Coffee is considered as the drink of the Gods. Most adults, nearly 80% in western societies, consume enough coffee to leave an effect on their brain. As people get adjusted to new post-COVID routines, coffee consumption has also reached an all-time high in the last two decades. With increased consumption also comes increased competition in the market. And hence, packaging becomes a crucial part of selling coffee. 

Your coffee packaging should be eye-catching, convey an engaging brand story, and maintain the high quality of your coffee. Both form and function are crucial here. In this article, we'll examine the components of effective coffee packaging, offer design advice, and discuss some emerging trends in the industry.

Why does coffee need protective packaging?

Coffee requires protection against exposure to oxygen, moisture, and sunlight to maintain its flavor and aroma. 

To ship and store roasted coffee beans or ground coffee, sachets or folded-end bags are the most typical shapes and forms of coffee packaging. The primary function of coffee packaging is to shield the product from light, moisture, and oxygen while maintaining flavor and aroma. It also serves as a brand identity element for the coffee brand. Consumers are frequently offered larger quantities in the form of reusable glass jars. Although the elegantly straightforward brown craft paper packaging appears to be the minimalists' preferred option, we are witnessing a sharp increase in creative and inspiring designs. The variety is greater than ever when it comes to packaging coffee, ranging from opulent accents like gold foil printing to bold patterns.

The significance of the packaging's visual appeal and design has increased significantly as the market has become oversaturated with options.

What makes good packaging for coffee?

Before you begin working on your coffee packaging design, there are a few things to think about. Consider how the packaging will safeguard your coffee and whether you'll use environmentally friendly materials in your packaging. You won't be able to select the ideal coffee packaging design until after you have decided on the form of packaging. You can use 3D packaging design software to see how your design looks on such types of packaging.

Counter Culture coffee beans packaged in flexible packaging with degassing valves on top. Source: https://www.foodandwine.com/news/npr-coffee-club-counter-culture

• Side-fold pouches: Side-fold pouches are the most used packaging for coffee. They are easy to print and are easy to store when empty. These packaging can also be equipped with degassing valves that let out the carbon dioxide produced from coffee while keeping out the oxygen. 
• Quad-seal bags: These bags are sealed on all four sides, giving them a more rectangular look. You get two additional side panels for your design with such bags.
• Flat-bottom bags: These low-cost resealable bags are great for storing coffee even after opening the bag. They also stand on their own, ensuring easier storage. 
• Stand-up pouches: These are ideal for smaller quantities or sample packs. They have less room for design but are perfect for selling only a few servings for customers to try out your product. 
• Jars: Tin cans or glass jars are also popular forms of coffee packaging. They are cheap, reusable, and resealable. Moreover, they are most sustainable when compared to flexible packaging options. 

What information should you include on your packaging? 

Besides the design and the basic information for regulatory compliance, a coffee connoisseur would want to know more about the roast and flavor profile of the coffee, how the coffee was sourced, and the entire brand story, particularly if you are a new player in the coffee business. 

The type of coffee

Nowadays, even instant coffee drinkers want to know about the type of roast and flavor of the coffee. Indicate to customers whether they are purchasing a light, medium, or dark roast. You might even go a step further and provide details on your coffee's flavor profile, tasting notes, and the suggested brewing method. You can decide how much information to put on your packaging.

The source of your coffee

Great coffee beans come from many different nations, and most coffee drinkers probably have a favorite coffee producer. Because of this, listing the location of your coffee beans on the packaging is a nice touch. You could even go into specifics about your coffee sourcing practices, and then you can elaborate on it while talking about your brand story. 

The story behind your brand

What makes your coffee brand different from the others? How do you source your coffee? How do you connect with the farmers? What sustainable practices does your brand follow? This is a chance to engage with your audience and genuinely tell your story. This is your vision and mission, and therefore, you need to put it formally. 

How to create awesome coffee packaging designs?

Designing coffee packaging is just like designing any other form of packaging. Once you have selected the form of packaging, you can focus on the design. Here is a brief primer on how you can make your coffee packaging stand out. 

Maintain consistency

Keep your coffee packaging design consistent with your overall branding. This is crucial particularly if it is a part of your larger brand, such as if you own a coffee shop. To communicate your brand to customers who might not otherwise visit your café, consider your coffee packaging as an extension of your coffee shop.

Make use of color psychology

When customers shop, they are overwhelmed with a ton of information. But they have little time to learn about the product. They experience emotional responses when they see certain colors, so the colors you use in your packaging may affect their purchasing decisions.

Reds, as a rule, are connected to passion and elicit a sense of urgency. Yellows are uplifting but can also increase anxiety, so they should be used with caution. Gold is said to represent luxury and a high-end, artisan feel, while blues are known to foster a sense of trust. You can combine them and make use of color theory to come up with a palette. Using an online color picker, you can ensure that the design is using a consistent color palette. Moreover, you can look at the products of competitors to get more coffee packaging ideas.

Make something unique

While sticking to the basic principles of design, you still have a lot of leeway when it comes to making a design. Coffee packaging designs predominantly use browns, golden shades, and a lot of warm colors. The colors are often analogous to the color of coffee beans. However, if you truly understand your product and know who you are marketing to, you do not need to stick to these stereotypes. 

Ideas for packaging for coffee

Now that you know all about making the very best coffee bag design, here are some ideas that you can look at for more inspiration. 

Tell a story

Everyone loves a good story, but not everyone has the time to read one. What you can do is create a design that tells a story through the visual elements. You can tell the story through the logo of your brand, or the entire packaging design. You can even make separate designs to tell rich lore through multiple coffee bag designs, sleeves, or other supplementary material.

You can use the design to portray a culture that revolves around the consumption of coffee, or you can tell stories of how you source your coffee from the farmers. This will allow consumers to connect with your brand more intimately. 

Keep it simple

Simple and modest designs often communicate a lot of value. It allows your product to speak for itself. New products often use minimal packaging designs to ensure that the product does the talking and not the shiny packaging. However, the packaging design itself needs to be clever enough to stand out on the shelves. Here are a couple of examples of coffee packaging bags with minimal designs. 

Use striking designs

Typography-led visuals with large fonts often capture the attention of consumers much faster. With bold typography and a simple color scheme, you can make your design stand out. That does not mean your design cannot be minimal and sophisticated. However, it also gives you the option to make a visually rich design. 

Add a splash

Coffee packaging does not have to be boring. It does not have to be monochromatic. If you think adding a splash of colors will tell your brand story better, then go with it. Keep in mind the basics of color theory and put in all the colors you wish.  

What’s next?

Coffee consumption is at an all-time high, making this the perfect time for launching a new brand, or a brand refresh. Get in touch with us to know more about developing packaging designs with the state-of-the-art artwork management platform.