Scale your coffee operations without investing in additional staff or equipment. Work with a Commercial Coffee Co-Packer to meet coffee production deadlines.

5 Benefits of Using a Coffee Co-Packer

1. Reduces Overall Costs: Large-scale commercial coffee manufacturers have already made the investment in expensive coffee roasting and packaging equipment, which means you don't have to. Commercial roasting machines and packing equipment can cost nearly a million dollars, which is an investment you can avoid when you partner with Pod Pack. With a co-packer taking care of your production needs, you can focus on your strategy for developing new coffee products for your customers.
2. Access to State-of-the-Art Coffee Manufacturing Equipment: Coffee contract packaging companies' warehouse and run all of the equipment needed to roast and package coffee beans to your exact specifications. Pod Pack is an American company, equipped with two manufacturing facilities, both for roasting and packaging coffee in Seattle, Washington and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In additional to our highly modernized coffee production facilities, we can provide commercial-grade lab services and third-party analysis and verification of your coffee products. This means that meeting your coffee co-packing deadlines for bagged coffee beans, Keurig compatible cups, or Nespresso capsules is possible with Pod Pack as your coffee roasting and co-packing partner of choice.
3. Increase Coffee Production Capacity: When your business is looking to add more coffee SKUs to your product lineup, you may be looking to test out new coffee packaging options or you may be looking to scale coffee production efforts to meet increased customer coffee demand. In either case, working with Pod Pack gives you access to scalable production facilities, state-of-the-art co-packer equipment, and a qualified and experienced team. Knowing you have a coffee roasting and packing partner in your corner when you need to scale your coffee production rapidly is invaluable. Your customers expect to receive their quality coffee products on time and in their required quantities - working with Pod Pack is like having an extension of your facility without the steep manufacturing investment.
4. Faster Coffee Production: Get finished goods faster when you partner with an experienced co-packer. Experienced co-packers are there to provide faster turns for your coffee packing and production. The earlier you notify your coffee manufacturing partner of your product development needs, the faster your business can get coffee shipped to you or directly to your customers. Alternatively, if you are a Grocery Category Buyer and you're expected to ensure store brand coffee product is on the shelves on time, working with a coffee manufacturing partner ensures that you keep product on store shelves. Pod Pack is equipped for nationwide shipping ensuring that you get your new coffee SKUs as quickly as possible.
5. Work With an SQF Certified Facility: Double-check that your coffee co-packer has all of the required certifications. When you work with Pod Pack, you can rest assured that you're working with a facility that is SQF Certified and that our facilities are registered and approved by the FDA. Working with a Coffee Manufacturing Partner who already meets critical certification requirements means that you limit delays in coffee production. Working with a co-man benefits your business because they will have all of the certifications needed for safe, quality coffee manufacturing at-scale.

Our Facility Certifications

1. SQF: SQF certification is a food safety benchmark recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This is a prestigious certification that confirms that a company's food safety management systems and products have been rigorously tested and found to comply with GFSI's international standards, local regulations, and industry standards. Pod Pack's SQF certification is an official recognition of our ongoing commitment to provide world-class coffee products, meeting the highest quality standards. Read more about SQF certification here.
2. Kosher Check: we strive to meet the needs of our Jewish customers by upholding Kosher Check coffee manufacturing facilities in Louisiana State and Washington State. Many consumers opt for kosher food and beverages due to assurance that the product was developed cleanly, purely, safely, and with high standards in mind. More people are becoming more informed about the foods they consume, thus when your Private Label coffee product is Kosher Check certified, you can sell your coffee to kosher-observing members of the Jewish community and health-conscious consumers.
3. USDA Organic: When you partner with Pod Pack to develop organic coffee products, you are working with a USDA Organic certified coffee roasting and manufacturing facility. When you work with a USDA Organic certified manufacturing facility, you can market your product as organic. When your organic coffee product is produced with us in our Seattle-based roasting facility, everything we use to manufacture your organic coffee product including storage, cleaning materials, and handling equipment adheres to USDA guidelines; this includes how your organic coffee is grown, processed, stored, packed and shipped.
4. Fair Trade: Pod Pack coffees can also be Fair Trade certified, which means that you can rest assured knowing that the workers and farmers that grew your coffee received a fair deal on the coffee they supplied. Working with a Fair Trade certified coffee manufacturer means that the green coffee we supply you with comes from farms that follow the set environmental standards and workers' rights required as part of the Fair Trade certification. Fair Trade certification is an important consideration when you are selecting a coffee manufacturing partner that specializes in roasting, packing, and packaging your coffee; working with the right partner means that you can confidently label your coffee as Fair Trade certified, maintaining the certification and labeling standards that your customers expect.

