Coffee tin can is much better than coffee paper box due to its’ premium, long-lasting freshness and reusable features. Tin can works greatly for versatile types of coffee including whole beans, ground coffee, instant coffee, flavored/specialty coffee, coffee powders and drink mixes.
What’s coffee tin can and coffee paper box?
Coffee tin can is a metal container to store various kinds of coffee. It is made of premium tinplate with strong durability, air tightness, shelf life, consumer perception and sustainability. Coffee tin can is good to directly store versatile coffee not matter coffee beans, ground coffee or coffee drinks.
Coffee tin can can be any shapes with versatile lid types to make coffee packaging premium and unique.
Coffee paper box is a paper container to store drip coffee bags, instant coffee sachets or commonly as outer packaging for mixed coffee gift packs. Coffee paper box is made of cardboard or kraft paper which is lightweight, eco-friendly but less durable. It requires inner lining (foil or plastic) for moisture and aroma protection. It’s more suitable for short-term storage and quick consumption.
| Feature | Coffee Tin (Metal Packaging) | Coffee Paper Box (Paperboard Packaging) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Tinplate (steel + tin coating), rigid | Cardboard/Kraft paper, lightweight |
| Durability | Strong, dent-resistant, long-lasting | Less durable, can deform or tear |
| Freshness & Shelf Life | Excellent barrier against air, light, and moisture; keeps aroma longer | Limited protection unless with foil/plastic lining; shorter shelf life |
| Airtightness | Can be fully airtight with proper lid | Not naturally airtight; requires inner bag/liner |
| Consumer Perception | Premium, gift-worthy, reusable, collectible | Eco-friendly, minimalist, budget-friendly |
| Cost | Higher production & shipping cost | Lower cost, cheaper to transport |
| Sustainability | 100% recyclable, reusable, but energy-intensive production | Biodegradable & recyclable, but lined boxes are harder to recycle |
| Best Use | High-end coffee, specialty blends, export/gifting | Everyday coffee, mass market, sustainable branding |
Why choose tin can for coffee and dry foods?
Freshness, sustainability, visibility, and production efficiency make steel tin cans an ideal packaging solution. Their stackable design also ensures convenience and space-saving storage for both brands and consumers.
Our eco-friendly custom printed steel cans are 100% curbside recyclable, adding a refined and sustainable touch to your packaging. These versatile cans are perfect for seasonal promotions, small-batch runs, or as reusable storage containers. Once emptied, they can be refilled or repurposed for extended consumer value.
Perfect for packaging roasted whole bean coffee, premium coffee, loose leaf tea, nuts, candy and confectionery, pet treats, and other premium dry goods, these cans offer superior oxygen and moisture protection, helping preserve product freshness and flavor.
Steel cans are one of the most sustainable packaging choices available. They are 100% curbside recyclable, reusable, and provide excellent oxygen and moisture barriers to preserve product freshness. Offering both premium shelf appeal and environmental responsibility, steel tin cans help you brand stand out while supporting sustainability goals.
How to choose the best coffee tin can
Coffee tin can types
Coffee tin can could be any shapes and styles to meet market demand.
Round tin can is the most popular shape and often with slip lids, screw tops or valve lids which looks classic and premium. Round tin can is great for both coffee beans and ground coffee with the capacity of 100g, 250g, 500g and 1kg
Square and rectangular coffee tin can are modern and space-saving design. It often comes with slip lids, flip lids, screw neck or value lids.
Oval coffee tins is elegant and unique which often used for edition coffee or gift sets, providing a luxury feel on shelves.
Specialty and customized shape tin like hexagon, octagon tins that is eye-catching, boutique style. It is usually used for luxury branding.
Coffee Tin Containers
Coffee tin can food grade Printing
Coffee tin can could be customized with versatile printing effect and decoration. We can apply designs, logos, patterns, and colors onto the tinplate surface for branding and decoration.
Process: Printing is done using offset printing (lithography)– typically CMYK colors. A varnish/overprint coating (glossy, matte, or spot UV) is applied to protect the ink and enhance appearance. You can be able to choose metallic printing to achieve more premium and shinny brand effect as well.
Further Reading:
Coffee tin can food grade Lacquering
To apply a protective barrier for food safety and corrosion lacquer layer(not for decoration, but for functionality & product safety). Used mainly on the inside of tins (to prevent reaction between metal and product, like tea, coffee, biscuits, cosmetics, tobacco, etc.) or sometimes on the outside as a protective base before printing.
Process: A thin, clear or colored coating (lacquer) is sprayed or rolled onto the tinplate surface.
Lacquer is then cured in an oven to form a stable protective film.
You can choose Clear lacquer– transparent, just protection. Gold lacquer – gives a golden tone, often inside food tins.
Custom embossing to elevate coffee brand
Embossed and debossed designs are popular decoration for tinplate packaging which is to create raised or recessed logo or pattern on the surface of tin containers to improve your brand recognition.
Any of your designs, logos, and patterns on the tin can embossing and debossing could be achieved. Embossing tooling takes generally 3-7 days which depends on the size and complexity.
We combine embossing with printing, there are mainly 2 types:
Registered embossing: the embossed area aligns precisely with the printed design. For example, a printed logo that is raised.
Blind embossing: no printing ink on the embossed area, only the raised metal texture.
Flat embossing (single-level embossing): the design is raised to one uniform height and often used for logos, small patterns, or text
Deep embossing (Multi-level embossing):
- Different parts of the design are raised to varying depths, creating 3D effect
- Highly detailed, with curves and shapes resembling real objects such as faces, flowers, mascots, etc.
Learn More: How to Customize Tin Boxes
In conclusion, above solutions for customized coffee tin can make your coffee brand more premium, luxurious, versatile and less carbon food-print. Come to find and customize the best eco-friendly tins from here now!
