Vacuum Packaging for green coffee

[Bereka]

What do you think of Vacuum Packaging for green coffee?

 

[peterjschmidt]

It's great.

 

[seeingcoffee]

I would discourage vacuum packing. Here's why:

Reconsidering Packaging | The Coffee Shrub

 

[peterjschmidt]

But... They're only saying they don't like it for some origins, like Indonesians. They also says this here http://www.coffeeshrub.com/shrub/glossary/term/720;

Vacuum Packaging Sealing coffee in an air-tight container, with the air removed via vacuum. Green coffee and roasted coffee can both be vacuum packed to extend shelf life. Sweet Maria's is a big fan of vacuum-packing, even though we do not ship you your coffee in vac packs. We use it extensively, in a behind-the-scenes sort of way. We both receive many of our coffees from origin in vacuum pack (as well as GrainPro bags) and we switch lots into vacuum pack to offer at a later date. It is not a cure-all, and does not allow coffee to be stored indefinitely. But we feel it adds at least 6 months of shelf life to green coffee, when it is an approprately "rested" lot (i.e. has low water activity measurement) and is kept in a cool, dark place.

Works great for what I use it for.

 

[JumpinJakJava]

IMHO, I receive green coffees in jute, vacuum sealed, and GrainPro bags. I see very little difference between vacuum sealing and GrainPro packaging.
I may give GrainPro a little advantage, because, sometimes the sealed coffee breaks in transit in the boxes shipped.(happened twice to me),
the bags were not broken open(no spillage), but seals were broken. It was no problem because I transferred that coffee into GrainPro bags.
As a small shop roaster, some coffees will be around for 6 months. Therefore if it is received in jute/burlap, I will transfer that coffee into the GrainPro,
back into the jute. Years ago I spoke to the owner of GrainPro in Concord, MA. He told me straight up, "We cannot make bad green coffee good,
but we can preserve good coffee for 1 year." Maintaining it's moisture. I think the question to ask though, is how is it stored upon reception?
Green Coffee Storage Issues Good article on storage.

 

[ensoluna]

What do you think of Vacuum Packaging for green coffee?

hi. 1 to 10 scale, 10 being the best.
Jute : about 8. most of commercial grade green coffees are sold in jute bag.
GrainPro : about 9. most of specialty coffee is sold in this type of bag. about $2 to $4 per one bag
Vacuum : 10. in our case, very high grade specialty coffee (such has Geisha / yellow or red bourbon / mundo novo) & auction coffee are being sold in Vacuum bag. But in smaller sizes, not 69kgs.
thanks
alex

 

[Bereka]

Yes Grain-Pro is the usual methods of packing for specialty Green Coffee in Ethiopia
and Vacuum packing service is something new

 

[caphesachbstar]

It's great

 

[Bereka]

Anyone agree with this cliam " Grainpro plastic will affect the test of the coffee" is it better to use only bags?

 

[Mr.Peaberry]

But... They're only saying they don't like it for some origins, like Indonesians. They also says this here http://www.coffeeshrub.com/shrub/glossary/term/720;



Works great for what I use it for.

What are the specs on the vacuum you use Peter? Is 5 or 10 Pa sufficient in your opinion?

 

[PinkRose]

What are the specs on the vacuum you use Peter? Is 5 or 10 Pa sufficient in your opinion?

Unfortunately, I see that Peter's last visit to the Coffee Forum was in 2017. I hope he'll come back, and start hanging out with us again.

~ Rose

 

[Mr.Peaberry]

Unfortunately, I see that Peter's last visit to the Coffee Forum was in 2017. I hope he'll come back, and start hanging out with us again.

~ Rose

Ahhh...too bad! I hope he's well though. His absence is not due to ill health or worse?

 

[Mr.Peaberry]

If green coffee is too moist, it will difficult to draw and keep vacuum in the bag. Also you may need to double bag it because the vacuum bag is easy to get punctured.

The only reason to vacuum green coffee, imho, is to freeze it for storage. The better the vacuum, the longer the frozen beans will be preserved.

 

[PinkRose]

Ahhh...too bad! I hope he's well though. His absence is not due to ill health or worse?

I sent him a Private Message through this forum.

A message should show up in his personal E-mail to let him know. I hope it works, and I hope he responds and lets us know he's alive and kicking.

 

[Mr.Peaberry]

Well, purpose of vacuum is to isolate from oxygen to slow down oxidation process. And the purpose of freezing is to slow down algae/bacteria growth. Low temperature can also slow down oxidation since it's a chemical process.
So vacuum packaging can at least serve the first purpose. But if the beans are too moist, you will create water vapor in the bag which has oxygen in it too.

Exactly...which is why I do not advise vacuum for long term storage except for freezing...AND the more oxygen extraction the better, so don't skimp on the vacuum pump and end up with poor extraction.