Why aren’t coffee beans vacuum packed?
1. Are coffee beans vacuum packed?
No, coffee beans are not vacuum packed. Instead, bags with a one-way valve are used. This valve allows gas (mainly CO₂) to escape, but prevents oxygen and moisture from getting in.
2. Why can't coffee beans be vacuum packed?
After roasting, coffee beans continue to release carbon dioxide.
If they were in vacuum packaging, that gas would have nowhere to go.
The pressure in the bag would therefore increase, causing the packaging to balloon or even burst open.
That’s why coffee beans are packed in valve bags that allow the gas to escape without letting air in.
3. Why do some coffee bags look vacuum packed?
Some bags, especially those at the bottom of a pallet, appear tight or vacuum-sealed. This is due to:
- Cooling: when the temperature drops, the air in the bag contracts, causing the packaging to tighten.
- Pressure differences: the valve allows gas to escape, resulting in slightly lower pressure inside the bag than outside.
- Weight: the bags at the bottom are compressed by the layers above.
It may look vacuum packed, but it isn’t.
4. Is ground coffee vacuum packed?
Yes, sometimes it is. Ground coffee has already released most of its gas, so no pressure builds up in the packaging. This means it can be safely vacuum packed without the bag ballooning.