There is nothing better than a warm cup of coffee to wake you up in the morning. And there is nothing worse than when you are hoping for a delicious energy-boosting beverage and ending up with a pale flavor with a slight addition of moisture note.
Alongside my pasta not being al dente, this is one of the worst disappointments that happen to me in the morning.
After some time of wondering why did that happen, I discovered that, besides the quality of the beans, I carry most of the blame for this unfortunate outcome.
Best Coffee Storage
It turns out that I’ve been storing coffee improperly for most of my life. If you are not sure how to store your coffee, I’ll try to tell you everything you need to know about it.
Besides some tips about storing the coffee and choosing the right container, you’ll also get the chance to read about the best coffee storage currently on the market so that you can make the right decision.
Further Reading: Learn To Find The Coffee Tumblers
Think about the freshness of the coffee
Coffee may seem like a product with a long shelf life, but it is far from being so. This is why most of the coffee roasters pack the coffee in bags with one-way valves, which prevent the beans from coming in touch with oxygen that can cause them to go stale.
However, as soon as the bag is opened, the beans start losing their freshness. A general rule of thumb is that you can consume coffee within one or two weeks after opening the bag.
To make things more complicated, different coffee types and qualities lose their freshness in different time frames, but you should always trust the rule of thumb.
Related: Favorite Espresso Coffee on the market
Proper ways of storing the coffee
Due to the reasons mentioned above, it is never a good idea to buy coffee in bulk.
It is better to purchase small quantities when you need them. Also, if you are using whole beans, you should grind them when and how much you need them to ensure they keep more of their flavor.
It is important to know that whole beans have a longer shelf life, but ground coffee can also be stored, especially if the storage containers are good and if you store small amounts of ground coffee.
Things that affect coffee freshness
There are a number of suspects waiting to “kill” your coffee’s taste and ruin your mornings. Which are:
Coffee beans oxidize in the presence of air, which alters the coffee’s flavor and freshness.
Only when you are cooking your coffee is heat beneficial.
The oils in the beans are ruined by moisture, which results in bad tastes or degradation.
Because coffee may absorb some of the characteristics of other aromatic foods, such as fish, the flavor of other foods can be ruined.
The coffee loses flavor and becomes stale when exposed to light.
Things to look for in a good coffee container
Now that you know everything you need to know about storing coffee, it is time to talk about one more thing that can help you keep your coffee fresh for a long time – the quality of a coffee container.
1. Best material
The material is not the most important feature of a coffee container, but it does play a significant role in the period of retaining freshness. Some of the perfect materials you will find on the market are stainless steel and ceramics. There will be a lot of plastic and glass models, too, but they don’t really live up to the expectations, especially because it is easy for them to break or crack, which can ruin them, and your coffee beans with them, for good.
2. Keeping the air out
The function that you should care about the most when it comes to coffee storage is its ability to keep the air far from your fresh beans and thus prevent oxidation. Although ordinary kitchen canisters can do a decent job if they are tightly sealed and if there is little air space when you fill them up with coffee, it is always better to go for a specially-designed air-tight container. These special containers also have a neat addition of one-way valves, which allow the carbon dioxide to escape without compromising the freshness of the beans.
3. Capacity
Although some people prefer to have large coffee containers where they can store all of their coffee, this is not a decisive feature for me. However, if you are used to buying coffee in large packages, a rich capacity is something you definitely need, because, as you will expose the beans to spoiling as soon as you open the coffee bag.
4. Design
Finally, the design may not be something you need to base your decision on, but if you are having your doubts about two or more containers of similar features, it may just be the thing you need to make your call. This is especially important if you want to have a container that fits into your overall kitchen design well.
Most Recommended Coffee Storage – Barbara’s Reviews 2022
Now that we’ve got that covered, we can finally move on to checking out the top five coffee containers on the market and see how they meet the high standards for outstanding coffee flavor.
Premium Quality Coffee Container by Coffee Gator – Everything You Need from a Coffee Container
This large coffee canister is made of stainless steel, which was the first thing that caught my attention, alongside its sleek design which goes perfectly with modern minimalistic kitchens.
As I mentioned before, the most necessary feature of a good coffee container is its ability to keep the air out. This canister does that job pretty well with a one-way valve which allows carbon dioxide to leave but prevents the air and light from getting inside and attacking flavor.
The most impressive feature which sets it apart from the competition is the wheel on the lid which allows you to track the expiration date. The package also includes a free eBook (10 hacks to make better coffee) and scoop.
So far, so good… There are several problems I had with this container, the first of them being the dated dials on the lid which don’t turn properly (a fantastic idea, but poorly applied). Also, the gauge of the material is a bit thin, so I’m not sure about the quality.
Things I Liked
- Sleek modern design
- The one-way valve and air-tight feature are doing their job extraordinarily
- The book is remarkably handy
- Scoop is a nice addition, but you should know that it contains two teaspoons
Things I Didn’t Like
- The wheel with the date is a fascinating idea, but it doesn’t work well
- The material seems sensitive
Coffeevac 1 lb – The Ultimate Vacuum Sealed Coffee Container – Looks Better than It Performs
I like my coffee black, and when I saw this container, I realized something new about my affinities – I like my coffee storage black too. Jolly, huh? Putting all jokes aside, the design of this item is truly impeccable, but looks aren’t the only perks of this baby.
