How Packaging Choices Affect Coffee From Roast to Cup
After being roasted, coffee’s best protection is its packaging. Even the best quality beans in the world can lose some of their flavour, if they are stored in conditions that allow air and light to get in. The quality of the coffee is directly related to the quality of the packaging; it’s not simply a marketing decision. When coffee is roasted, it gives off gases. This is why there must be a balance between protecting the coffee from air and light, while also allowing for the gases to escape. If there are no materials that allow for gas to properly escape, bags can trap oxygen and retain it; but if the gases are not able to escape from the bag, they can create problems in how the coffee actually tastes. Traditional storage options have difficulty finding a balance between protecting the coffee and allowing for adequate ventilation. Many of the traditional options (thin bags, paper packaging, and generic storage containers) tend to skew the balance toward convenience r...