We live in a world that’s full of coffee-lovers. If you’re one yourself, you can probably imagine no better feeling than sipping the drink in just about any setting.
The good news is that recent packaging ventures are taking the coffee world to new heights.
From dashing designs to cool containers, coffee enthusiasts will be happy to know that there is more than just your average coffee pot nowadays.
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You can get creative with colour and decorate your shelf with just about any style of coffee packaging you like. The world is your oyster!
Not to mention the bursting flavours of the brews. What’s not to love?
Coffee is loved worldwide, and there’s nothing quite like it to get us through the day. The smell of it in the morning is unlike anything else and it’s certainly appreciated by a large number of people.
Coffee packaging and branding comes in all shapes and sizes, and it’s a crucial factor in what makes us feel like trying each one out.
Like anything these days, people love a trend. Coffee is no different, and this is especially evident in the recent emergence of creative packaging and innovative designs.
Whether you want to experiment with vibrancy or you prefer a sleek, more modern design, you can dive right in.
© Credit to Couplet Coffee
Couplet Coffee
The slogan “Where coffee meets joy” perfectly sums up Couplet Coffee. This brand of coffee is all about having fun, embracing colour, and getting straight to the tasty part. It’s a specialty coffee that’s aimed at everyone with its bright colours and open-minded outlook.
The curved writing and the animated pictures are certainly eye-catching, and each blend has a different mug design that stands out at the bottom of the packaging.
The writing of the quote over the top of this is very easy to read, which is useful as it’s describing the unique flavour of the specific blend.
This packaging design is bursting with personality and the brand’s love of coffee and the joy they want to spread certainly comes through.
Packaging alone, Couplet Coffee stands out as a distinct brand within the coffee world.
Couplet Coffee’s website is also extremely memorable. It’s practically bursting with colour and graphics, which is very in-keeping with the brand’s overall image.
You can’t help but notice their brand mascot, too, which is a cute little cup that you’ll see all throughout their marketing. This sets the brand apart even more and adds a little extra to their image.
© Credit to Redemption Roasters
Redemption Roasters
Redemption Roasters win the plaudits for the most innovative business model on the list.
Each batch of Redemption coffee is prepared by inmates enrolled in a training programme at a Youth Offenders Prison.
“Here Design took inspiration from this powerful story of redemption through skill-building within the inmate population in the design of the new Redemption Roasters identity, following the journey with a series of colourful graphics, symbols and illustrations.”
The packaging reflects the journey the offenders take. And you can see that come to life through the shapes, symbols, and illustrations that are used.
The logo mark and brand identity itself is also very clever. And your packaging design should work alongside and support your brand identity.
Two Rs (for Redemption Roasters) come together to form a keyhole, to represent prison and being locked up. Or, to represent the unlocking of potential, which is what Redemption Roasters are doing.
In terms of concept, Redemption Roasters really have it nailed. The design work is outstanding too.
Remember, when creating your packaging, you need a strong brand identity and concept first. Don’t start with your packaging and work backwards. That’s where a lot of brands fail.
© Credit to Grind Coffee
Grind Coffee
If you’re into colour schemes and you particularly enjoy pink, you will definitely enjoy Grind Coffee’s packaging design. The coffee itself comes in a sleek pink bag with bold black writing that’s minimalistic yet sleek.
Imagine this tin on the shelf of a stylish London café, popular with influencers and Instagram enthusiasts. Grind Coffee’s cafés, trucks, and shops offer an aesthetically pleasing coffee experience, making it a great addition to any kitchen.
So, if you’re considering it for your own kitchen, it’ll definitely look good!
If you want to store your coffee away, you can also get tins that have a similarly minimalistic look. These tins come in both pink and silver, so you can match it to your aesthetic.
You can fill these tins with the light pink pods that come in a wide variety of flavours and blends.
Another interesting packaging venture is the iced coffee cans, which match the pink and pastel colour scheme of the tin. The font itself looks very sophisticated, and the combination of colours reflects the brand’s refined and stylish look.
Grind Coffee also has an interesting advert that actually quotes worms. Yes, worms. They include a quote from Wilma the Worm, who states “I love a compostable coffee pod to start the day”.
This lighthearted approach to advertising suggests Grind Coffee’s dedication to an eco-friendly approach and their commitment to sustainability.
© Credit to Brives
Brives
Brives (a brand name derived from “bright vibes”) are a cold brew coffee startup based in Mexico looking to make a real impact with their coffee packaging.
The rainbow reflective material definitely catches your eye, and plays well with the name of the brand.
Whilst not a huge fan of the logo or typography, I really do like the originality of the packaging design, and the business cards work well too.
