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Can one coffee packaging machine run both whole beans and ground coffee?
Yes, on the same platform. The dosing head changes, not the machine. Whole beans run on a multi-head or linear weigher; ground coffee runs on a servo auger with a dust-extraction hood above the fill zone.
Budget 30 to 60 minutes for the swap, plus a full hopper and chute clean-down. If you switch more than twice a week, a second dosing head is cheaper than the labour.
What actually differs between beans and ground
| Element | Whole beans | Ground coffee |
|---|---|---|
| Dosing principle | Weight: linear or multi-head weigher | Weight or volume: servo auger, sometimes a cup |
| Dust control | Minimal | Extraction hood is mandatory, not optional |
| Degassing | High CO2 release in the first days; valve essential | Lower release; valve still recommended for retail |
| Fill density stability | Stable | Drifts with grind and humidity |
| Typical tolerance | ±1 g on 250 g | ±1 to 2 g, or loose if volumetric |
The part that is not on the datasheet
Cross-contamination is the real cost of a shared machine. A dark roast ground fine leaves oils in the chute that a light roast will pick up, and a customer will notice before your QA does. A clean-down that satisfies a food-safety audit is longer than a clean-down that satisfies a production manager, and the specification should say which one you are buying.
Practical rule: if both products run in the same week, keep a dedicated hopper, chute and auger set for the ground line. The swap then becomes a module change, and the clean-down stays a wipe-down.
Does the bag format change too?
Usually yes, and it is a separate constraint. Ground coffee is often sold in a valve bag with a tin tie or a flat bottom; whole beans in a stand-up pouch with a zipper. If the two formats share a bag width, the same machine runs both. If they do not, you are looking at a forming-set change, which is 30 to 90 minutes on roll film.
The mechanical differences are set out in ground coffee versus whole bean packaging, and the valve side is covered in packaging coffee with degassing valves.
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