Packaging
At Two Rivers Coffee, we take great pride in ensuring that our products reach our customers in the freshest and highest quality condition possible. To achieve this, we utilize a variety of advanced packaging materials and techniques.
Bulk Purchasing Options & Pricing
Barrier Packaging
We use high-barrier packaging materials, which are essential in protecting coffee from external factors that can degrade its quality. Our packaging incorporates multi-layered films that provide excellent barriers against moisture, oxygen, and light.
- Moisture Barrier: Prevents humidity from affecting the coffee’s flavor and aroma.
- Oxygen Barrier: Keeps the coffee from oxidizing, which can cause it to become stale.
- Light Barrier: Protects the coffee from light exposure, which can deteriorate its quality.
Vacuum Sealing
To ensure maximum freshness, we employ vacuum sealing techniques. By removing air from the packaging before sealing, we significantly reduce the oxidation process, thus prolonging the shelf life of our coffee.
- External Vacuum Sealers: Remove air and seal bags by placing the open end into a vacuum channel.
- Chamber Vacuum Sealers: These machines place the entire bag in a chamber to remove air, effectively sealing liquids or wet foods with a consistent seal.
- Handheld Vacuum Sealers: These are portable devices that manually remove air from specially designed vacuum bags, ideal for small quantities and home use.
One-Way Degassing Valves
Freshly roasted coffee beans release carbon dioxide. To handle this, our coffee bags are equipped with one-way degassing valves. These valves allow the gas to escape without letting oxygen in, maintaining the coffee’s freshness and preventing the bags from bursting.
- Silicone Valves: Use a flexible silicone disc to release gas when pressure builds up and close to prevent oxygen from entering once pressure equalizes.
- Film-Based Values: Integrated into the coffee bag, utilize a multilayer film with a slit that opens under gas pressure, releasing gas and sealing again to prevent oxygen ingress.
- Plastic Flap Valves: Use a simple mechanism where pressure opens the flap to release gas buildup, then closes to prevent oxygen ingress, ensuring coffee freshness.
Resealable Zippers
For added convenience and to extend freshness after the package has been opened, we use resealable zippers. This feature allows customers to easily seal the package again, keeping the coffee fresh for a longer period.
- Press-to-Close Zipper: Utilize interlocking teeth that can be pressed together to seal packages tightly, ensuring freshness.
- Slider Zipper: Features a small tab or slider mechanism that moves along the zipper track, offering easy opening and closing while ensuring a tight seal when closed.
- Grip Seal Zipper: Utilizes interlocking plastic ridges that users squeeze together by hand to seal the package, providing friction for a tight seal that can be easily reopened by pulling the ridges apart.
Nitrogen Flushing
Another technique we use is nitrogen flushing. Before sealing the coffee, we flush out oxygen by filling the package with nitrogen. This inert gas preserves the coffee’s quality by preventing oxidation and extending shelf life.
- Blanket Flushing: Nitrogen gas is continuously pumped into the packaging to replace oxygen, preserving coffee freshness in a nitrogen-rich environment.
- Purge and Fill: Evacuate packaging of air then fill with nitrogen gas, repeated to minimize oxygen, extending coffee shelf life.
- Pressure Flushing: Nitrogen gas is injected into the packaging at elevated pressure, displacing oxygen and creating a protective, nitrogen-rich environment to prevent coffee oxidation.
Eco-Friendly Packaging Options
At Two Rivers Coffee, we are committed to sustainability. We offer eco-friendly packaging options made from recyclable and biodegradable materials. These packages are designed to maintain product freshness while minimizing environmental impact.
- Composite Coffee Bag: Crafted from plant-based PLA or kraft paper lined with compostable films, degrade into organic matter when disposed of correctly, preserving coffee freshness sustainably.
- Recyclable Tin Tie Bags: Classic paper bags with metal tie closures; paper portion recyclable, metal tie easily removable for recycling, eco-friendly and convenient.
- Biodegradable Coffee Pod: Made from plant-based PLA or compostable paper offer the convenience of single-serve brewing while reducing environmental impact by being compatible with composting systems.
Specialty Packaging for Different Products
We tailor our packaging materials and techniques based on the specific type of coffee product. For instance:
- Whole Bean Coffee: Packaged in high-barrier bags with degassing valves and resealable zippers.
- Ground Coffee: Often vacuum-sealed in smaller portions to ensure freshness.
- Single-Serve Pods: Individually sealed to prevent exposure to air and moisture until the moment of use.
Temperature Control During Shipping
To ensure our coffee maintains its quality during transit, we use temperature-controlled logistics when necessary. This helps in preventing the coffee from being exposed to extreme temperatures, which can adversely affect its flavor and aroma.
- Insulated Packaging: Uses insulated packaging to maintain a stable internal environment, shielding the coffee from temperature fluctuations during shipping.
- Climate-Controlled Transportation: Vehicles with temperature monitoring systems to maintain optimal conditions for coffee during transit, ensuring quality from origin to destination.
- Cold-Chain Management: Maintaining a continuous refrigerated environment from production to delivery, preserving the freshness and flavor profile of the coffee beans.
