Coffee carton
20pt kraft200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA coffee carton is a folding carton on 20pt natural kraft that holds a lined coffee bag or a row of pods, with a tuck top and a crash lock base. We produce them from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof, usually 3.5 by 2.5 by 6.5 inches for a 12 ounce bag or 6 by 4 by 2.5 for pods.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a coffee carton when a pouch alone does not stand straight on a shelf, or when you sell pods and need a carton that holds ten or twelve in a neat row. A kraft carton around a lined bag gives you a flat front panel for the roast name, the tasting notes and the roast date, and it stacks in a display case. It also keeps a foil bag from scuffing in a subscription mailer.
Choose a coffee bag with valve if the beans need to degas and reseal, since a carton does nothing for freshness on its own; the bag inside does that work. Choose a kraft mailer box if the coffee ships alone to a doorstep and never sees a shelf, because a mailer is cheaper to freight than a carton in a mailer.
Specifications
| Board | 20pt natural kraft, 18pt SBS on request, food-contact grade available; documentation supplied with the quote |
|---|---|
| One or two color flexo, offset CMYK, or digital | |
| Finish | Uncoated kraft, matte aqueous, soft-touch lamination |
| Closure | Tuck flap top with friction lock, crash lock or auto lock base |
| Insert | Optional paperboard divider for pods, platform for a bag |
| Contents | Sized to a 12 or 16 oz bag, or 10 to 12 single serve pods |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, glued, in bundles of 50 |
| Sizes we run | 3.5 x 2.5 x 6.5 in 4 x 3 x 8 in 5 x 3 x 3 in 6 x 4 x 2.5 in any size from 3 x 2 x 4 to 10 x 8 x 12 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What size carton fits a 12 ounce coffee bag?
A filled 12 ounce stand up pouch is roughly 3.5 inches wide, 2.5 deep and 6.5 tall with the top folded, so it fits a 3.5 by 2.5 by 6.5 inch carton. A 16 ounce bag runs closer to 4 by 3 by 8. Bag sizes vary by film supplier, so measure a filled bag and send us the numbers, or send us the bag and we measure it.
Can I put the beans straight in the carton?
We do not recommend it. Kraft board is not a barrier to oxygen or moisture and coffee loses its aroma within days uncovered. The carton is the outer pack; the beans belong in a lined bag with a valve inside it. We run food-contact grade board if you want the carton to hold a bag that has been opened.
How many pods fit in a carton?
Ten single serve pods in two rows of five in a 5 by 3 by 3 inch carton, or twelve in a 6 by 4 by 2.5 with a paperboard divider so they do not shift. Pod diameters vary between 1.5 and 2 inches by format, so tell us which pod system you use and we size the divider to it.
Why kraft and not white board?
Kraft is what coffee buyers expect and it hides scuffs from shelf handling. One color black on kraft is the lowest cost print we run and it looks right for coffee. If your brand needs bright color or a photo, we run 18pt SBS with a matte aqueous coating instead. Both boards are recyclable as mixed paper.
Can I stamp the roast date on it?
Yes. Leave a 1.5 by 0.5 inch zone on the back or side panel and we keep it clear of print so a hand stamp or a thermal label sits clean. Uncoated kraft takes a rubber stamp very well. On a coated carton a small uncoated patch can be left for the stamp. Tell us before we proof.
How is the coffee carton different from the K-Cup box?
The coffee carton is 20pt natural kraft, 18pt SBS on request, sized to a 12 or 16 oz bag or a row of pods, printed flexo, offset or digital, from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. The K-Cup box is an 18pt SBS carton built only for single-serve pods in 10, 12, 18 or 24 counts with locking side tabs, offset printed, from 500 units in 10 to 12 business days. A roaster with bags and a few pod SKUs can use the coffee carton for both. A pod line sold in standard counts belongs in the K-Cup box.
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Ready to price your coffee carton?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.