5 Considerations When Choosing a Coffee Co-Packer

There are several things to consider when partnering with a coffee co-packer. You'll want to work with an established coffee manufacturer that specializes in coffee roasting, packing, and packaging who can deliver quality coffee manufacturing services at-scale.

1. Product and Market Knowledge: Choosing a coffee manufacturer who has extensive experience in co-packing and co-processing coffee is essential to ensuring a successful manufacturing partnership. Pod Pack has more than 20 years of experience in coffee packing and roasting which we put into every coffee bag we roast. Our licensed and certified professionals will help you to meet new coffee demands from your customers and maintain the quality and consistency that your customers expect from your brand. No matter the type of product packaging you're looking for - Keurig compatible pods, Nespresso capsules, cold brew pitcher packs, or white label coffee pods - you will work with a co-processing partner who can get you to finished goods faster.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: As an established coffee roaster or business that requires coffee, you may encounter increased coffee demand. If you are a coffee roaster you may need to outsource your coffee manufacturing workload to ensure your labor force is not overworked. Whatever the reason may be, if your coffee business requirements change, you don't want to lose out on new business due to sudden fluctuations in your coffee business. Having a manufacturing partner who can help when you need it to prevent coffee manufacturing downtime is priceless. When you work with Pod Pack, you do not have to sacrifice your coffee quality when you're trying to scale your coffee production quickly. When you invest in the right coffee manufacturing partner, you'll achieve a balance of partner flexibility, quality and price which allows you to meet your coffee production deadlines.
3. Exceptional Customer Service: When you work with Pod Pack for your coffee manufacturing needs, you can expect outstanding customer service. Your Private Label Coffee Expert will work with you from beginning to end to ensure that your coffee project is completed on time. We pride ourselves on prompt response times and the ability to answer any questions you may have. We believe in a flexible partnership approach where you are involved as little or as much as you'd like to ensure that your coffee production is developed and completed to your satisfaction.
4. Quality Coffee At-Scale: Working with a coffee co-processor can feel intimidating, especially if you've never outsourced your coffee production before. Your primary concern may be to ensure that the quality of your coffee is maintained and that your coffee is produced and received on time. When you choose a coffee manufacturing partner, you'll want to vet them to make sure that they have the machinery and roasting equipment needed to roast, pack, and package your coffee products, and align with your existing operational needs. When you partner with Pod Pack, you can rest assured knowing that we've got the ability to produce your specialty coffee at scale.
5. Scalable Manufacturing Capacity: If you are a national brand or roaster, or any business that requires coffee production or packing at-scale, Pod Pack will scale your coffee needs. When you work with a co-man, there is no need to invest in expensive coffee roasting or packing equipment. Our capacity to work with high-volume, national roasters and brands allows us to seamlessly integrate your coffee production requirements into our process-driven workflow. No matter the size of your business, our flexible partnership model is tailored to fit your unique coffee business needs. Consider partnering with Pod Pack to see an increase in scalable capacity.
6. Fast Results: At Pod Pack, we pride ourselves on shorter coffee production lead times than our competition without sacrificing coffee quality. When you are considering outsourcing some or all your coffee production to a coffee co-manufacturer, a core reason you may do so is because you are looking for fast results. Partner with Pod Pack as your coffee supplier and roaster to meet your increased coffee needs.

Partnering With a New Co-Packer

Whether you work with an existing co-packer or roast and pack your own coffee and tea products, there may be instances where choosing a new co-packer may become necessary. Whether price, quality, or coffee turnaround times have you looking at a new coffee supplier and roaster, Pod Pack is equipped to handle your coffee manufacturing needs.

