Instant coffee popularity keeps growing as more people embrace quick and easy coffee options. But have you ever thought about how important packaging is?
Instant coffee packaging does more than hold the product. It keeps the coffee fresh, protects it from moisture and air, and ensures the flavor stays intact. It’s also designed for convenience, like single-serve sachets or resealable pouches that make life easier.
In this article, I’ll explain why instant coffee packaging matters and how it balances quality, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you’re a coffee lover or a business owner, you’ll find useful insights here.
Instant coffee, also known as soluble coffee or coffee powder, is a drink that is consumed from coffee beans.
Adding hot water or milk to the instant coffee and stirring helps people make hot coffee quickly. In contrast to making regular coffee, instant coffee is quicker, cheaper, and easier to make.
Coffee arabica varieties and Coffee robusta varieties are the most widely consumed types of coffee beans in the world.
In terms of growing a robusta, it has a short growing cycle, high yields, and a long picking season. As such, it is more affordable.
Consequently, people often use arabica coffee for superior quality. people tend to use it more than robusta coffee for instants.
Whereas coffee companies choose robusta to use for instant coffee.
Before making instant coffee, coffee producers would roast the coffee beans to drive the excess moisture out. Then, the coffee beans would be ground into fine particles for industrial brewing.
Instant coffee is very popular in many parts of the world.
Due to the ease of use, instant (or soluble) coffee has been widely accepted by consumers.
A significant portion of the roasted coffee on the market is made into instant coffee.
In some countries, it may even exceed 50% of the total coffee utilization.
It was estimated that the Instant Coffee Market Size was USD 25.09 Billion in 2020.
Based on the authoritative survey report， from 2021 to 2028, the Instant Coffee Market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.13%, reaching USD 34.61 Billion.
Nowadays, instant coffee producers are constantly improving the aroma of instant coffee to approximate that of freshly brewed coffee.
As well, instant coffee manufacturers are providing new flavors in the market, such as mocha, green bean, etc., in an effort to increase sales.
Also, they will develop a variety of packaging to accommodate the sale and use of instant coffee. Among them, single-serve packets are being developed that are highly convenient for carrying and consuming.
1. Moisture-Proof: Instant coffee is highly hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air easily. Proper packaging creates a strong barrier to keep humidity out, preserving the powder’s texture and flavor.
2. Light-Proof: Light, especially sunlight, can degrade your coffee over time. So, your instant coffee powder packaging needs to be a knight in shining armor, protecting your precious beans from the harmful effects of light.
3. Oxygen Barrier: Oxygen exposure leads to oxidation, which can degrade the quality of instant coffee over time. Packaging with airtight seals or vacuum technology prevents this, ensuring the coffee tastes as good as intended.
4. Durability: Durable packaging is essential to avoid punctures or tears that might cause spills during storage or shipping. Strong materials and secure designs help protect the product from damage while maintaining its integrity.
In this way, the instant coffee inside the bag can stay dry until it is purchased and opened by the consumer.
Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about the materials that can deliver these functions.
1. Plastic Film: OPP、PET + LDPE. This material is like the superhero of coffee packaging. It's moisture-proof, light-proof, and puncture-resistant. Plus, it adds a shiny, premium feel to your packaging.
2. Kraft Paper: Paper+PET+LDPE. If you're going for a more natural, eco-friendly vibe, kraft paper is your best bet. It's sturdy and offers decent protection against moisture and light.
3. Aluminum Foil Composite Film: PET+ALU+LDPE. This material like a fortress for your coffee, offering excellent resistance against moisture, light, and punctures. Plus, it adds a shiny, premium feel to your packaging.
Whether you go for Plastick film, kraft paper, aluminum foil composite film, or OPP/PET, remember: the goal is to keep your coffee fresh and tasty.
Picture this: the world of instant coffee packaging, a bustling marketplace filled with flexible pouches, sturdy jars, and more.
Now, imagine you're in a setting where your instant coffee needs to be on hand for multiple pick-ups. That's where gusset bags or jars come into play. They're not about that single-serving life, but they're perfect for a coffee-loving crowd.
But let's shift gears and talk about the real stars of the show: single-serve instant coffee packets. These little gems, including small sachets, stick pouches, and pillow bags, are the talk of the town. They're versatile, lightweight, and recyclable - a triple threat!
What's their secret? They make brewing a cup of coffee a breeze. Quick, easy, and fuss-free.
And here's the clincher: flexible pouches are the reigning champs in the market share arena, particularly when it comes to single-serve instant coffee stick pouches. So, if you're a fan of 'one cup, one packet', these are your go-to.
Single Use:
Multiple Pickups:
Efficient and reliable packaging solutions are essential for instant coffee manufacturers to meet market demand. Automatic machines like stickpack and VFFS (Vertical Form Fill Seal) systems are widely used for their precision and speed.
Stickpack machines are ideal for single-serving instant coffee packaging, like the popular Nescafe Classic Stick Pack, which holds about 2 grams of coffee—enough to brew a 200ml cup. These machines use an auger screw filler to measure and fill the powder accurately.
Stickpack machines also offer customization options, such as various cutting knives for different seal patterns. The pouch corners can be rounded or right-angled based on branding needs.
VFFS machines are versatile and can handle larger quantities of instant coffee compared to stick packs. They typically use an auger filler or volumetric cup filler to measure and fill powders with varying fluidity.
These automatic solutions ensure precision, speed, and adaptability in instant coffee packaging, helping manufacturers meet both production goals and consumer expectations efficiently.
Packaging plays a vital role in preserving the quality of instant coffee. It protects the product from moisture, light, and oxygen, ensuring that every cup delivers the intended flavor and aroma.
From stickpack machines producing single-serving sachets to VFFS machines creating larger pouches, modern packaging solutions offer precision, efficiency, and versatility.
For businesses looking to stand out, Consider exploring our tailored packaging solutions to strengthen your brand and capture more market attention..
