Can You Bring Ground Coffee On a Plane ? 2025

Coffee has always been described as a gift from heaven, and a cup of coffee is a symbol of contentment and alertness, but can you bring ground coffee on a plane?

Yes, you can bring ground coffee on a plane, the TSA permit it in both carry-on and checked bags, but if you bring over 12 oz (350 ml), it may need extra screening. Make sure the container is sealed and follows TSA rules.

This post covers everything you need to know about bring ground coffee on planes carry-on and checked luggage.

Let’s dive right in.

TL;DR

You can bring ground coffee in both carry-on and checked luggage.
If carrying more than 12 oz (340 g), remove it for extra screening at security.
There are no quantity limits for checked bags.
International rules vary, so always declare your coffee.
Pack coffee in sealed or Ziploc bags to prevent spills.
Keep it away from liquids like perfumes or colognes.

A metal scoop filled with dark brown ground coffee on a textured background

In this post you’ll learn:

If you can bring ground coffee in carry-on luggage and the TSA rules
If you can bring ground coffee in checked luggage
How to pack your coffee in both carry-on and checked luggage
If you can take ground coffee on international flights
Some awesome coffee bags and brands for travel

Table of Contents

Can You Take Ground Coffee in Carry-on Luggage?

Ground coffee is allowed through the security checkpoint and in carry-on luggage.

You can see on the TSA website that they permit ground coffee and coffee beans through the security checkpoint without any problem.

TSA guidelines showing that coffee beans or ground coffee are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags

I also searched the TSA social media to find some answers.

Mandy asked on X (Formerly Twitter) if coffee powder can be taken in hand luggage.
The customer service replied that ground coffee is good to go on a plane.

However, there is always an exception to the rules about taking powders.

If you are traveling with more than 12 oz / 340 grams, you will need to remove it from your bag and place it in a separate bin for X-ray screening.

Exchange onX where a user asks TSA if ground coffee can be taken in a carry-on bag, and TSA replies that it is allowed; if over 12 ounces, it should be removed for X-ray screening and may need additional inspection

Can I Take Ground Coffee in Checked Luggage?

As I mentioned, the TSA and most airlines prefer that powders over 12 oz / 340 grams be placed inside your checked luggage to avoid any inconvenience at the screening checkpoint.

But I always recommend that you pack your products in hand luggage instead of checked luggage, and there’s a good reason why.

Some items are pretty expensive, so they tend to get lost or even stolen from checked luggage, especially on some international flights.

So if you are traveling with expensive coffee, it is preferable to take it inside your personal item or carry-on bag.

Most passengers who reported their checked baggage was opened and manually inspected found a notice inside. It often happens when it contains powdered coffee.

Fact

How Much Ground Coffee Can You Take on a Plane?

There are no limits to the amount of ground coffee you can take in both carry-on and checked luggage.

That’s what Laura asked TSA customer service on Twitter.

Exchange onX where a user asks TSA how much coffee she can bring inside her checked luggage, and TSA replies that ground coffee is allowed in checked bags with no quantity limits or packing requirement

Ground coffee or brewed coffee is allowed in checked bags with no quantity limits or packing requirements, the customer service replied.

How to Pack Ground Coffee for Your Flight

Small ground coffee bags are easy to carry and take on vacations, but if you have a large bag of coffee at home and still want to bring some of it, it is a good idea to fill one of these refillable travel bags.

They are useful when you want to bring only what you need for your journey.

But if you’re bringing coffee in its original bag, it’s critical to pack it properly both in checked luggage and carry-on.

If you don’t, you might find that it spills and messes with your clothes and other items.

Here are some extra tips to pack ground coffee for your next flight:

Make sure your coffee bags are sealed and secured properly.
Use Ziploc bags and pack each bag separately if you are traveling with several bags.
If packed in your carry-on to take in the aircraft cabin, make sure you don’t place it close to liquids, especially perfumes or colognes, even in checked luggage.
Keep it handy and easy to reach in case you need to remove it from your bag. Airports are a bit picky about powders, or maybe you want to have an instant coffee cup at the airport or in the sky.

Can You Bring Coffee on an International Flight?

Traveling with ground coffee or any other product on international flights depends on the country of your destination and their customs rules at the airport.

Even if the country allows certain products, the agent or inspector at the border has the final decision and the authority to decide if an item can enter the country.

Most of the time, you are good to go if there is nothing wrong with your product and you bring a reasonable quantity.

For example, taking ground coffee to the U.S.:

Roasted Coffee: Travelers are permitted to bring unlimited quantities of roasted coffee and coffee beans in their luggage without restriction through any U.S. port of entry. However, as with all agricultural products, they must declare the product at entry.
Source: USDA

If you want to bring coffee from the U.S. to Canada, you are allowed to bring up to 20 kg for your personal use without any restrictions.

Having said that, if you are traveling internationally, make sure that you respect the rules and do not exceed the allowed quantity of coffee in both carry-on and checked luggage.

You will have to go through customs, and if you exceed the allowed quantity, you may have to pay additional charges (taxes) or your product could be seized.

Best Coffee Bags for Travel

Whether you prefer medium roast or dark roast ground coffee, here are our top picks to consider, for yourself or to bring as a gift.

So what’s your favorite coffee from this list?

Starbucks Medium Roast Ground Coffee, Pike Place Roast, 100% Arabica
Peet’s Coffee, Dark Roast Ground Coffee, Major Dickason’s Blend (18 oz Bag).
McCafé Premium Medium Roast Ground Coffee (24 oz Canister).
AmazonFresh Colombia Ground Coffee, Medium Roast (12 oz).
Seattle’s Best Coffee Post Alley Blend.

Final Thoughts

Ground coffee is allowed in both carry-on and checked luggage without any problem.

Because ground coffee is considered a powder, the only thing you need to keep in mind is to remove your coffee from your bag when going through the security checkpoint if it is more than 12 oz / 340 grams.

For your convenience, airport security and the TSA recommend placing any powders that are more than 12 oz / 340 grams in your checked luggage.

So just pack your coffee and you’re good to go.

I hope this helpes

Happy travels

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Gargie, is writer, traveler & a digital marketing specialist passionate about traveling and exploring new cultures. She is a savvy traveler who likes to pack light, testing various luggage brands and seeking out budget-friendly airline options. Gargie enjoys creating unique recipes when she’s not on the go.