Method of packaging and shipping roast and ground coffee

Abstract

There is provided a packaged roast and ground coffee product comprising a lightweight, thin-walled reclosable container made of laminated plastic material comprising a moisture barrier and an oxygen barrier, and a quantity of roast and ground coffee disposed within the container. The container comprises a finish that includes a top surface and one or more snap beads positioned below the top surface. A plurality of snap bead segments may be circumferentially spaced from one another. A sealing member may be sealed to the top surface. The sealing member may include a one-way valve permitting venting of COresulting from off-gassing of the roast and ground coffee while preventing ingress of air. A removable overcap comprising a top wall and a depending skirt may be affixed to the finish. The skirt may include an inner surface with at least one locking member dimensioned to engage the snap beads in an interference fit so that the locking member and the snap beads are interengageable between locked and unlocked positions. The packaged roast and ground coffee is preferably capable of withstanding stacking loads typically encountered in distribution for retail sale, as well as loads associated with decreased interior pressure without permitting ingress of air.