If you’re buying your own coffee beans at large batches, you will then realize that you need to store the excess supply to keep it delicious for an extended amount of time.
You can consume your coffee even if they’re not stored correctly, and there’s no harm to it. However, while coffee beans are considered shelf-stable dry products, the shelf life of roasted coffee is not unlimited. The quality of roasted coffee beans degrades over time, which makes their tastes awful and undesirable.
Therefore, it is also essential to store them accordingly by using a suitable storage container. In this article, we’ve provided proven steps on finding the best coffee storage containers that will help extend your coffee’s shelf life.
Important: While finding a good storage container plays the most important role in protecting your coffee’s efficiency and quality, keeping them fresh to preserve their natural taste and aromatics has always been a challenge.
Luckily, there are so many resources out there to guide you on making the right action. After finding the suitable storage container for your coffee beans, be sure also to check our guide on how to store coffee beans the right way for more tips.
Step 1: Test Resealable Packages, Bags, etc. (they still work)
Storing your coffee doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use opaque, sealed containers, foil packages, or even the bag that comes with it. Don’t reinvent the wheel, as others advise. What matters is the ability to prevent light, oxygen, and moisture from depleting the roasted coffee.
Don’t worry, as most of these sealed coffee bags often have a valve to let carbon dioxide escape and prevent the beans from going stale.
Some people also prefer resealable packages or zip-locks. These are still suitable materials for storing coffee as they can ensure minimum contact with oxygen.
You may also want to experiment with different types of bags. However, avoid using unsealed craft bags as they cannot effectively keep out the oxygen. While they are more affordable than other packages, these bags, or even unsealed containers, make the beans go stale relatively quickly.
Also, while they can prevent oxygen and moisture, the issue with these foil packages and bags is that they can’t totally block out high temperatures. Of course, they are still somewhat proper containers, but that is only viable if they’re also stored in a cool, dark, or dry environment – away from light.
Step 2: Explore Coffee Canisters for more Efficient Storing
Having that said, you might want to consider a coffee canister for maximum protection of coffee beans.
In fact, coffee canisters are growing in popularity these days. They’re also an excellent options for home use and for storing small batches of beans.
Roasted coffee beans will inevitably become stale in weeks or days and lose their quality quickly. However, airtight or vacuum-sealed containers are indeed the best in maximizing the beans’ efficiency and effectiveness. A coffee canister will keep oxygen and moisture out as some of them are heat-resistant and work really well.
Step 3: Survey the Market and Pick the Good Ones
There are many choices out there, but you may want to get started with these coffee containers. So, let’s review our recommended items to help you pick the right one that meets your needs.
1. Veken Coffee Canister
The Veken coffee canister is a simple yet elegant container. It is made of thick, high-quality stainless steel, which is a decent material for storing coffee beans. This container has the features you need to keep your coffee fresh for an extended time.
Features
- Premium Quality Stainless Steel Material
- One-Way CO2 Gas Vent Valve
- High-Quality Date Tracker on the Lid
- BPA-Free Silicone Rubber Seal Cantilever Lid
- Stainless Steel Measuring Scoop
- Built-In Scale Line
- Quick-Release and Easy-Seal Clasp
It comes with an airtight BPA-Free silicone rubber seal that performs better in preventing your coffee from oxidizing. Simultaneously, this canister is also equipped with a one-way CO2 valve that keeps the gases out while keeping the flavors in.
This container is, I think, suitable for storing coffee or any food products because it can block out the elements that alter the flavor, such as moisture, light, air, and so on. And having that in mind, this variable creates a dark and dry environment that helps preserve your coffee beans’ natural oils and aromatics.
It also comes with an easy lock-and-release mechanism, which makes it a user-friendly coffee storage unit. While it seems unimportant, having this feature is still helpful for someone who really needs it, especially our elders.
But what’s more interesting is the date tracker on the lid, which is a nice feature for busting your coffee beans’ freshness. You can set the storage dates with the date tracker to record and determine how long your coffee can last.
2. Coffee Gator Stainless Steel Container Canister
Coffee Gator is a trusted manufacturer in helping people experience better coffee by providing high-quality coffee products. And when it comes to their coffee canister, it is one of the preferable choices out there.
Features
- Surgical-grade stainless steel body
- Wicovalve CO2 release valve
- Quick-release and easy-seal bail clasp
- Date wheel for tracking best before or roasting date
Besides having a stylish design, the Coffee Gator coffee canister is made with a high-quality, BPA-free material safe for storing coffee and other food products. They claim that the canister’s body is made of surgical-grade stainless steel. While this is an excellent factor for sanitary purposes, this is also a great reinforcement for preventing rusting.
Just like the above item, this container also comes with an airtight silicone seal that works totally in protecting your bean’s freshness. And at the same time, it features a valve that allows gases to escape while keeping the beans in their peak condition.