The Coffeevac’s container has a two-way valve that allows the Co2 to escape but doesn’t let the oxygen in, at least that is what the manufacturer claims.
Due to its color and material, it also protects the coffee from the light, which is especially important if your kitchen is very sunny. It is really simple to open and close, with the use of the button on the lid, which minimizes the time your coffee beans are exposed to air and light.
Although it is made of plastic, the material is very firm and strong, and most importantly, it is NSF & FDA approved.
In spite of its gorgeous design, seemingly adequate technology, and my initial crush-phase in Coffeevac, this storage container doesn’t exactly hold the freshness for very long.
In fact, the coffee beans remain fresh only a few days longer than in a regular kitchen container. Furthermore, the exterior gets scratched easily.
Things I Liked
- The design, of course
- Reasonably priced product
- Considering it is plastic, it is strong
- It protects beans from light successfully
Things I Didn’t Like
- The two-valve mechanism doesn’t live up to expectations
- The exterior is scratched easily
Friis 16-Ounce Coffee Vault – Missing the Point
Enough with the plastic, let us return to the good old stainless steel. Friis’s coffee vault looks a bit like the Premium Quality Coffee Container by Coffee Gator, but since this one looks fabulous, there is nothing wrong with that.
It is available in capacities of 12 and 16oz. In each of them, it does a pretty decent job of keeping your coffee fresh. It not only blocks out the air from entering the container but also prevents the light and moisture from affecting your coffee beans.
Like many other containers on the market, it also includes a one-way valve that gets rid of Co2. One thing I like about this particular manufacturer is that they offer replacement valves that come on bags of vacuum-packed coffee.
The downside of this product is that it isn’t equipped with an air-tight filter, which is necessary to prevent air from going into the container and spoiling the coffee. However, I haven’t noticed that my coffee beans become stale much sooner than in air-tight containers.
Also, the material may be durable, but if it comes to contact with moisture, it can become rusty surprisingly fast and this can affect the mechanisms of the lid, as well as the coffee flavor.
Things I Liked
- The design is modern and streamlined
- The one-way valve functions well
- The valve can be replaced after some time
- It prevents the light and moisture from compromising the coffee taste
Things I Didn’t Like
- There is no air-tight filter
- The material is prone to rust
Coffee Storage Canister – AirScape Steel – Over-Performer, but also Overpriced
Looking for a generous capacity coffee canister that can preserve large amounts of coffee from spoiling? Look no further. Unlike some canisters that lock the air inside them, this 64oz brushed steel container has a valve that forces the air and oxygen outside before it locks the lid in place.
As for the quality and durability of the material, it is enough to say that it is made out of restaurant-grade 18/8 stainless steel which is the favorite you can find on the market. It can be washed by hand, and it resists rust, staining, and odor transfer successfully.
One of the things that impressed me the most about this product happened by accident. I was taking the canister off a very high shelf when I dropped it right down to the kitchen floor, where it bounced and rolled a bit. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the lid stayed on and that the container wasn’t damaged.
As for the downsides, the dual lid system, which I love for its function, can be somewhat troublesome when it comes to the capacity of the canister because it loses a good inch or more of the space intended for coffee.
Also, I needed a lot of time to get the hang of compressing the lid evenly and avoiding gaps on the side.
Things I Liked
- The quality of the steel is exceptional
- The container is very resistant to falls and bounces (lucky me)
- The product looks nice
- The capacity is great
- The dual lid system keeps the coffee fresh for a long time
Things I Didn’t Like
- In spite of all its qualities, it is a bit overpriced
- The two lids occupy some of the capacity intended for coffee
- Compressing the lid can be difficult
Kitchables Lavender Latte Coffee Canister – It Has the Looks and the Function
Although the design isn’t the most important feature for a coffee canister, you can’t help but notice how charming this storage container is. The lavender shade is ideal for a vintage-style kitchen and basically for anyone who loves adding some pops of color to any space.
The lid is equipped with Co2 air fresh-valve technology, which, in this case, truly does what the manufacturer is promising – releases carbon dioxide and keeps the oxygen out.
This is so easy to notice as soon as you open the canister because you are treated with the irresistible aroma of fresh coffee. The capacity of 17oz is quite enough for an average household.
The wheel on the lid allows you to keep track of the expiration date of your beans so you will never again lose track of time. As a bonus, you will get a handy metal scoop.
Although it is made of stainless steel the material appears to be thin. Also, just as with the container made by the Coffee Gator, the lid timer mechanism has its flaws.
Things I Liked
- The cute pastel color and great design
- The valve technology does its work impressive
- The capacity is sufficient
- The timer on the wheel is useful
Things I Didn’t Like
- The mechanism on the timer is difficult to set
- The steel is a bit thin
Verdict & My Recommendation
I’m pleased to report that all of these coffee canisters perform very well, but there are two of them that stand out in the competition for the best coffee storage, and those are the Kitchables Lavender Latte Coffee Canister and Premium Quality Coffee Container by Coffee Gator.
The differences between them are minimal, and mostly come down to aesthetics, but I would always choose the Coffee Gator’s product because the book that I got with it was more than helpful. 😉
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