Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/716988
40 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 4, 2016 (August/September) Single-Serve Pushes New Boundaries Single-serve brewers are not disappearing ingle-serve is here to stay. No matter what you hear this category is solidly entrenched and growing to meet consumer's expectations for high quality at-home consumption. In its September 2015 Coffee Report market research firm Mintel International fore- casts 19.6% growth in the segment. "Single-serve will continue to grow because of its convenience. People are also look- ing at the environmental impact, but overall it has to be a convenient product and it has to work," said Dan Ragan, national sales manager, Pod Pack. One of the primary concerns of roasters and tea blenders alike is that single-serve brewing systems are unable to deliver a high quality cup. Thankfully, research in material science and the development of innovative designs has resulted in a variety of single- serve options that bring forth the nuances of a brew. "Roasters need to begin by elimi- nating the negative connotation about single-serve," says David Silverstein, founder, Pro-Line. "The key is finding a company that is not only knowledgeable about coffee, but is able to translate their knowledge to a single-serve solution and in turn bring out the true flavors of the roast." Offering both a polypropylene and compostable capsule, LBP's UpShot mesh filter design allows consumers to both see and smell the roast providing a full sensory experi- ence. The side wall mesh enables multiple contacts for water and grind. The UpShot solution ended up as Silverstein's choice at Pro-Line. Launched in 2012, LBP's UpShot continues to evolve as LBP expands their knowledge of material science while develop- ing strong partnerships with roasters. The key, according to Marty Tierney, LBP Manu- facturing, is developing the single-serve cup with the best extraction. Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, based in Toronto, Canada, delivers packaging that brings together all the essential component: freshness, particle size and filter. Com- prised of nonwoven fibers, Mother Parkers' FlavorMax filter can be adapted to meet the extraction requirements of coffee or tea. While the see-through capsule has fostered a positive reception from the end consumer. "The filter is a huge enabler, but it is the filter in combination with the particle size, coffee/tea that we use, the dosage," said Paul Yang, manager, packaging development, Mother Parkers. "For us, innovation is really about how you put the complete package together," he said. To respond to this continued interest for a better beverage, Pod Pak has launched a Superpod specifically developed to meet the expectations of hotel guests. The Superpod holds 50% more coffee resulting in a high quality cup for guests. Pod Pack's Ragan, notes that the larger pod has gained the interest of both hotel guests and those intent on By Anne-Marie Hardie S bottom bag stands on its own and the materials used in making this flexible package display nicely both on the shelf and in the consumer's home, he sex- plained. Several variations of this packag- ing include zip closure on the face of the bag. "One advantage of having a zipper is the consumer is able to unzip the pack- age put in a spoon in to get the coffee or tea, and then reseal it," said Walters. "It is about providing a convenient package solution for the consumer while still pro- tecting the product." Convenience continues to drive in- novation, a trend clearly demonstrated by the strong interest in single serve. (See Single-Cup is Here to Stay, pg 46) Opening ease An aging population points to the in- creased need for packaging that is easier to open. Innovia's Propafilm RCP film responds to this need with its peelable seal properties that enable consumers to easily access the product. With the increase use of zippered and peelable closures, consumers are more likely to leave the product in the flexible package. For these consumers, an eas- ily opened package designed to preserve freshness is essential. "A lot of customers are asking for packaging solutions that will help extend the product's shelf life," said Neil Baner- jee, market manager, packaging at Inno- via Films with offices in London, Atlanta, Ga., Australia, Belgium, and Brazil. "For tea it is about ensuring that the package has a high seal integrity keeping oxygen, moisture, and UV light out while ensuring that the aroma remains in." Arizona's Tea's new thermoshape bottle before and after packaging