- Posted by intrepid510
- Sat, 02/11/2012 - 02:36
Call me superficial.
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I was reading a recent blog entry from Jbviau talking about the packaging of coffee , he talks about how he really likes the bag that the coffee roaster Tonx ships his coffee in. As you can see below from the photo I stole from his post, it's very distinctive, a nice silver shimmer and that Where the Wild Things Are font. The bag sticks in your mind, and to be quite frank makes you want the coffee.
Personally, I do not think the looks of the bag are really that superficial. Sure it doesn't reflect how the product inside is going to taste but it does impact if people are going to buy the coffee and if they will remember it. How many times have you bought a wine for the bottle? Probably more often than you care to admit.And I worked a harvest for the wine maker that sells Chasseur Wines, and I can remember a conversation that we had one slow day with the wine maker, how he half critized and lamented the fact that if he made his label more interesting that he would probably sell more wine.
The same is really true for any product and I think coffee goes too. To be honest there are a few roasters that I see here that I probably won't buy on my own accord because of the looks of their label. The label just looks a little too hookey or generic, there are exceptions if someone recommends them and takes that first try for me. I might be able to look past it then, but if not then I will probably pass.
It's unpolite to say it, however it's the truth. I feel like someone that makes a good label probably wants that label to convey the coffee they are trying to sell. If that label like the Tonz one is one that catches the eye or at least my eye and makes me remember it then I think perhaps they are going to roast coffee that is going to fit my ideal of what the coffee should taste like. Of course it will ahve to be backed up by taste, but if I already have a positive idea going then it might roll into the coffee a little bit too.
That Tonx bag is awesome looking and I think I might have to give it try just for that bag alone.
REVIEWS & COMMENTS
AGREE
samuellaw178 | Tue, 02/28/2012 - 09:24I agree it's looking good. THe bag is definitely sweet looking. But what's more important is the inside- the coffee. I felt the Starbucks and other commercialized coffees have really good packaging, but the content is, erm, disappointing. Haha.
FUNNY
Wakeknot | Wed, 02/15/2012 - 22:25I tend to buy coffee when I know nothing based on the label (although I prefer to use knowledge), but coffee i have never been willing to try that. I guess I have an odd double standard - perhaps I should address that one way or the other.
@JBVIAU
intrepid510 | Sun, 02/12/2012 - 15:15I am so bummed that I missed out on the free trail would've been nice to have a go without having to pony up the money. But it sounds like the coffee is worth the money when I decide to start a month.
LOL
jbviau | Sun, 02/12/2012 - 01:12Oh, right! "Where the Wild Things Are" is a great way to describe the font/feel. I'm sure we'll hear about it if you give Tonx a try! ;) As for me, I didn't sign on full-time despite having enjoyed my free sample. Will revisit that decision in a month or two.
@SON TON
intrepid510 | Sun, 02/12/2012 - 00:53Well I think that all those features are needed in a good bag on top of some nice design, I just like people that want to showcase their coffee to all of it's potential.
BAG
Son Ton | Sat, 02/11/2012 - 17:23I'm on the other fence about this one, bag can look bad or good but it should be conveying the basic information: what kind of coffee is in it, what is the roast date and the bag should be easily resealable preferably with a zip lock mechanism.
@STEVE
intrepid510 | Sat, 02/11/2012 - 13:52I believe you are right that Tonx is only via mail-order so you are not going to get someone just picking up at the local Whole Foods because of the cool bag, gotta admit when I first moved back to the Bay Area I got my first bag of Ritual because of bag. That being there are affordable ways for someone to make their bags standout like I believe you alluded to with the Tonx bag not being expensive to make, while a bag doesnt mean its good coffee I like it when people want to present their product in the best light possible.
@AVASERFI
intrepid510 | Sat, 02/11/2012 - 13:50Well if you buy your coffee strictly off recommendation then I think the bag isn't going to really matter too much as a good word is worth a lot more, but when trying something out it has a profound impact.
TONX IS AN INTERESTING
Steve Rhinehart | Sat, 02/11/2012 - 09:54Tonx is an interesting subject, as they don't actually have retail bags at all. That is, there's no store front where customers can peruse their wares (unless I'm wrong, I was under the impression they're online only). Obviously they've taken the time to figure out their brand, in an approach I might call "lazy but effective." I say lazy because hand-lettered labels on require time and a bit of skill, but are far less involved than typesetting and ornamentation. I take the same exact hand-lettered approach when I give away bags of my coffee, so I'm not bashing Tonx at all, and I actually think it makes them stand out a bit.
That said, just as there are terrible package/label designs in wine, there are so in coffee as well, even the good stuff. Ever seen a Terroir bag? It's called contrast, use it, please! The coffee inside is damn fine, but you wouldn't know it from the bag. Whereas Verve, Handsome, Intelligentsia and quite a few more have put some real thought into their packaging, and not just the sticker on the bag that says what coffee it is.
NOT SO INTERESTED
avaserfi | Sat, 02/11/2012 - 09:47While I'm not so interested in how the bags look, all this talk about Tonx makes me want to try them. So I guess it has had an effect on me too.