How much light reaches your beans really matters. In this short post, we share the Custom Coffee Bag Light Test and what it means for freshness. Watch the embedded video on this page, then use the simple flashlight check to decide which packaging meets your needs.
Why this light test matters
- Coffee quality drops when exposed to light, air, and moisture.
- The light test focuses on one of the big three: light.
- Less light getting in helps protect aroma, flavor, and shelf life.
How to run the test
- Place a flashlight inside an empty bag or shine it through from outside.
- If you can see light through the wall, the barrier is not aluminum.
- If no light passes through, the barrier layer is aluminum and blocks light.
What the result tells you
- Light shows through: The structure is likely a film such as METPET. It still offers decent protection, especially when coffee is consumed quickly or sold in small amounts.
- No light shows: The bag has an aluminum barrier that blocks light. This is ideal for longer timelines.
Choosing materials by use case
- Fast turnover or smaller quantities: METPET can be a practical option.
- Retail shelves or longer distribution: Aluminum barrier gives the strongest light protection.
- Bottom line: There is no single right answer. Pick the material that matches how fast your coffee moves and where it sits.
Does light change flavor?
- Yes, light exposure can speed up staling.
- Better light barriers help preserve aromatics and reduce flavor loss over time.
- Pair the right barrier with good seals and dry storage for best results.
Contact Our Team!
Why Us?
3x SCA Best New Product Award Winner
Industrial Compostable Packaging
Din Certo Certified
Your Very Own White Label Mobile App
Pono Collective: Providing Coffee Education
Lower MOQs With Our Digital Print Process
Setting Trends While Elevating Your Brand
Other Blogs of Interest
METPET vs PET Coffee Bags: What’s the Real Difference?
People often mix up METPET and PET in coffee packaging. They are related but not the same. PET is a clear, tough plastic. METPET is PET that has a very thin metal layer, usually aluminum. That thin layer changes how well the package blocks oxygen, moisture, and UV light. Those barrier upgrades matter a...
4 Things to Consider Before Choosing METPET Bags
At Savor Brands, our packaging is made with an aluminum layer because compared to metalized polyester (METPET), aluminum provides the best protection from air, moisture, and light which are all known to cause coffee deterioration. Here are 4 reasons why METPET could be not ideal for your business: AIR...
Why Savor Brands Packaging Passes the High Pressure Test
High pressure processing is a food safety method that uses extreme pressure to destroy harmful bacteria without changing the taste or texture of the food. At the Wahiawa Value Added Product Development Center in Hawaii, this process is giving small businesses new ways to deliver safe and fresh products...
Fun Friday Part 2: Big Flavor in a Tiny Brew
What is Siphon Brewing? Siphon (or vacuum) brewing is one of the most fascinating ways to make coffee. It uses heat, vapor pressure, and vacuum suction to move water between chambers, brewing the coffee through full immersion before pulling it back down through a filter. It’s a method that: Loo...