New Product | Coffee and Tea Packaging
Most 50g packaging formats are an afterthought - a smaller version of whatever the 250g SKU uses, with the same compromises scaled down. The 50g segment in specialty coffee and premium tea deserves its own format, built for what it actually is: a trial size, a gift insert, a subscription sampler, or a single-origin tasting portion that represents the top of a roaster's or blender's range.
The Earthycores 50g Premium Paper Canister is a composite paper tube constructed specifically for this segment. Rigid paperboard body, food-grade aluminium inner lining, metal easy-open lid, and an outer paper overcap. It is not a scaled-down version of a standard tube - it is a purpose-built format for specialty coffee, premium loose leaf tea, herbal blends, and fine spices where the packaging needs to match the product inside it.
The body is spirally wound rigid paperboard - the same multi-layer construction used in our full-size coffee and tea tubes, not a thinner wall grade cut to reduce material cost. Wall rigidity at 50g scale matters more than it does at 250g, because the smaller format sits differently in the hand and communicates quality through structural feel before the customer reads a single word of copy.
The interior is lined with food-grade aluminium, providing an oxygen and moisture barrier appropriate for dry food products with shelf life requirements. Coffee, tea, spices, and herbal blends all require a barrier that prevents oxidation and flavour migration - the aluminium lining delivers this without a plastic film layer bonded to the paper wall.
The closure system is a two-part design: a metal easy-open lid that provides the primary seal, and an outer paper overcap that protects the metal lid and completes the visual presentation of the canister. The metal lid is the element that makes this format distinct. It has the weight, the sound, and the tactile resistance that signals a sealed, premium product - not a friction-fit paper cap that loosens with repeated use.
The 50g canister is not a replacement for a full-size tube - it is a format that operates in parts of the market the full-size tube cannot reach as efficiently. Four use cases define where it performs best.
Trial and sampling at retail. A 50g format priced at a trial entry point gives a customer something to evaluate without committing to a full bag or tin. For specialty roasters with single-origin coffees that sell at a premium, the 50g canister lets the customer experience the product in its intended format - rigid, sealed, premium - rather than in a sample sachet that bears no resemblance to the full retail experience.
Subscription inserts and curated boxes. The canister dimensions fit inside standard subscription mailer boxes and gift hampers. A curated coffee or tea subscription that includes a 50g canister of a new release or seasonal blend as an insert can present it as a premium addition rather than a filler item - the metal lid and rigid body read as gift-quality regardless of the price point of the insert itself.
Gifting and seasonal ranges. A 50g specialty coffee or single-origin tea in a rigid canister with a metal lid is already a gift. It does not require additional outer packaging to function in a gifting context. For roasters and tea brands launching seasonal or limited edition releases, the canister format positions the product as a collectible or gift item from the shelf, not as a commodity portion.
Spice and herbal blend brands. The 50g fill weight is standard for premium spice and herbal tea SKUs. The aluminium-lined rigid canister outperforms tins on print quality and outperforms paper bags on structural integrity and barrier performance. For brands selling through specialty food retailers where shelf aesthetics determine whether a buyer lists the product, the canister format is a competitive advantage the tin format cannot replicate on custom branding.
The outer paper surface of the canister takes the same finish options available across the full Earthycores range. Foil stamping on a matte base, embossing on the body wrap, soft-touch laminate, spot UV, and full-bleed CMYK print are all achievable on the 50g format. The rigid cylindrical surface holds embossing more consistently than flat flexible packaging because the paperboard wall provides structural resistance throughout the pressing process.
The outer paper overcap is also a print surface. Brands that want a two-tone or contrasting finish between the body and the cap - a common design choice in luxury food packaging - can specify different finishes on each component within the same production run.
Custom dimensions around the 50g fill weight are available for products with different bulk densities. Whole leaf teas, for example, require significantly more internal volume per gram than ground coffee or fine spice powders. Specify product type and fill weight when requesting samples and the correct dimensions will be confirmed before artwork is prepared.
The 50g Premium Paper Canister is available now from a 1,000-unit MOQ on custom printed orders. Blank canister samples are available for brands that want to test fill weight, lid fit, and barrier performance before committing to artwork. Lead time from artwork approval to shipment runs at 20-30 days for custom printed production.
Warehouses in the USA, UK, and Canada mean the format is available for brands distributing across North American and European markets from a single supplier relationship, with certifications covering both BPI compostability for North American claims and EN 13432 for EU market requirements.
