, which increased shipping time by a few weeks. These delays majorly disrupted routes from East Asia, affecting key robusta producers like Vietnam and Indonesia.
Additionally, adverse weather in Vietnam has led robusta production to drop by up to 16% – exacerbating already short supplies and pushing prices to record highs.
Logistical issues like the Red Sea crisis are unfortunate realities in the coffee industry. Pre-shipment, transit, and storage delays can not only lead to higher costs but also increase the risk of spoilage and contamination.
Extensive transit or storage periods in damaged or improperly sealed shipping containers, for instance, could expose coffee to moisture, causing it to mould and develop defects.
Mark Zhou is the founder of MTPak Coffee, a sustainable coffee packaging manufacturer.
“With the recent volatility in the coffee market and unpredictable shipping delays, producers and roasters must do everything they can to protect their product,” he says.
While logistical issues can’t be avoided entirely, investing in high-quality, high-barrier green coffee bags is the most effective way for supply chain actors to safeguard their shipments. That way, green coffee will arrive in the same condition as when it left origin – ensuring roasters receive the quality they paid for.
Like roasted coffee, there are many different types of green coffee bags, each designed for a specific purpose. Green coffee packaging can be made from various materials, such as jute (or burlap), high-barrier plastics, and compostable materials. Jute is the most traditional and affordable material; however, it’s more permeable and is therefore less protective against oxygen and moisture.
As more roasters and producers understand the importance of high-quality green coffee bags, demand for packaging exclusively designed for coffee has increased. Although several packaging brands are used in the coffee industry, many of them are also used for other commodities like grains and cocoa, which have different storage requirements compared to coffee.
Many factors can cause coffee to lose its quality and freshness during transit and storage. Green coffee bags must be specifically designed to shield coffee against oxygen, odours, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.
A study carried on several types of green coffee packaging found that hermetically sealed bags can maintain coffee quality and freshness for up to a year. “Hermetic packaging is the best way to preserve freshness,” Mark says. “It regulates moisture content and water activity, so roasters receive the quality they pay for.”
Packaging with multiple layers of high-strength materials, such as polyethylene (PE), provides more protection against oxygen and water and reduces the risk of mould growth.
“We launched PureLock by MTPak Coffee to offer producers and exporters access to affordable and specialised hermetic green coffee storage and packaging solutions,” Mark explains. “The value of specialty coffee lies in its quality and flavour and aromatic characteristics, so bags needs to protect and preserve them.
“We want to provide sustainable packaging that preserves the delicate and complex flavour profiles of specialty coffee and maintain 88+ cup scores,” he adds.
Coffee samples are becoming more useful for both producers and roasters. Producers or exporters typically send roasters small samples (around 1kg) so they can assess whether a specific lot aligns with their quality standards.
Moreover, roasters are increasingly offering samples to wholesale clients. That way, coffee shops and other businesses can sample coffee before committing to a larger order.
With this in mind, the need for high-quality sample packaging is becoming more pressing – otherwise quality and flavour profile can degrade, which means producers and roasters can potentially lose sales.
Mark tells me that MTPak offers PureLock resealable hermetic sample bags, which can hold up to 100g of green coffee, but can also store roasted beans. He adds that PureLock hermetic storage bags are also available in 30kg and 69kg sizes, alongside the heavy-duty 70kg jute bags. Producers and exporters can also use PureLock bags as liners for jute and polypropylene bags.
Collaboration among all supply chain actors is crucial to addressing pressing issues in the industry, including transparency and traceability. To support the growth of the specialty coffee market, establishing long-term, mutually-beneficial working relationships between roasters and producers is especially important.
Communication plays a critical role in developing these partnerships. When producers and roasters share as much information as possible about coffee and consumer feedback, both actors can make significant improvements to their practices.
Mark explains that producers have the option to customise green coffee bags, like PureLock, to include essential information about their coffee, such as origin and processing methods.
“This level of transparency across the supply chain is an effective way to build a strong foundation of trust between producers, exporters, roasters, and finally, the consumer,” he adds.
Reducing waste is at the forefront of sustainability in the coffee industry, especially when it comes to packaging. Coffee production, especially in certain origins like Vietnam, is already falling. If coffee is packaged incorrectly, entire lots can become damaged and go to waste – another major sustainability concern.
In light of this, more and more manufacturers are producing high-quality recyclable, biodegradable, and reusable green coffee bags.
“At MTPak Coffee, we have a strong focus on improving sustainability along the entire coffee supply chain,” Mark says. “Food and beverage packaging has a huge impact on the environment, so we need to actively support all coffee professionals, including producers and exporters.”
He adds that packaging like PureLock is made of multiple layers of recyclable materials, including high-strength PE, and can be reused up to three times.
Given its more complex flavours, green specialty coffee needs better-quality packaging to safeguard freshness, terroir, and unique characteristics.
Focusing on using high-barrier bags can preserve and protect flavour and quality. That way, producers can showcase the best of their coffees and roasters receive the quality they pay for.
Enjoyed this? Then read our article on the evolution of digital printing in coffee packaging.
Perfect Daily Grind
Please note: MTPak Coffee is a sponsor of Perfect Daily Grind.
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Zoe is an expert content marketer based out of the Pacific Northwest. She has a deep-rooted passion for all things coffee with over five years of coffee copywriting and barista experience.
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