Specify your coffee sacks wrong and you risk tainted cup quality and a rejected lot. The 60 kg jute bag is the international standard for green coffee. Here are the exact specifications roasters and traders should expect, and how many fit in a container.
A typical 60 kg coffee bag measures 40"×28", weighs ~720 g, with an 8×8 porter & shots count, hemmed and overhead dry-sewn, treated VOT so it's odourless.
Green coffee readily absorbs odours. Vegetable-oil-treated (VOT) jute avoids hydrocarbon taint, protecting cup quality, a non-negotiable for specialty buyers.
Bags are baled (around 500/bale) for efficient FCL loading; we provide exact container-fill figures for your order.
60 kg is the global green-coffee trade unit used by most origins and exchanges.
Yes, VOT treatment ensures no hydrocarbon odour.
The 60 kg jute coffee bag is the global trade unit for green (unroasted) coffee beans. From Brazil to Ethiopia to Indonesia, green coffee moves across borders in this format. The specification below covers the standard construction accepted by commodity traders, roasters, and logistics operators worldwide, including the VOT (Vegetable Oil Treatment) requirement that is effectively mandatory for specialty and commodity coffee alike.
| Nominal capacity | 60 kg net (green coffee beans) |
|---|---|
| Bag dimensions (internal) | Approx. 71 cm × 102 cm (28" × 40") |
| Fabric construction | Plain weave hessian / B-Twill (buyer's choice); warp & weft density typically 10 × 10 to 11 × 12 threads/inch |
| Fabric weight | 450–530 GSM (plain hessian); 480–520 GSM (B-Twill); finished bag weight 500–600 g (light hessian) or 900–1,020 g (B-Twill) |
| Yarn count | 6–10 Lb. count (jute), 100% natural jute fibre |
| Treatment | VOT, Vegetable Oil Treated (mineral-oil-free); food-grade, odourless, does not impart taint to green beans |
| Sewing | Mouth: hemmed and sewn; bottom: chain-stitch or lock-stitch (buyer-specified); jute twine or polypropylene thread (specify on PO) |
| Printing | Screen-printed with food-safe ink (1–4 colours); standard information: origin, exporter, lot number, net weight, crop year |
| Inner liner | Optional GrainPro or polyethylene liner for hermetic storage (specialty coffee, high-humidity origins) |
| Food-contact compliance | EC 1935/2004, declare VOT treatment basis; no PFAS, no restricted dyes |
| Packing for shipping (empty bags) | 250–500 bags per hydraulic-pressed bale; bales iron-bound or poly-strapped |
| Standard marking | ICO (International Coffee Organization) mark where required by importing country |
Understanding container utilisation helps procurement teams plan orders and logistics efficiently. The numbers differ significantly depending on whether you are shipping empty bags from Bangladesh or filled coffee from origin.
| Scenario | 20 ft FCL | 40 ft FCL | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty bags (compressed bales, 300 bags/bale) | 65–70 bales ≈ 19,500–21,000 bags | 130–140 bales ≈ 39,000–42,000 bags | Hydraulic compression critical for cube utilisation |
| Empty bags (compressed bales, 500 bags/bale) | 50 bales ≈ 25,000 bags | 100 bales ≈ 50,000 bags | Higher compression requires heavy-duty baling press |
| Filled green coffee (floor-loaded, no pallets) | 275–320 bags ≈ 16.5–19.2 MT net | 550–640 bags ≈ 33–38.4 MT net | Payload limited by container gross weight (30,480 kg 20 ft) |
| Filled green coffee (palletised) | ~250 bags ≈ 15 MT net | ~500 bags ≈ 30 MT net | Pallet weight reduces net coffee payload by ~10–15% |
Key insight: Floor-loading (without pallets) maximises the number of 60 kg bags in a container, 320 bags in a 20 ft FCL is the commonly cited industry benchmark for Brazilian and East African coffee exports. This gives approximately 19.2 MT net per 20 ft container, well within the maximum gross payload. Palletising reduces this to around 250 bags and is only used where destination port handling requires it.
Raw jute fibre contains natural oils and wax that can impart a hay-like or earthy odour to green coffee beans stored in direct contact. Worse, untreated jute may contain residual hydrocarbon lubricants from the spinning and weaving process. These mineral oils can taint the sensory profile of the roasted coffee.
The 60 kg unit became the international coffee trade standard through ICO (International Coffee Organization) convention and decades of commodity market practice. It is the basis for price quotation on the ICO indicator price and the New York "C" contract. At 60 kg, a single bag is manageable by two workers without mechanical assistance, which matters for hand-stacking in warehouses and loading across supply chains with varying mechanisation levels, from farm cooperative to international port.
Plain hessian coffee bags are lighter (500–600 g per bag), more breathable, and sufficient for short-transit specialty lots where the outer bag is less stressed. B-Twill coffee bags are heavier (900–1,020 g), denser, and offer greater puncture and tear resistance, preferred for long sea voyages, humid origins, or where the bags will be mechanically handled at multiple points. Many roasters request B-Twill for bulk commodity coffee and plain hessian for high-value specialty micro-lots.
Yes. Jute bags in direct contact with food (including green coffee beans) entering the EU must comply with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 on food-contact materials. Practically, this means: (1) VOT treatment using food-grade vegetable oil; (2) no restricted colourants or PFAS; (3) no mineral oil contamination. A food-contact compliance declaration from the manufacturer, referencing the VOT treatment specification and the absence of restricted substances, is the standard supporting document to retain for regulatory purposes.
Yes. Screen-printing with food-safe inks is standard practice. Most exporters accommodate 1–4 colour printing with buyer logos, lot numbers, origin details, grade, and ICO markings. Minimum order quantities for custom printing are typically 5,000–10,000 bags. Digital proofs are standard before production. Note that printed bags require additional lead time, allow 2–3 weeks beyond standard production time for printing setup and quality approval.
A GrainPro or hermetic polyethylene liner is recommended when: (1) shipping from high-humidity origins where moisture migration through the jute is a risk; (2) storing specialty micro-lots for extended periods (6+ months); or (3) exporting to GCC markets where container temperatures can spike. The liner is inserted before filling and sealed at the top. It adds to cost and weight (typical liner weight 80–120 g) but significantly extends the sensory shelf-life of the green coffee.
Zayin Trade International manufactures VOT-treated coffee jute bags to your specification. Explore our B-Twill jute sacking range and hessian cloth bags, or read our guide on B-Twill vs Binola vs Double-Warp weave types to choose the right construction for your coffee grade. For EU regulatory background, see our jute packaging and EU PPWR compliance guide. Request a quote with your required bag weight, dimensions, VOT specification, and printing requirements.