Brives have been brave enough to try something new, and are making a statement with their bright, vibrant cold brew coffee packaging.
© Credit to Cupffee
Cupffee
If you fancy a sweet treat with your coffee, Cupffee has you covered.
Picture sipping coffee in the park with no bin in sight. Do you carry your cup around all day? How inconvenient! Ever wished you could just eat the cup? Cupffee makes this possible.
Their waffle cup, adorned with colourful spots and the tagline “Nice to eat you,” is both practical and eco-friendly. Cupffee is on a “Green mission,” aiming for a fully biodegradable, zero-waste coffee cup.
Their website highlights that 500 million plastic cups are used daily, with less than 1% recycled.
Made from natural grains, these edible cups are environmentally conscious. They’re small for practicality, giving you 40 minutes to enjoy your coffee before the waffle softens. The branding is simple yet effective, making Cupffee a fun and green alternative.
© Credit to Dunkin’
Dunkin’
Now, Glen has already covered Dunkin’s rebrand in his food packaging post.
The new Dunkin brand reduces Dunkin’ Donuts down to Dunkin, then depending on the size of your coffee, down further to Dnkn.
While this coffee packaging is solely a cup, Dunkin’ do a great job of bringing their new flexible identity through their product range.
The bright colouring and curved playful font sit perfectly against a stark white background. It’s a unique look for one of “America’s favourite coffees.”
If there’s any Americans reading this, would you agree?
© Credit to Green Chameleon
Botanical
The packaging for Botanical is by one of our favourite design agencies, Green Chameleon.
The Bristol based agency are always putting out exciting new work, and Botanical falls squarely into that category.
We first came across this project when compiling research for another of our projects. And it’s remained a firm favourite with us ever since.
Again, even though the project itself is conceptual, there’s a high degree of knowledge and thinking that goes into each element of the design work.
The script is a nod to vintage brands of old. The marbling effect is used to represent life forms and organisms. And the big stamp is almost pastiche of the hipster and ever trending coffee industry.
Hopefully someone will snap up the Botanical concept and we’ll see it come to life soon!
© Credit to Pod & Parcel
Pod & Parcel
Pod & Parcel make Nespresso friendly, biodegradable, compostable coffee pods.
And the packaging they’ve chosen is completely different to the other coffee packaging designs on this list.
They’ve gone for a stripped back, illustrative approach. And it works. Although the critic in me says perhaps it looks like “fake nails” or a box for “sticky plasters.”
The muted colours and stripped back approach flies in the face of the extravagance we’ve seen throughout the rest of this post.
The colours Pod & Parcel use are slightly conflicting, and lately, this sort of design has become trendy (see eBay’s latest advertising). However, Pod & Parcel were ahead of the curve.
What you can take from this and apply to your brand, is that you should at least experiment with something different.
Where others have gone high colour, pattern, and texture, Pod go stripped back and minimalist, which is why they’re on this list.
Dare to be different.
© Credit to Top of the Mornin’
Top of the Mornin’
If you know about coffee, you’ll likely know this brand. 2 has a playful look with simple drawings and a smiley face wrapped around a mug for the “o” in “top”.
Founded by YouTuber Seán McLoughlin, aka Jacksepticeye, the brand reflects his passion for coffee.
Top of the Mornin’ stands out with its fun and positive illustration style, which is different from typical coffee branding. Instead of fine art and sleek lines, it features energetic patterns and funky designs.
This unique approach helps the brand carve its identity in a crowded market. If you’re expecting luxurious colours and detailed drawings, this brand’s lively illustrations and vibrant packaging may surprise you.
The yellow and cartoon-like font aims to give coffee drinkers a positive start to the day, reminiscent of Roger Hargreaves’ Mr Men characters.
The limited edition flavours like “S’mores” and “Salted Caramel” further distinguish the brand. The packaging, resembling a microwavable popcorn bag, adds to the fun.
Colour is used purposefully, with yellow representing the morning sun and other colours reflecting different times of the day. Overall, the brand radiates positivity and its packaging will brighten up any kitchen shelf.
© Credit to Bandido Coffee
Bandido Coffee
This fun little design for Bandido Coffee is so simple, yet so imaginative.
It reminds me of when I’d run through a newspaper and draw faces, beards, and glasses on the people pictured.
The traditional bandit mask is the primary design device that makes this design work so well.
It sits flush with the top of the coffee cups and bean bags. And it also allows coffee drinkers to draw on their own unique mouths and other distinguishing features.
It’s minimalist, expressive, and easily some of the most creative coffee packaging we’ve seen.
One of my favourite implications with this, is that they’ve printed bandit masks onto other brand’s loyalty cards, which they then use as their own.
That’s perfect. Essentially, it’s a coffee heist.
