Been noticing a trend of ultra fancy and I assume expensive packaging of special coffees by some of the bigger specialty coffee players. Personally, I find this kind of discouraging. I don't mind paying extra for a special coffee but not for packaging bling.

any example?

This picture was in a newsletter email today. CCC Aida's Grand Reserve Espresso released in Dec. '10 was in a bag placed in a metal canister.

Stumptown offers Hairbender in a "Limited edition jar." Doesn't seem particularly necessary...

farmroast wrote:Been noticing a trend of ultra fancy and I assume expensive packaging of special coffees by some of the bigger specialty coffee players. Personally, I find this kind of discouraging. I don't mind paying extra for a special coffee but not for packaging bling.

Marketing directed at your average consumer or deep pocket coffee connoisseur wannabee who enjoys showing off his coffee "expertise" at he and his wife's social parties.

Len

farmroast wrote:CCC Aida's Grand Reserve Espresso released in Dec. '10 was in a bag placed in a metal canister.

They probably hope to appeal to gift-givers.

CoffeeRoastersClub wrote:Marketing directed at your average consumer or deep pocket coffee connoisseur wannabee who enjoys showing off his coffee "expertise" at he and his wife's social parties.

Len

While this is very true, man of these items are sold to people who are so desperate for a good cup of coffee, that they spend for the packaging in hopes of finally getting one.

farmroast wrote:CCC Aida's Grand Reserve Espresso released in Dec. '10 was in a bag placed in a metal canister.

I had the privilege of trying a shot of Aida's espresso at Chinatown Coffee Company in DC and it was a damn good shot. The shop got the coffee in a bag, not in a box, so the flavor could not have possibly been at its peak. I can't imagine how much more mind blowing the taste would have been if the coffee had been freshly removed from a souvenir tin!

</sarcasm>

You're buying a special wine, say around $50, would you want it in a carton? How about the $50 box of chocolates wrapped in a garish candy bar graphics?. Post modern hipness's 15 minutes are up, and I'd really prefer to see packaging that reflects the quality the content