Buyer's guide · Updated October 2026
How to Choose Coffee Packaging for Your Roastery
Choose a flat bottom bag for retail shelves and a stand-up pouch for online sales and subscriptions. Packluma prints both from 500 bags per design with digital printing, or from 10,000 bags per design with rotogravure printing.
Roasters including MixCoffeeBeans and Cold Creek Coffee print with Packluma.
- Digital or rotogravureChoose digital printing from 500 bags per design and rotogravure printing from 10,000 bags per design.
- Start smallStart with samples and a small digital order, then move to larger runs once a coffee sells.
- Crossover at 5,000–10,000Digital and rotogravure printing cost about the same at roughly 5,000–10,000 bags per design.
- Pouch vs flat bottom priceA stand-up pouch costs about two-thirds of the price of a flat bottom bag in the same size.
- Material lastChoose the material last: kraft paper, matte film, metallized film, aluminum foil, soft-touch film or recyclable mono-PE.
Pick your situation
Which situation are you in?
Five common situations, each with the bag and printing method that fits it. Tap one to jump to it.
1. New roastery or first order
Start with digital printing and test the design before you commit to a large run.
- Digital printing starts at 500 bags per design and uses no plates.
- Several designs in the same bag size are priced on the combined quantity, with at least 500 bags per design.
- Printed samples cost about $60–$100 per bag size, plus courier, and a free digital mockup comes with every quote.
- A 500-bag first order costs $1.60–$2.00 per bag for a flat bottom bag and $1.05–$1.35 for a stand-up pouch, shipping included.
Read the custom coffee bag cost guide and the full price table. Then see how many coffee bags to order and blank bags vs custom printed bags.
2. Retail shelf
Choose a flat bottom bag when the bag has to look good on a shelf.
- A flat bottom bag stands square on the shelf and keeps its shape when it is full.
- A flat bottom bag prints on five panels: front, back, two side gussets and the bottom.
- Flat bottom bags are available from 90×185×55 mm for about 100 g to 145×335×100 mm for about 1 kg.
See flat bottom coffee bags, the coffee bag size chart and coffee bag printing.
3. E-commerce and subscriptions
Choose a stand-up pouch when you ship coffee to customers.
- A stand-up pouch costs about two-thirds of the price of a flat bottom bag in the same size.
- A stand-up pouch is lighter than a flat bottom bag, which suits parcel and subscription shipping.
- A stand-up pouch prints on the front and back.
- Stand-up pouches cost $1.05–$1.35 per pouch at 500 and $0.35–$0.40 at 5,000, shipping included.
4. Wholesale and large runs
Choose rotogravure printing once one design reaches about 10,000 bags.
- Rotogravure printing starts at 10,000 bags per design.
- Digital and rotogravure printing cost about the same at roughly 5,000–10,000 bags per design.
- The first rotogravure order pays a one-time plate fee, and repeat orders reuse the plates.
- A 12 oz flat bottom bag costs $0.40–$0.60 per bag at 10,000 or more, and a stand-up pouch costs $0.25–$0.40.
See wholesale coffee bags and coffee bag printing.
5. Look and material
Choose the material after the bag style and size.
- Kraft paper gives a natural paper look.
- Foil and metallized layers are the usual choice when a bag needs more protection from air and light.
- Matte film gives a smooth, solid-colour look, and soft-touch film feels soft in the hand.
- Recyclable mono-PE is a single-material polyethylene film.
Compare materials on kraft coffee bags and coffee bean bags.
Decision table
Which coffee bag for which situation
| Situation | Bag style | Printing | Typical quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| New roastery, first order | Stand-up pouch or flat bottom bag | Digital | 500–1,000 per design |
| Several coffees, one size | Flat bottom bag or stand-up pouch | Digital, priced on combined quantity | 500+ per design |
| Retail shelf | Flat bottom bag | Digital, rotogravure at volume | 500–5,000 per design |
| E-commerce and subscriptions | Stand-up pouch | Digital | 500–5,000 per design |
| Wholesale and large runs | Either style | Rotogravure | 10,000+ per design |
Prices are on the pricing page. Every figure there is a range.
Checklist
Coffee packaging checklist before you order
| Decide | How |
|---|---|
| 1. Fill weight | Decide how many grams or ounces go in each bag. |
| 2. Size | Pick the bag size from the fill weight with the coffee bag size chart. |
| 3. Style | Flat bottom for the shelf, stand-up pouch for shipping. |
| 4. Material | Kraft, matte film, metallized film, aluminum foil, soft-touch film or recyclable mono-PE. |
| 5. Finish | Matte, gloss, soft-touch or brushed metallic. |
| 6. Valve and zipper | A one-way degassing valve and a resealable zipper are included in the prices on this site; see coffee bags with valve. |
| 7. Quantity | Order at least 500 bags per design, and plan 10,000 per design for rotogravure. |
| 8. Lead time | Digital orders ship in 7–10 business days after artwork approval, plus freight. |
Tell us your coffee, we pick the bag
Send your fill weight, quantity and the look you want. We reply within 24 hours with an exact price and a free design mockup.
FAQ
Choosing coffee packaging FAQ
How do I choose the right coffee bag for my roastery?
Pick the bag style first: flat bottom for retail shelves, stand-up pouch for online sales and subscriptions. Then choose the size from your fill weight, the material for the look you want, and the printing method from your quantity.
Should I choose a flat bottom bag or a stand-up pouch?
Choose a flat bottom bag if the bag will sit on a shelf, because it stands square and prints on five panels. Choose a stand-up pouch if you ship to customers, because it costs about two-thirds of the price and is lighter.
Is digital or rotogravure printing better for a small roastery?
Digital printing is better for a small roastery because it starts at 500 bags per design and needs no plates. Rotogravure printing starts at 10,000 bags per design.
What quantity should I order first?
Order 500 bags per design for a first order. Several designs in the same size are priced on the combined quantity, with at least 500 bags per design.
How much do coffee bags cost?
A custom 12 oz flat bottom bag costs $1.60–$2.00 per bag at 500 and $0.40–$0.60 at 10,000 or more. A stand-up pouch costs $1.05–$1.35 at 500 and $0.25–$0.40 at 10,000 or more. Prices include shipping.
Should I order samples first?
Yes. Printed samples cost about $60–$100 per bag size, plus courier, and take about 7–10 days to make. A free digital mockup comes with every quote.