Perfect branding, from concept, to completion.
© Credit to Dark Matter
Dark Matter
Dark Matter, a Chicago-based coffee brand, aims to make coffee both taste and look fun. They partner with various artists, from street to fine artists, to create unique and bold packaging designs.
Each coffee bag features a distinct design, showcasing the diverse influences of different artists. From graffiti-style to refined drawings, Dark Matter’s love for art and coffee is evident.
Every month, a new artist collaborates with the brand to release fresh packaging based on their creative ideas. This initiative supports Chicago-based street artists, giving them a platform to showcase their talent.
Artists receive guidance only about the coffee blend’s taste and flavour, allowing them creative freedom. This openness results in a refreshing and varied selection of designs.
© Credit to Blend Station
Blend Station
Illustrations and coffee packaging designs go hand in hand. Only how detailed the illustrations go does vary from coffee brand to coffee brand.
Blend Station has gone for the minimalist approach with its packaging design, choosing to only include a pair of piercing almond eyes, set against a pitch black background.
The result is something that instantly grabs your attention. The eyes also remind me of the now infamous Comme des Garçons logo as the eyes are very similar to its logo.
This coffee packaging design is like the complete opposite of some of the other designs mentioned in this post, but still just as effective in grabbing the attention of coffee lovers.
I should also mention how easily the logo transitions to things like coffee mugs and other branded materials/touchpoints.
© Credit to Coffee Beans
Coffee Beans
The Coffee Beans packaging takes the same illustrative approach as Pod & Bean, but injects life into the colour palette.
The design for Coffee Beans, almost doesn’t look like coffee packaging at all. It’s quite “on trend” and chaotic – but that doesn’t stop it being great.
The bright packaging and huge sans-serif typeface looks very modern but almost budget. As Coffee Beans are looking to bring affordability back to the coffee market, this look works for them.
It certainly doesn’t look high end. More fresh, exciting, and appealing.
And how can you not love the illustration and colour work?
The lesson here is in knowing what you’re setting out to do from the start.
If you’re going to aim for high end customers, then you need to know that from the start. If budget is your market, then your identity and packaging should reflect that.
© Credit to Little Wolf Coffee
Little Wolf Coffee
Little Wolf Coffee’s packaging is crafted by Perky Bros, a Nashville-based branding and design team founded in 2009. Known for their creative input and original ideas, Perky Bros have created fine illustrations that resemble a storybook, a theme evident throughout the website.
Their overall aim is to create coffee packaging that’s one part science and two part storybook, which is an interesting combination. But, I have to say, it definitely works!
In my opinion, the packaging resembles a prescription package that you’d pick up, but it has a lot more going on.
To me, this reflects the high quality of their coffee, as it suggests the level of detail used to create the perfect blend.
The mix of white and pastel colours makes for a simple but effective look, and the actual writing stands out in an aesthetically pleasing way. “Good Coffee & Companions” is the tagline that’s highly evident with the dog, and it all ties together nicely.
© Credit to Birdy Coffee Co.
Birdy Coffee Co.
Birdy Coffee Co. won the 2023 Packaging Design Awards, so huge congratulations to them!
Their coffee packaging is nature-orientated, with different birds resembling the distinct flavours of the coffee. This is a nice touch, as it creates a strong link that helps coffee-lovers decide on the right option for them.
Ryan Walker, the co-founder, expresses his family’s love of birds, suggesting where a large part of the packaging idea comes from. The word “birdy” itself is soft, which is in-keeping with the tone of the brand.
The fine details of each bird was what helped this coffee win the award, and the bright colours used on everyone looks aesthetically pleasing alongside the colourful background.
The overriding theme of the coffee brand is the sense of fun that comes with the different birds used, and the packaging will stand out on a shelf.
You probably wouldn’t normally associate coffee and birds, so it makes a nice change to your coffee-shopping experience.
The actual names of the coffee stand out, too, and add to the joyful look of the packaging. For example, “Wild Goose Chase” paired with the detailed illustration of the goose uses the brand’s creative flair to create a strong impression.
© Credit to Arôme de Caféine
Arôme de Caféine
The aroma of coffee is universally recognised, and Arôme de Caféine uses its packaging to stand out from the typical coffee look.
This coffee comes in a glass bottle, a unique concept. The bottle features a sleek, sophisticated white label with ample space, and black sans serif font spelling “Arôme de Caféine,” adding a touch of luxury that contrasts with the intense flavour they offer.
Now time for some background on this coffee brand. It was formed by two childhood friends Audrey and Brielle.
These two friends felt fascinated by the aroma of coffee, which is reflected in the actual name of the brand and the in-depth flavours they want to create.
