Coffee Bags without Valves

[paypalboutique]

I recently bought 500 gusseted coffee bags and realized they do not have any valves. If you roast coffee, then ship 8 hours later, does it really matter if the bag has a valve?

reference Why I stopped packaging our coffee in one-way valves | agoodkeensavage

 

[eldub]

It depends on the bag. With a low barrier material it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[paypalboutique]

I bought 4 oz bags.

[TABLE="width: 721"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 507"] Total Thickness (mils) [/TD]
[TD="width: 199"] 5.0 mil [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Foil layer [/TD]
[TD] 0.00035 mils [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] WATERVAPOR TRANSMISSION RATE (FED 101) [/TD]
[TD] 0.0006 gms/100 sq.In./24 hrs.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] O2 TRANSMISSION RATE (MOCON) [/TD]
[TD] 0.0006/cc/100 sq.In./24 hrs. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] TENSILE STRENGTH (ASTM D 882)Lbs at break [/TD]
[TD] MD 17 lb.
XMD 14.0
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] TEAR (ASTM-689) [/TD]
[TD] MD 800 gms
XMD 1300 gms
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] SEAL STRENGTH (ASTM-D-882) 375F;26psi; 1 sec [/TD]
[TD] 12 lb./in [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] PUNCTURE STRENGTH (TMS 101-C, Method A) [/TD]
[TD] >25 LBS [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[tazzadiluna]

Your 4oz bags are small enough to be used up fast, so I wouldn't worry as long as you get them to the customer ASAP soon after roasting.

You might need a vacuum packer, though. I believe (and I could be wrong) the more O2 you've got in the bag, the more CO2 is released. Darker roasts supposedly release more CO2 as well, so don't roast too dark. At the very least let the beans degas a little before packaging. Either way, even though the packaging might be strong enough, they will probably puff up especially at high altitudes.

 

[eldub]

There might be a problem with those foil bags. How do they seal?

 

[paypalboutique]

I'd have to use an iron to seal it since I don't have a machine

 

[tazzadiluna]

Well, you'd either have to get a vacuum packer or get those things exchanged by your supplier for ones with valves, which cost extra and they'll make you pay for return shipping as well as a restocking fee.

 

[eldub]

I'm guessing there could be issues if there is a good seal on a foil-lined bag.

 

[JumpinJakJava]

Is this coffee packaged whole bean in the sample bag? I am assuming the bags are foil gusset?
Well if they are foil and the coffee is ground 8 hours post roast, the bags will certainly fail.
They will swell up and most likely some will burst. If it is whole bean you may be okay?
I say may be. The beans will be degassing still. I speak from experience.

In the past, when I ground coffee for samples in 3-4oz. bags,
I would have to prick with a pin to let the Co2 out and re-heat seal.
Pain in the neck.

These are great for sealing foil bags, if you purchase one, make sure you get the one that seals 9/16 in. There are a couple of different seal widths.

6"Constant Heat Hot Jaw Hand Held Sealer 9 16 Wide Seal for Mylar Bags KF150CST | eBay

 

[expat]

I don't use those little sachet sized bags in my business but a friend does. He lifts up the outside seam and using a very thin straight pin, puts one pin hole in the bag. The hole is hidden under the seam and the bags don't blow up like a balloon, which they will without the hole. Because he's selling these portion pouches to high volume users he's not too worried about the coffee losing it's freshness.

 

[CoffeeJunky]

I don't use those little sachet sized bags in my business but a friend does. He lifts up the outside seam and using a very thin straight pin, puts one pin hole in the bag. The hole is hidden under the seam and the bags don't blow up like a balloon, which they will without the hole. Because he's selling these portion pouches to high volume users he's not too worried about the coffee losing it's freshness.

Pretty clever. I never thought of doing that.

 

[topher]

we had a form fill and seal machine that had a needle built in to puncture a hole on at the seam. Would have hated to get my hand stuck in that.

 

[tazzadiluna]

we had a form fill and seal machine that had a needle built in to puncture a hole on at the seam. Would have hated to get my hand stuck in that.

Ha! Interesting, didn't even know something like that existed.

Love this forum, I learn something everyday.

 

[Chipbean]

I don't use those little sachet sized bags in my business but a friend does. He lifts up the outside seam and using a very thin straight pin, puts one pin hole in the bag. The hole is hidden under the seam and the bags don't blow up like a balloon, which they will without the hole. Because he's selling these portion pouches to high volume users he's not too worried about the coffee losing it's freshness.

Does your friend fill and seal each bag manually or does he have some automation? Their is a roaster in our region that does a lot of this and I know they are fully automated, I am just a little guy so to explore this method for me, it's the fill each bag and seal it myself method, which seems rather labor intensive. Anybody have any insights on doing this small scale? thanks.

 

[bigdaub]

We fill and seal around 2k lbs a month by hand. A scale and a constant heat floor sealer will go a long way.

Get this scoop (Yes it looks like a bed pan but it works great)
Rattleware Bean Scale Scoop Black - Espresso Parts

This scale
AIE-202CH | AIE Sealer | Constant Heat Sealer | Sealer Parts | Pack-Secure

And a couple of these
North Atlantic Bags