The benefits of investing in resealable cold brew bags
Consumers worldwide see cold brew as a premium coffee offering. According to recent research from Finlays, UK consumers think favourably about cold brew compared to regular iced coffee, with 35% believing it has a “smoother” taste.
Given the explosive growth of the market, the push for cold brew packaging innovation, like resealable cold brew bags, is in full swing. Resealable stand-up pouches and bags, which have been common across many food and beverage sectors in the last decade, are emerging as a popular choice for cold brew. Customisable and versatile, they offer both roasters and consumers a number of benefits.
Read on to learn more about why investing in resealable cold brew bags can work for your brand.
Why should cold brew bags be resealable?
Resealable cold brew bags are available in different formats. Pouch bags are flexible flat-bottom bags with an opening on the top, such as a resealable cap. Bag-in-box (BiB) options are generally for larger batches and include a built-in carrying handle at the top for easy lifting and carrying, as well as a spout for convenient dispensing.
There are many reasons why a coffee brand would want to invest in resealable cold brew bags, the first of which is quality preservation. Oxygen has a huge effect on cold brew freshness and flavour, so prolonged exposure degrades both, impeding beverage quality and reducing customer satisfaction.
Resealable bags allow baristas and consumers to easily store cold brew after each use, extending freshness by blocking out oxygen, light, and moisture.
Cold brew coffee also needs to be stored correctly to prioritise food health and safety. It has different food safety risks compared to hot-brewed coffee, making packaging resealability an even more important factor.
In a 2023 Perfect Daily Grind article, Randy Anderson, a cold brew consultant and expert with over 20 years of experience in the industry, explained why: “Spoiled cold brew loses its brightness and takes on mouldy and unpleasant aromas and flavours. It’s a low-acid beverage, and there are specific laws on how to handle these products.”
The best course of action is to follow your local health and safety laws. Most importantly, cold brew should be stored within the food-safe temperature range at all times, from production to when it reaches the end consumer.
Several kinds of resealable cold brew bags, including BiB and pouch packaging, can be refrigerated for safe storage.
How resealable cold brew bags offer convenience
Packaging plays a key role in the consumer experience, and convenience has become an increasingly important component. According to research from Euromonitor, consumers are willing to pay premium prices for time-saving and efficient products and services.
Reusable cold brew bags are a convenient packaging option for both roasters and their customers. Stand-up and BiB packaging can be kept flat until needed, requiring less storage space.
Resealable bags allow hospitality workers to serve smaller quantities of cold brew at a time without worrying about freshness and flavour. This is perfect for settings where coffee sales volumes vary widely. Serving drink refills is also quick and easy with resealable bags.
This packaging format is also ideal for businesses where the demand for cold brew fluctuates. Cold brew coffee can be particularly popular in warmer months, while sales might be slower during colder periods.
Another recent article from Perfect Daily Grind describes the challenges of forecasting demand for cold brew coffee. “Many coffee shops that sell larger volumes of cold brew use containers to prepare bigger batches. Although this equipment is certainly affordable, it can be difficult to accurately know how much cold brew to extract at one time, meaning the risk of wasting both time and money can increase.”
Resealable cold brew bags allow you to keep extra stock levels while maintaining the quality and integrity of cold brew – meaning your orders remain stable and consistent.
During slower sales periods, resealable bags help reduce waste, allowing coffee businesses to manage their margins more effectively.
Meanwhile, for roasters with clients in catering and events, resealable bags are easily portable and ideal for mobile events and pop-up locations.
Are resealable cold brew bags the best packaging choice?
A stand-up pouch format is one of the most common types of resealable cold brew bags. This efficient format is designed for easy storage and has many advantages over glass bottles. For example, the space required to store one glass bottle equals ten cold brew pouches, making them ideal for smaller businesses.
This type of packaging is also preferred in busy hospitality environments, where glass can be a safety hazard for staff and customers. Pouches are lightweight for reduced shipping costs and even take up less space when recycled or disposed of. Resealable cold brew pouches also have a reduced carbon footprint of up to 80% compared to glass.
With BiB packaging, you can recycle the cardboard outer box once it’s empty. This packaging format is available in different sizes and shapes, such as square cubes or trapezoids, which can be stacked for easy storage even when full.
Resealable packaging solutions are a strategic choice for roasters looking to capture customers in high-volume locations, from cafés to large events. They offer convenience and flexibility and are an effective way to meet ever-changing consumer demand for quick on-the-go cold brew consumption.
At Cold Brew Pak, we offer sustainable bag-in-box and stand-up pouch packaging options that are resealable to lock in freshness and flavour. Our cold brew coffee packaging can be completely customised to suit your brand, allowing you to connect with current and potential customers.
For more information, contact our team.