Coming from a small town in the French mountains, this brand is as authentic as it gets. Their interest and passion for the aroma of coffee has propelled them into a popular and trendy brand, with their glass bottle idea at the forefront of what makes them stand out.
© Credit to Redroaster Coffee
Redroaster Coffee
Redroaster Coffee are certified organic coffee roasters from Kemptown, Brighton, on the South Coast of England.
Their coffee packaging design, created by Australian studio Pop & Pac, brings through the deep green and plant heavy interior design of their coffee shop come restaurant.
Bringing influence from their restaurant into their packaging, helps build brand recognition with customers, and adds depth to the customer experience.
The boxes of Redroaster’s coffee look high end, especially when considering the embossed lettering and foiling they’ve used. Even their bean packaging looks classy. Had a lovely coffee and meal?
Take yourself home a box of the good stuff!
© Credit to David Choice Coffee Box
David Choice Coffee Box
Have you ever heard of coffee in a box? It’s a pretty simple idea, but it goes against the typical look of coffee packaging which makes it stand out. The David Choice coffee box is bursting with energy, which is exactly how we all want to feel after drinking a coffee.
Seesaw Studio, a graphic design studio based in Shanghai & Ningbo are responsible for the bold design, and their creative flair is evident.
They’ve used bold text and strong colours of red, blue, yellow, and purple to make the box look eye-catching. And it’s worked!
This distinct combination of colours reflects the intensity of the coffee flavour, and it suggests from the get-go just how much the aroma and taste of the coffee will be.
© Credit to Rave
Rave
Rave coffee is not what you’d immediately think of if someone mentioned coffee. Their packaging is bold and makes a statement by using a large font and direct statements.
“No jargon” and “No BS” appears on the back of the coffee, which doesn’t necessarily keep in with the tone of the other coffee packaging designs we’ve explored. But, it’s definitely not something you’d forget quickly.
According to the head of marketing, David Webb, evoking a strong emotion is the overall aim of packaging. Whether it’s love or hate, they’re not picky!
I can see this coming through in their packaging as it really makes a statement, especially on first look. But, the more you read, the better it gets.
The writing of “Rave” itself is unmissable, as it’s simply so large. Written down the side of the packaging, you know exactly what brand you’re dealing with.
Their packaging is also 100% recyclable and freshness with airtight packaging is at the top of the list of priorities of Rave. So, not only are you able to enjoy the rich flavours of the coffee blends, but you can utilise the benefits of this particular packaging and its qualities.
© Credit to Pact Coffee
Pact Coffee
For the ultimate environmentally-friendly coffee experience, Pact Coffee is a good choice. Their bags are made from 70% recyclable materials and are 100% recyclable.
Their packaging is also simple but effective, with distinct writing of “Pact Coffee” at the top that contrasts with the white background. This combination is aesthetically pleasing, and will look good in a range of different locations.
For example, I can imagine it in both a sleek cafe and on a shelf in a cosy kitchen.
The colour-scheme of each one is different depending on the flavour, and this makes for an interesting browse. Their design is sleek and the small image underneath the brand name makes it look appealing and interesting, as each one is different.
On their website, you can take part in a “Coffee Quiz” and find your perfect coffee. This experience is engaging, and makes the process of buying coffee a lot more personable and enjoyable.
© Credit to Elite Coffee Capsules
Elite Coffee Capsules
And finally, let’s take a look at Elite Coffee Capsules.
Elite have designed their coffee packaging in a way that almost resembles chocolate.
They’ve also opted to distinguish between product lines by using a different colour, and a huge sans-serif number on the background of the packaging.
And that works for me. It’s not something I’ve seen other companies do.
This packaging really comes into its own as part of the larger product range. Each of the packages look great when stacked with other products in the range.
Think about that when creating your coffee packaging design. Are you creating a standalone product, or will it be part of a range? And what will you do to reflect that?
A Shot of Inspiration: The Most Creative Coffee Packaging Designs
It feels like it’s time for a coffee, wouldn’t you agree?
If you’re a coffee-lover and enthusiast, you probably can’t wait to get started and try out something new. And if you’re a tea drinker, we’ve got a post looking at our favourite tea branding and packaging too!
While the taste of the coffee is, of course, the main event, it’s also interesting to explore the different packaging out there. Whether you want a sleek and sophisticated coffee tin, or a funky and upbeat bag, there are so many options!
Effective coffee packaging is a great way for brands to create a strong identity and stand out in the crowded market. By dedicating time and effort into their packaging, websites and designs, they’ll create better customer loyalty, too.
All of these coffee brands show just how important creativity is and it’s clear that their efforts aim to make a strong impression. Their unique ideas and bold ventures keep them relevant and popular in the coffee industry.