7 Stunning Coffee Bean Packages That Deserve a Spot on Your Shelf
Image Source: Pr_cess Coffee
A key component of the third wave coffee movement, for me, has been the art that surrounds coffee, be it the development in latte art, coffee shop design, or in this case, the coffee bean packaging.
The science of coffee—the harvest, the roasting and the brewing—is at the core of the coffee experience, but the art rounds the entire experience.
When perusing through a multi-roaster coffee shop, the plethora of choices can be overwhelming. However, I found that a good design makes it easy to filter out (no pun intended) the great from the good. While not always the case, a good packaging design is an indicator that the roaster has taken every detail into consideration. In a similar vein, if you go to a coffee shop, if the toilet experience is nice, you know they’ve gone the extra mile. The packaging is often the first interaction of a new roast, and this needs to grab your attention within the first seconds—the rest depends on the bean.
Below are seven of my favourite coffee package designs that have stayed on my shelf, long after the last bean was brewed. These designs are clean, minimal, and above all, preserve the freshness of the bean well.
The capsule-like packaging caught my eye at my local coffee shop, No Worries in Düsseldorf. The roaster, Pr_cess, stands out as one of the most unique coffee roasters I have ever seen, with its signature, nostalgic VHS tape packaging. The capsule is sleek, compact, and reserved exclusively for only the best roasts, such as this natural anaerobically processed Geisha. I’ve had the honour of taking the bean home, and it was my favourite bean in 2025.
Mame was born through the connection of two brilliant minds: Mathieu Theis, French-born, multi-winning Swiss Barista Champion, and Emi Fukahori, Japanese-born, multi-winning Swiss Barista Champion.
The Japanese influence is embedded in the DNA of the brand, through the name itself, Mame (豆), which translates to ‘beans,’ as well as the minimal aesthetic of the design. I had the privilege of visiting their second location in Zurich, where I was served their filter flight, comprising of three fantastic brews, including a competition coffee. At the time, my wallet was only willing to splurge on the Rwanda Bourbon variety.
I love their core black-and-white containers, with each variety distinguished by a simple coloured strip and the coffee description. Such a minimal design always deserves a space on my shelf, as it’s versatile, clean, and can be reused for other storage purposes.
Ripsnorter
This roaster was born out of the vision from 3x Dutch Barista Champion, Zjevaun Janga. After mastering coffee at the highest level, he wants the world to be just as excited about it as he is.
‘Ripsnorter’ is an Aussie term shouted out when something blows your mind, something Janga learned during his time in the self-proclaimed coffee capital of the world, Melbourne. He and his team have successfully translated this feeling in their packaging design, with its loud, colourful, and comic book-style containers. Having tried Friedhats in Amsterdam, their design looks like a Rotterdam response.
I first discovered this roaster at Harvest Café and Bakery in Rotterdam, whose seats are usually full. Since late 2024, they opened up their flagship café on Mariniersweg. At Harvest, I had the opportunity to meet the founder in person, despite the chaos in the café, and contrary to the design, his demeanor was warm, calm and collected.
Friedhats
A 1.5-hour journey on the intercity trains of the Netherlands will lead you to the famous Friedhats coffee roasters in Amsterdam. I’ve come to know this roaster quite well over the years, as they have become quite ubiquitous in Europe. My first touchpoint was at The Coffee Gang in Cologne, where the packaging caught my attention before the barista could take my order. I also had the privilege of visiting a couple of times during my visits to Amsterdam. In 2024, I bumped into the co-founder and 3x Dutch Barista Champion, Lex Wenneker, at the Amsterdam Coffee Festival, despite Friedhats not having a booth.
While their slogan is “Less Marketing, More Coffee,” I find their marketing tactics extremely unique and impactful. Just check out this April Fool’s Day example.
Their packaging is reminiscent of a medicine container whose chemist decided to cover his body with tattoos. While the beans don’t heal sicknesses, they do heal the soul.
Urban Coffee Roasters
What was foreign to me for the first time is actually quite common in Asia: coffee tins. When I grabbed this unique Liberica variety when they were guest roasters at Cøffe, I was fascinated by the design. Their minimal, brown paper is their signature design, distinguishing varieties by numbers. The tin and numerical distinctions elude a chemistry-like presentation, which is what coffee essentially is.
I’ve sampled the beans multiple times when the DUS cupping club hosted a cupping featuring roasts from China and Hong Kong, as well as when a friend from Hong Kong brought back a sample upon request. Every single time, I’m blown away by the flavour. Coffee tins are excellent storage solutions as they block UV rays better than plastic or paper. The more secure the lid, the longer you can maintain its freshness after each opening.
Nemesis
Oftentimes, less is more. When I stumbled upon Nemesis’s packaging at Hamers Coffee (now closed), it stood out among the abundance of choice. The bright red packaging with the signature heart in the corner is reminiscent of a jewelry box. The packaging consists of an outer box made of sturdy cardboard, while the beans are stored in a transparent plastic.
While I’ve never visited Vancouver, it will definitely be at the top of my list. With multiple locations across the city, each building is a marvel of architecture that reflects the high caliber of design from end-to-end.
Onyx Coffee Lab
There are multiple reasons why Onyx Coffee Lab was ranked the #2 coffee shop in the world in 2025, and while coffee bean packaging probably wasn’t the defining factor, it truly stands out. With their recent expansion into the EU, they have penetrated a few coffee shops I’ve visited.
Every aspect of Onyx Coffee Lab exudes top-tier quality—just check out their website. I’ve never seen coffee presented in such an interactive way online.
This immersive quality is reflected in their packaging, highlighting more details than most coffee shops I’ve ever witnessed, including a recommended brewing recipe.
When my brother spontaneously called me from one of their locations in Arkansas one day, I made a request in a blink of an eye.
What did I miss?
These are just a few of my favourites I’ve had the privilege to witness with my own eyes. Let me know in the comments if there are some standout designs with stellar beans that you would recommend, no matter where you’re from.