1. Inability To Scale Your Coffee Production: When your business is looking to outsource or scale your existing coffee production, you will need to find a co-packer that has the capacity to grow with your business needs. The main reason that you partner with a co-man is to make it easier to expand existing or new lines of coffee products with a coffee manufacturing facility that has industrial coffee equipment and can easily accommodate your increased coffee production. When you are looking to partner with a new co-packer, you'll want to ask them how many pounds of coffee they can roast and pack and in what timeframe. If your existing co-processor is not able to accommodate your turnaround times, then it may be time to consider a new co-packer. Key considerations when choosing a new coffee co-packer are:
   1. Ability to scale coffee production up or down depending on changing coffee demands
      
   2. Coffee manufacturing facilities that are large enough to handle your existing and future growth needs
   3. Coffee manufacturing personnel who are experts in green coffee sourcing, roasting, packing, and packaging.
   4. Defined minimum order quantities (MOQs) that provide the best value for your business
   5. Flexible coffee partnership that allows you to be involved in the manufacturing process of your coffee.
2. Lagging Coffee Production Lead Times: On-time coffee production is paramount when you select a new coffee manufacturer and a minimum requirement for any new or existing partnership. If your existing co-packer has been unable to meet your required lead times, then it may be time to consider a new co-manufacturing partner. Often times when you first work with a small co-manufacturer, they are able to meet your coffee production requirements, however, if they are lacking industrial coffee roasting and packing equipment and are not able to scale with your growing business needs, you'll need to find a coffee manufacturer who can accommodate your growing coffee business needs. If you begin to notice that deadlines are not being met, it may be time to ask your coffee production partner if they are able to meet your new coffee production needs - if they are not able to help you to develop new SKUs on time, or provide clear timelines for your coffee production, then this is an indication that you may need to find a new co-packer.
3. Limited Coffee Manufacturing Capabilities: A clear indicator that it may be time to consider a new co-packer is that you identify that they are lacking the right equipment to produce your coffee product, they do not have experienced personnel who are trained to produce your coffee, or they do not have the required certifications that you need for your product. For example, if you are trying to sell your coffee in grocery stores, you'll want to make sure that you're working with a coffee manufacturing partner who has SQF Certification. Pod Pack is USDA Organic, Kosher, SQF, and Fair Trade certified - feel free to contact us to confirm any new certifications that we may have. When you are looking to find a co-packer, you will need to ask what certifications they have to ensure your retail coffee product is covered by the right certifications.
   
4. Unclear Value: Coffee manufacturing can be expensive, and when you work with a co-manufacturer, you will want to make sure that you are getting the return on your investment. If you work with a co-man who has not given you a clear understanding of the value of their service, this may be an indication that you'll need to find a new co-packer. As an example, if your contract manufacturing partner raises their fees, but they do not provide an itemized list of what is covered by this price increase, then it may be time to find a new co-packer.
5. Communication Breakdown: Open lines of communication are a minimum requirement when working with a quality coffee manufacturing partner. When you find a coffee manufacturing partner that you can trust, part of establishing trust is clear and consistent lines of communication. If you do not have a singular point of contact that is helping to manage your coffee production project, then you are likely going to run into communication breakdowns. When you select a coffee manufacturing partner to produce your coffee, there will be many moving parts to ensure that your coffee is produce to the highest quality. If your existing co-man partner is slow to respond or does not have a scheduled check-in time with you to review your coffee SKUs, then this could be a sign that there is poor communication. Trusting a manufacturing partner is a key reason that you will continue to work with them; additionally, your customers expect your high-quality coffee, and you'll want to work with a co-processor who can make a seamless, matched coffee product that will continue to increase your coffee sales - meeting these quality requirements requires consistent communication with an expert coffee roasting partner.
   

Co-Packing FAQ

Before partnering with a coffee manufacturer for your coffee or tea production needs, consider the following when selecting a new co-packer:

