Are you a coffee lover? If so, you’ve probably seen the tiny little vent holes on your coffee packs and maybe even wondered why do coffee bags have vents in the first place. Though vents may look like a design flaw, they provide an ingenious solution to preserve the coffee’s freshness.
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Why Do Coffee Bags Have Vents?
Coffee bags have air vents as a crucial part of their preserving process. Air is the number one enemy of storing coffee long-term. Therefore, the vent is a one-way valve that allows carbon dioxide to escape the bag while keeping oxygen from entering it.
Freshly roasted coffee beans release carbon dioxide as a by-product, so if you place the coffee in a completely sealed bag without the outlet valve, it will expand and explode. If it were a regular hole, oxygen would sip through, causing the coffee to go stale faster. The vent prevents both of these issues, keeping your coffee fresh for up to four months.
The Importance of Degassing Vents for Coffee Bags
Since they were first introduced to the market in the 1960s, degassing valves have completely changed coffee packaging. These valves protect the product from damage and contamination, allowing for safe and easy shipping.
Reduce Inflation
Degassing vents help to maintain package shape by preventing excessive internal pressure build-up during shipment or storage. This prevents your coffee packs from collapsing or distorting, damaging goods when they reach the customers’ hands.
Prolong Freshness
Degassing valves can also help improve shelf life by preventing moisture from entering your package. Moisture will cause your coffee beans to spoil faster than normal because it increases oxidation levels within your package.
In addition, degassing valves can help maintain product freshness for longer periods since they prevent oxygen from entering your package’s interior environment.
Reduce Waste
If coffee companies decide not to use degassing valves, they’ll need extra space in their packaging for foam or other gases that may build up inside the package during transport or storage. This extra space means more weight for shipping and storing, which increases costs for both them and their customers.
In-Process Inventory
The degassing valve makes it simple to package freshly roasted coffee. As previously discussed, coffee releases CO2 right away after roasting. 1/3 of the gas is released immediately with ground coffee, and the second third is released over a period of one hour.
It would take longer to get from roasting to packing without a degassing valve. If coffee is packaged right away without the crucial valve component, there is a chance that the pouch will leak and inflate. If coffee cannot be sold immediately because of the delay in the packing process, it is kept in the WIP inventory.
When Degassing Vents Aren’t Necessary for Coffee Bags
While degassing valves are a great way to reduce inflation, prolong freshness, reduce waste, and even increase the speed of coffee packaging, they aren’t always necessary.
- If your coffee is packaged into bags and sealed with an oxygen absorber before being shipped to you, there isn’t going to be any additional oxygen introduced during shipping.
- If you are selling locally and shipping to only a few locations, then degassing valves are unnecessary for your coffee packaging needs. If you choose not to use them, other methods can help reduce oxygen in your bags, such as using vacuum pouches or bags.
These containers have special technology that allows them to suck out the air from within the container without needing help from an external source like a degassing valve.
Related Questions
How Do You Seal a Coffee Bag With a Vent?
The best way to seal a coffee bag with a vent is to use an impulse sealer. This is because it creates a strong seal, which will last for years.
How Do You Open a Coffee Bag With a Vent?
You can easily open coffee bags with scissors by cutting just above the resealable flaps. Tearing open a coffee bag will make it impossible to reseal it. If you try and cut the bag with anything blunt, you’ll end up tearing it and ruining your coffee.
What Is the Best Packaging for Vented Coffee Bags?
The best packaging for vented coffee bags is the flat bottom bag, an industry favorite for coffee packaging. With its prominent shelf presence and ability to stand unaided, it is sure to make a lasting impression. Bag tops are frequently folded down or flattened into brick shapes and sealed.
Conclusion
Coffee bag vents keep packaged coffee beans fresh by allowing oxygen in the bags and carbon dioxide gas to escape. This may not be necessary if the coffee is packaged into bags with an oxygen absorber, though it’s crucial for larger packs, shipping interstate, or selling to retailers.
