How Packaging Material Impacts Green Coffee Quality Over Time  

As a green coffee enthusiast, producer, or buyer, you want your pure green coffee premium quality bean to retain its quality as long as possible before it is roasted and transformed into the finished cup of coffee that your customers enjoy. Green coffee beans are porous and take in the odors around them, affecting their taste and aroma. Sensorial degradation during storage can represent a significant loss of value for producers, traders, and roasters alike.   

While a certain degree of sensory degradation may be unavoidable, there are several steps that can be taken to reduce the rate at which your green coffee degrades over time. These steps include ensuring the proper storage temperature and avoiding excessive moisture levels in your green bean packaging. But other factors, like the coffee bag material that your green coffee is packaged in, also have a large impact on the beans’ shelf life and quality.  

Having the right green coffee bean storage & packaging is crucial for coffee roasters. It can help them manage inventory easily and reduce the risk of quality degrading due to improper storage. This article will discuss the different options available to specialty coffee buyers and the impact each has on green coffee quality over time, including jute, plastic, burlap, and hermetic or vacuum bags. 

Read along to learn about different packaging options and how it impacts green coffee quality over time:  

The Use of Jute Coffee Bags  

Coffee producers have used jute bags since the 19th century, although big plastic bags and container liners have recently become more popular. It is the most traditional and eco-friendly way used in green coffee storage. Jute bags are durable and affordable and can carry up to 150 lbs of beans. However, they don’t provide protection against oxygen and moisture – two elements that contribute to poorer coffee quality with defects like Mold.  

The biggest problem with jute coffee bags is that they can allow moisture to enter and escape. This is a real issue because the coffee will absorb moisture from the air, which can quickly degrade its flavor and aromas. During shipment, this can be quite disastrous.   

The Use of Burlap Coffee Bags  

Green coffee beans can be stored for up to 12 months without losing critical flavor and aroma properties as long as they are kept in a cool dark place that is stable with a consistent temperature and humidity. Still, they are permeable to moisture, which is a serious issue for unroasted beans. Burlap sacks and similar plant-fiber woven bags are common storage solutions for bulk coffee and provide some protection against pests.  

Plastic liners for burlap sack of coffee beans can offer some improvement in moisture content, but they are still not a great solution. It’s not safe to rely on these types of packaging as it’s important to use the right coffee packaging solution to maintain a sustainable supply chain.   

The Use of Paper Coffee Bags  

Jute or burlap bags are traditional choices for coffee packaging. They’re biodegradable, which is great for the environment. But they don’t protect against moisture and oxygen — two elements associated with poorer coffee quality over time. While jute coffee bags and burlap bags are natural and come easily, paper bags are the most common choice for retailers, cafes, and other coffee establishments.  

Paying attention to coffee bag material can significantly maintain the bean quality. This is due to the fact that paper is cheap, easy to manufacture, and relatively durable. It also provides an opportunity for businesses to promote themselves by using a logo or design on the bag.  

The Use of Plastic Coffee Bags  

A certain amount of degradation in green coffee storage over a long period is inevitable, but the material used to pack them can have an impact on this. Plastic storage options range from traditional coffee bags, and container liners are more resistant to gases and moisture but are still permeable and susceptible to condensation and other factors. Plastic bags are a better option than jute and burlap.  

The long journey from crop to cup makes it a priority for producers to protect green coffee against environmental factors such as heat, air, humidity, and pests. The best way to ensure that your coffee is protected from these issues is with hermetic packaging solutions.  

The Use of Hermatic Coffee Bags  

When it comes to storing green coffee, the quality of the product can be drastically affected by the way in which they are packed. Hermetic bags are an excellent option for green coffee beans. They offer multiple layers of protection, protecting the coffee from air, moisture, heat, light, and pests. They are a bit more expensive than paper or jute bags, but they are worth the investment for coffee producers and roasters due to their high return on investment.  

One of the biggest concerns of coffee producers or roasters is to have an efficient and effective storing and packaging solution for their pure green coffee premium quality bean. And the ideal packaging solution for delicate coffee beans is hermetic coffee bags. 

Coffee Packaging and Environment  

As the demand for specialty coffee continues to increase, many companies are addressing social and environmental issues in their supply chains. This can mean developing codes of conduct that their suppliers must adhere to. Regardless of the approach you take in your supply chain, it’s important to understand the impacts that your decisions have on the people and the planet around you.   

To minimize the environmental effects of green coffee storage and packaging, consider using recyclable and biodegradable materials in your packaging. This will not only help your packaging be more environmentally friendly, but it will also improve your coffee’s recyclability, reducing its overall carbon imprint. Additionally, opt for flexible and lightweight materials that maximize the space in your containers. 

Benefits Of Using Hermetic Bags for Green Coffee Bean Storage  

When you’re a roaster or farmer, preserving the quality of your green coffee beans is essential. A large part of this is ensuring that your green coffee beans are protected from moisture, air, and pests. An airtight bag is one of the best ways to do so.  

The primary benefit of hermetic bags for green coffee bean storage is that they protect the beans from moisture. This helps ensure that the green beans do not spoil during storage and transportation, which can cause a significant loss of flavor and aroma. Additionally, hermetic bags can help prevent the growth of Mold and other contaminants that might affect the taste and quality of green coffee beans.  

Another major benefit of hermetic bags for green coffee beans is that they are odor-resistant. This is important because a strong smell can significantly impact the taste and aroma of the coffee beans when they are roasted. Also, hermetic bags can help prevent the development of bugs in green coffee beans during storage and transportation.  

Lastly, hermetic bags for green coffee bean storage can help to protect the beans from direct sunlight. This is important because too much light can dry out the beans, causing them to lose flavor and aroma. This can occur even if the beans are stored at room temperature. If you’re a roaster, the best way to preserve the quality of your green coffee beans is to use hermetic bags for green coffee bean storage. 

Key Takeaways  

The quality of a cup of coffee is directly linked to the quality of the green beans, and they must be carefully stored to retain their essential aromas and flavors. The best way to achieve this is through using a great quality coffee bag material such as hermetic bags.  

Reach out to a leading hermetic bag company that offers some of the best hermetic packaging solutions for green coffee storage.