If you’ve been searching the internet for a comprehensive guide on what steeped coffee bags and drip coffee bags are, congratulations!

You’ve come to the right place. STITCH COFFEE has proudly manufactured specialty coffee versions of these ready-to-brew bags in Sydney, Australia since 2022.

For that reason, we’re perfectly positioned to give you the low-down on exactly what these products are and the special role they play in your at-home coffee collection.

While the designs are different, both products serve the same function; coffee that’s single-use, portable, and quick to brew while on the go.

1980s-1990s: DRIP COFFEE BAGS

First up in the invention timeline are Drip Coffee Bags, and for that, we have Japanese coffee enthusiasts to thank. The earliest version of a drip coffee bag was the ‘paper extractor’, which Tokyo resident Shimizu Kimiaki patented in 1983. However, it was only in 1990 when large corporations like Yamanaka Industrial Co. began investing in drip coffee bags that the concept became popular. These companies were seeking a lightweight version of filtered (pour-over) coffee to retail to hotels and offices for single-serve usage.

As you can see from their design patents, drip bags look a little like upside-down parachutes. The canopy part of the drip bag is made from filter paper and holds the ground coffee. Connected to the canopy are folded paper strands, which expand upon opening and create ‘wings’ that harness the bag to the rim of your favourite coffee cup.

2010s: STEEPED COFFEE BAGS

Unlike drip coffee—which reimagines a simpler way of brewing filter coffee—steeped coffee bags were modelled after tea bags and made in direct opposition to the problems caused by instant coffee and pods.

The inventor credited for patenting the first steeped bag in 2017 is Josh Wilbur, who was seeking an eco-friendly coffee solution that was convenient and flavourful.

While they look identical in design to a tea bag, there are a few key differences. Firstly, every steeped coffee bag (and drip coffee bag for that matter) is flushed with nitrogen before going into their envelopes.

This is to preserve the ground specialty coffee, ensuring it stays fresh for longer. Secondly, steeped bags are larger than tea bags so they hold enough coffee grounds to create a serving of coffee.

Sustainability, traceability, and accessibility are just a few of the many reasons that make steeped and drip coffee bags so damn handy!

A SINGLE-SERVE, PORTABLE TASTY SOLUTION

You could be in the workplace, on the road, or up in the sky! Ready–to-brew coffee bags are designed to stay fresh for longer (thanks to some nifty nitrogen flushing) and just the right amount for one cup of coffee. Another major perk is they’re brewable no matter where you are. Simply add some H²O and you’re good to go.

NO FANCY EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Not a single expensive espresso machine or pour-over set-up in sight! The easy nature of these coffee products makes them handy for drinkers on the go, and super approachable for those just starting their foray into the world of specialty coffee.

BETTER FOR THE FUTURE OF COFFEE

Unlike mass-produced Robusta instant coffee, the grounds in our coffee bags are better quality AND better contribute to the livelihoods of the farmers who produce them. Each of our Steeped and Drip Coffee bag options is traceable back to a single producer, farm, or washing station.

This transparency is made possible by our network of coffee suppliers who prioritise paying fair prices for premium coffee. This helps promote a stable and prospering specialty coffee industry.