How Are Coffee Beans Shipped? A Complete Guide to Coffee Logistics & Shipping Best Practices

• Knowing how to ship coffee comes down to managing oxygen, heat, and transit time. These are variables you can’t fully control, but you can set yourself up for success with the right packaging.

• For most small roasters, the best way to ship coffee beans is via USPS/UPS with strong-barrier bags, heat seals, and degassing valves; International shipments require customs-ready labeling and longer freshness planning.

• Shipping coffee beans domestically vs. internationally alters paperwork, transit times, and risks, but freshness protection remains the top priority.

• Understanding coffee logistics—from freight containers to mailbox-friendly packaging—helps roasters avoid damage, delays, and stale coffee.

Before roasted coffee ever leaves your roastery, it’s already traveled thousands of miles. Understanding how coffee moves through the global supply chain helps inform smarter shipping decisions downstream.

The same principles that protect green coffee during long international transport—moisture control, temperature stability, and protective barriers—also apply when shipping roasted coffee to customers.

How Green Coffee Travels from Farm to Roastery

Green coffee is far more stable than roasted coffee, but it still requires intentional handling on its journey from origin to roastery. Most green coffee ships in jute bags, packed into standard freight containers. These containers are often lined with GrainPro or similar barrier liners to create a hermetic seal against moisture and odor contamination.

Temperature and humidity control play a major role in preserving quality during weeks-long transit. Even small fluctuations inside a shipping container can influence moisture content and flavor. Exporters and importers monitor conditions closely and use protective liners, proper ventilation, and strategic pallet placement to minimize exposure and movement throughout the voyage.

How Are Coffee Beans Shipped Internationally?

International coffee shipping adds complexity—especially for roasted coffee.

Both green and roasted coffee require customs documentation, but roasted coffee must also meet each destination country’s food import regulations, which vary widely. Incorrect labeling or missing paperwork can lead to delays, inspections, or rejected shipments.

Because of these requirements, planning your paperwork and labeling ahead of time is non-negotiable.

Freight choices influence freshness and risk. Green coffee typically travels by sea in bulk, while roasted coffee is often shipped by air to shorten transit time and preserve flavor. Even with the right method, delays, temperature swings, and moisture exposure are common risks. Understanding these variables and building in buffer time helps ensure your coffee arrives in the condition you intended.

Shipping roasted coffee comes down to two priorities: freshness and on-time delivery.

Roasters must choose packaging and shipping methods that protect flavor during transit while keeping their operation efficient and cost-effective. That means understanding how factors like degassing, oxygen exposure, grind size, and transit time interact and how your packaging setup supports (or works against) your freshness goals. When you nail these pieces, your coffee arrives tasting exactly the way you intended.

How to Ship Coffee Without Sacrificing Freshness

A few essential tips:

• Use high-barrier packaging: Oxygen and moisture are the biggest threats to freshness during transit. High-barrier films slow oxidation and preserve flavor throughout the journey.

• Always heat-seal your bags: Zippers are convenient for consumers, but they’re not designed to withstand shipping. A proper heat seal prevents leaks, contamination, and accidental openings.

• Understand degassing: Freshly roasted coffee releases the highest amount of CO₂ in the first 24-72 hours. If you seal too early, the coffee will continue to degas inside the bag, causing it to puff up and put strain on the degassing valve. Allow a window of time for your coffee to degas before sealing.

• Consider Aesthetics: If your coffee is traveling by air, the changes in altitude can cause a vacuum-compressed look to your bag. This doesn’t affect freshness, but it can play a role in aesthetics and the unboxing experience for your customer (we’ll touch on that later).

• Note your product type: Are you shipping whole beans or ground coffee? Keep in mind that ground coffee stales faster compared to whole beans, so barrier properties and sealing matter even more.

If you’re learning how to ship coffee beans or refining your weekly fulfillment process, packaging and sealing are the foundation of freshness. Let’s talk about it.

Even the fastest shipping method can’t fix poor packaging. Your packaging is the frontline defense against oxygen, heat, punctures, and rough handling. And as your customer’s first physical interaction with your company, it plays a critical role in your brand experience.

Freshness Starts With the Bag

A strong barrier layer is essential for shipping coffee, and Roastar’s bags offer excellent protection against oxygen and moisture. Our recyclable and compostable materials are good sustainable options, though they typically offer slightly lower barrier performance, something roasters should factor into shelf life and transit planning.

Don’t Skip the Degassing Valve

If your coffee is being shipped within a week of roasting (you’re here reading this piece because you care about freshness, so it probably is), a degassing valve is a must. It allows CO₂ to release while blocking oxygen from creeping in—a crucial balance in multi-day transit.

As we mentioned before, when gas is unable to escape your bags, the pressure buildup can place strain on your seals or even cause bags to burst entirely, jeopardizing freshness and the customer experience. Which leads us to…

Seal Integrity

This cannot be overstated: Heat seal your bags. It’s the easiest and most reliable way to prevent transit damage, especially since bags can be punctured or compressed inside shipping cartons. Zippers alone aren’t enough.

Labeling & Compliance

Domestic shipping is generally straightforward, but if you're planning on sending your coffee beans outside the U.S., double-check:

• Required food labeling

• Country-specific import rules

• Any restrictions on roasted coffee as a consumable

Shipping is one of the largest ongoing expenses for roasters. Understanding cost drivers helps protect margins without compromising customer experience.

What Influences Coffee Shipping Costs

• Weight vs. dimensional weight: Many carriers charge based on box size, not just weight. Selecting a shipping box that closely fits your product and minimizes excess space can help reduce shipping costs.

• Destination zones: The farther a package travels, the higher the cost.

• Service level (speed): Freshness-sensitive goods like coffee often push brands toward faster methods, which are pricier.

• Carrier capacity & seasonal demand: Shipping gets more expensive during peak seasons.

Cost-Saving Tips for Shipping Coffee

• Find the right size boxes: Don’t pay to ship empty space. Roastar offers shipping cartons designed for specific bag styles and quantities, eliminating guesswork.

• Negotiate rates: Even small roasters can often secure better carrier pricing. Pretend like you’re trying to lower your phone bill: Speak to multiple carriers and see if you can leverage their rates against one another.

• Prevent damage: Replacements cost you shipping, coffee, time, and your bottom line. Strong seals and protective boxes reduce breakage and returns.

Shipping isn’t just logistics—it’s part of your brand experience. Custom touches like branded boxes, printed tape, and inserts create an unboxing moment customers look forward to.

Whether you're shipping your first bag or optimizing hundreds of weekly orders, the secret to successful fulfillment is simple: protect freshness, package thoughtfully, and ship smart.

If you ever need help picking the perfect bag (or shipping carton), our team at Roastar is always here to help. Contact us or get a fast quote today.