Originally published on Cold Brew Pak’s Knowledge Hub.

The rising popularity of cold brew, combined with the growing demand for convenience, has driven ready-to-drink (RTD) cold coffee options to new heights over recent years. This includes RTD cold brew – prepared in cans, bottles, and single serve pouches or bags.

However, with so much growth in the RTD cold coffee space, more roasters are looking for ways to be competitive – and to increase profitability. This is why many brands are opting for flexible coffee packaging, which is convenient, space-efficient, and highly customisable.

Many of these flexible pouches are also made from recyclable, eco-friendly materials, adding to their appeal. To learn more, I spoke with Christopher Lasher, owner of Super Duper Drinks. Christopher explained some of the benefits of single serve coffee bags, and told me about the best packaging materials for these pouches. Read on to find out what he said.

What are single serve cold brew bags?

Flexible packaging has long been a staple for whole-bean and ground coffee. However, single serve cold brew bags are a newer packaging development tailored to the burgeoning RTD coffee market. 

“Single serve cold brew bags are ready-to-drink coffees in a convenient, adventure-ready pouch,” says Christopher. These flexible bags have become increasingly popular in recent years, and their growth has quickly surpassed traditional RTD coffee formats like cans and glass bottles.

It’s important not to confuse single-serve cold brew bags with steeped cold brew bags. The latter are tea-like sachets filled with coffee grounds that still need to steep in water to make cold brew.

Conversely, cold brew pouches contain pre-made cold brew and typically have a built-in spout and resealable cap for easy pouring and storage. They’re incredibly versatile and available in various sizes, from 187ml to three liters.

Coffee brands can use these pouches to offer cold brew at different dilution levels. For example, brands can package a 1:1 cold brew concentrate, allowing consumers to adjust the strength to their liking.

The growing appeal of cold brew pouches

The flexible cold brew packaging market is set to grow as more coffee brands embrace single-serve cold brew bags over bottles and cans. Cold brew pouches especially appeal to younger consumers who increasingly value convenient coffee drinks. Unlike canned coffee, pouches are resealable and more portable.

“One of the most important benefits for me is I am able to fit them anywhere when I’m on the go,” says Christopher. “They fit in pockets that a can or bottle never could and are form-fitting, so it is not uncomfortable.”

He mentions that pouches allow consumers to get every drop of coffee compared to cans, which are often wasteful and messy. 

“The pouches are great because you don’t have to drink the whole pouch because it has a cap to seal it back up for later,” says Christopher. 

In addition to convenience and portability, single serve cold brew bags have a high packaging-to-product ratio, which means less material is used overall, reducing packaging costs.

They’re also more space-efficient and lightweight than rigid containers, helping brands save on shipping and storage costs.

“A full pallet of cans and bottles is the equivalent of a large box of pouches, so I can vastly cut down on warehouse space,” explains Christopher. “A full truckload of cans would be one pallet of pouches, so I have huge savings on shipping and freight.”

In fact, ten pouches take up the same space as one glass bottle. Their lower weight and compact size help reduce the carbon footprint of shipping by up to 80% compared to glass bottles. 

What’s more, these bags collapse after use, significantly reducing waste and making recycling easier.

“When you’re finished, the single-serve pouch rolls up into almost no space and has absolutely no leaking with the resealable cap,” says Christopher. “As we already know, cans are a leaky, bulky mess that is a real hassle to pack out and often end up in the next garbage bin.”

Despite their flexibility, single serve cold brew bags are highly protective against external elements. This preserves cold brew’s freshness and quality to ensure a longer shelf life.

“The pouches hold freshness with less oxidation,” says Christopher. “They are also incredibly durable, so there is less breakage and waste than cans or bottles.”

Additionally, cold brew pouches offer coffee brands a higher degree of customization than rigid, cylindrical containers. Their large front and back panels provide more brandable space, helping brands stand out and make a stronger impact on customers.

This is especially helpful as research continues to highlight the significant role product packaging plays in shaping consumer perceptions.

The best packaging materials for single serve cold brew bags

Flexible cold brew pouches are typically made from a combination of sustainable packaging materials, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polylactic acid (PLA).

LDPE is a thin, flexible thermoplastic that can easily be recycled and reused. PLA is a compostable and biodegradable bioplastic made from renewable resources like corn starch and sugar cane, making it a highly sustainable packaging choice.

Both LDPE and PLA are also very durable and provide high barrier protection against oxygen, moisture, and sunlight—making the pouches more shelf-stable. These materials also offer coffee brands a wide range of customization options, including glossing, hot foil stamping, and embossing.

A 2023 report from McKinsey found that most consumers view compostable and plant-based packaging materials as more sustainable than aluminum or glass.  

“The reduction in shipping emissions, material, and space all factor into making pouches just as sustainable, or more, than any other packaging,” notes Christopher.

As a result, more brands are switching to single serve cold brew bags made from these compostable and biodegradable materials to appeal to the growing number of environmentally conscious consumers.

At Cold Brew Pak, we can handle all of your cold brew packaging needs. Our single serve cold brew bags are user-friendly and made from recyclable materials, providing a convenient, sustainable way to enjoy cold brew. Brands can also take advantage of our pouches’ unique shape and size to apply innovative branding techniques.