1. Co-Packing vs. Private Label - What's The Difference? Like a co-packer, a private label coffee manufacturer will work with you to develop a pack your coffee product. However, the key difference between a coffee co-packer and private label coffee manufacturer is ownership. A private label coffee manufacturing partner works B2B to match or create new products for established coffee brands; these coffee brands will sell the produced coffee to their own customers. The Private Label Coffee Manufacturer does not brand, market, or sell any of their own products - instead, they create products for your brand that you can sell. A coffee co-packer will distribute your product under your brand's name whereas a private label coffee manufacturer uses their own coffee but packages and labels it with your brand name. Pod Pack is both a co-packer and private label coffee manufacturer - when you choose to work with us you have the option to use your own coffee or to use ours.
2. Co-Packing vs. Co-Manufacturing - What's The Difference? Pod Pack is both a coffee co-packer and co-manufacturer. Co-packing refers to a company that packages and labels your product to create finished coffee and tea goods. A co-manufacturing partner assists with product development and production. Depending on your business needs, the co-manufacturing process may involve coffee recipe development. Pod Pack is equipped to handle end-to-end coffee product development and provides co-packing and co-manufacturing services.
3. What is a Co-Packing Agreement? When you work with an established coffee manufacturer, you can expect that there will be a formal agreement between you and your co-packing partner. When you partner with Pod Pack, we pride ourselves on flexibility and work with you to establish a partnership agreement that works for both parties. The co-packing agreement should establish terms, requirements, and obligations for both parties. When evaluating and reviewing your co-manufacturing agreement, you'll want to make sure at a minimum it includes the following:
   
   1. Coffee Manufacturing Services: there should be a clear description of the services that your co-packer will perform. This includes supply chain specifics like who will order your green coffee, if green coffee is required for your project, who will order material, labels, and shipping boxes. When you work with Pod Pack, we handle all your product ordering requirements; if, however, you already have materials, please let your Private Label Coffee Expert know and we will work with you to onboard your materials into our manufacturing facilities. The scope of work should be defined as precisely as possible - in some cases, the agreement may need to include products or services that will not be included. When you work with Pod Pack, your Private Label Coffee Expert will work with you to define an agreement that works for you and your business.
   2. Coffee Product Specifications: your coffee manufacturing agreement should outline clear specifications for the co-packing, co-processing, or co-manufacturing services that will be involved in the creation of your finished coffee goods.
      
   3. Food Safety for Coffee: when you work with Pod Pack to co-process your coffee or tea product part of our partnership model includes full transparency about how your product is produced. Once our partnership agreement is in effect, you will have the ability to visit our production facilities to oversee the production of your coffee products when they are in production. Manufacturing any type of food or beverage requires adhering to quality standards to ensure that your coffee is safe for consumption; our onsite quality teams ensure that your coffee is produced to the highest standards of food safety. When you are reviewing your manufacturing agreement, the agreement should allow your business the right to inspect any food safety practices and documentation relevant to your product.
      
   4. Liability: your manufacturing partnership agreement should include an indemnification provision that states that your co-packer will compensate your business for any damage, loss, or cost suffered due to negligence. This means that your business won't be held responsible for any liabilities caused by your co-packing partner. Damages could include damaging or losing products during packaging or storage. When negotiating your contract terms, you have the option to be added to Pod Pack's liability insurance policy for added protection for your coffee product.
      
   5. Quality Assurance: your coffee manufacturing agreement should establish who is responsible for quality control and how often they inspect products. The agreement should also specify what factors render a product defective and who will handle the disposal or repair of those products.
4. How Do You Find A Co-Packer? Once you've decided to work with a coffee co-packer to scale your coffee product production, look no further than Pod Pack. When you trust us to manufacturer and co-pack your coffee or tea product, we will match your existing coffee or help you to develop new coffee or tea SKUs to help scale your business. Pod Pack is your international coffee manufacturing partner. Send our team and email at sales@podpack.com or give us a call at 225-351-7846.

View Our Co-Packing Services

If you're ready to find a new coffee manufacturer who specializes in coffee source, roasting and packing for private label coffee, choose Pod Pack as your co-packing partner. With over 20 years of experience in the coffee industry, we have the facilities, equipment, and people to meet all of your coffee manufacturing needs. Ask our Private Label Coffee Experts about our toll-roasting, roast-to-order, or co-packaging services.

Our goal is to establish coffee production partnerships that provide superior quality, flexibility, and value to ensure that you're able to outsource and scale your coffee production easily.

Check out our co-packing services or contact our private label experts today to find out more.

Add Flavored Coffee SKUs

Our Seattle Area, state-of-the-art coffee roastery is equipped with industrial flavor blenders to infuse your coffee with house and custom flavors. Looking for a seasonal coffee flavor? Add pumpkin spice flavoring to your coffee. Try our house coffee flavors like vanilla or hazelnut. Looking for more flavor options? Try caramel, chocolate creme brûlée, and many more. Interested in custom flavor development? Work with our R&D Team to develop coffee flavoring that your customers will love.