Also, cleanliness is important. And luckily, this container is easy to clean, which prevents moisture and air from coming in. Overall, besides having a variety of colors, it also comes in different sizes, which is helpful for people who love buying larger batches of freshly roasted coffee beans.
3. Friis Stainless Steel Coffee Vault Canister
The Coffee Vault-Canister from Friis is also an excellent option for storing your coffee beans. It has the essential functions you need to maintain the efficiency and quality of your beans.
Features
- The Coffee Vault-Coffee Savor keeps your coffee fresh
- Friis Freshness Valves that vents CO2 gases
- Maintain Rich, Full Coffee Flavor
- Airtight Storage
- Stores up to 16-Ounce of whole or ground Coffee
This coffee canister arrives with a BPA-free polymer lid that creates an airtight seal, which helps retain the coffee bean’s most full flavor. And at the same time, it comes with an innovative one-way valve (“freshness valve”) that helps unleash the Co2 gases outside.
Having that in mind, this container is an excellent solution for getting the most out of your coffee. The essential flavors inside are also trapped for a more extended period, along with your coffee beans.
Trapping the flavors inside this canister is possible because the vault itself is made of stainless steel that creates a vault-like environment for your coffee. Besides being sturdy and durable, one of the reasons why I prefer stainless-steel containers is their ability to block out light, air, and moisture effectively.
4. OXO Good Grips Airtight Coffee POP Container
The OXO Good Grips POP container is an excellent addition to your countertop as it is efficient to fit any space. While this type of container is slightly different from the rest, it still works perfectly in keeping your fresh coffee longer.
Features
- Stainless steel lid, airtight seal with the press of a button
- Modular stacking system
- Tinted body for UV rays blocking
- Large holding capacity
The Container comes with a stainless-steel lid, equipped with a unique push-button system that creates an airtight seal. The container is close enough to an “airtight” seal, which can still prevent the air from coming in and aromatics from coming out.
The container itself is BPA-free and dishwasher-safe, making it easy to clean and use again. The only issue is that the container itself can degrade over time, which might affect its effectiveness in keeping the coffee fresh.
While it comes with a tinted body, which creates a UV-blocking technology that blocks excessive light, I think that factor can’t entirely prevent the moisture from building up. So, even claiming that the container blocks over 99% of UV rays, you should still keep it away from light and store it in a cool and dry place, which is, of course, always the right thing to do.
Step 4: Make sure Your Choice is an Airtight Container
Exposing your beans to air is a bad thing as it may degrade the quality of your coffee in just a matter of time. Therefore, your container should be airtight to prevent air from getting in. Airtight canisters also help extend your coffee’s shelf life for a more extended period than a standard container.
So, how to check if a particular canister is airtight?
Once the canister is cool, check for sealing. But a successful sealing often begins and ends with an airtight lid. Having low-quality lids may actually contribute to sealing failure.
The band and lid are used to seal your coffee, foods, or any products in a container. Therefore, choose a storage container equipped with a lid that seals properly and stays sealed no matter what. In the end, you can safely enjoy the quality of fresh produce products all month long.
Step 5: Pick a Container Equipped with a Gas-release Valve
Some containers feature a valve, which allows the gases to escape. The reason for having a valve is to avoid trapping those gases inside the container forever.
When coffee is roasted, you need to continually release the accumulated gases (primarily carbon dioxide) inside the beans. This process is called “degassing,” which is good when brewing a delicious cup of coffee.
When it comes to storing coffee, your container should allow the coffee to release carbon dioxide while keeping the oxygen and moisture out. It would help if you prevented oxygen from being in contact with the coffee beans. This way, you can keep the flavor and maintain the freshness of your coffee.
One way to control it is by equipping the container with a gas-release valve. A gas-release valve means a one-way CO2 valve that allows the gas to escape without letting the air in.
Another thing you need to consider is if the valve controls the release of gases. According to experts, as the coffee loses carbon dioxide quickly, this also degrades the taste immediately. So, while this thing is inevitable, a gas-release valve slows the process of degassing.
Step 6: Consider the Material (Stainless Steel vs. Plastic vs. Glass)
Most of the coffee containers out there come with a ceramic, plastic, glass, or stainless-steel body. I suggest using stainless-steel coffee canisters for durability and effectiveness.
Stainless steel canisters have excellent shelf-life properties as of being durable and unbreakable. So, aside from storing your coffee beans in an airtight container to keep them fresh, you can also assure that the container will last you for years.
Stainless steel units are better than plastic or even glass ones because they create a dark, dry and safe environment for coffee beans. But most importantly, these materials don’t impart any unwanted flavors to the coffee. Stainless steel is less porous and is made of a non-reactive material, which is excellent at maintaining flavors.
There you have it! Like this Article? Then You Might Also Want to Read: How to Find the Best Manual Coffee Grinder in 2021