This article will go over the five best coffee storage containers.
After trying out many coffee containers, I have now narrowed it down to what I think is the best one.
And the best one is the Ankomn Turn-N-Seal. Because it’s affordable, vacuum sealed, and large.
Ankomn Turn-N-Seal: Best Overall
- Size: 1.2 liter
- Material: Plastic
- Color: Semi-Black
That said, it might not be best for your circumstances. Thus I have reviewed the top five contains.
Let’s get started.
Top 5 Coffee Canisters Containers
- Ankomn Turn-N-Seal – Best overall
- Coffee Gator Stainless Steel Container – Best Steel Container
- Coffeevac 1 lb – Best Budget Friendly
- Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister – Best Vacuum Container
- Friis Stainless Steel Coffee Vault Canister – Runner Up
5 Best Coffee Storage Containers
Here are reviews of the five best coffee containers.
1. Ankomn Turn-N-Seal – Best Overall
| Size | 1.2 liter |
| Material | Plastic |
| Color | Semi-Black |
This container may look simple, but Ankomn Coffee Canister is great. That’s why the Ankomn is number one on my list of the best coffee canisters.
Now, the first thing you should know about this container is that it features a special lock system that makes it fully vacuum-sealed. This means your coffee beans will be protected and will remain fresh for a long time.
Note: as this model uses clear plastic, it is better to keep it in the cupboard or simply in a dark place to protect the beans from sunlight. At the same time, it will be easy for you to keep track of your coffee using this see-through container.
I also really appreciate how easy to use this container is. All you have to do is turn the lid. It will activate the system, sucking the air from the container. Additionally, this coffee canister keeps the moisture away too, creating an ideal environment for coffee bean storage.
2. Coffee Gator Stainless Steel Container – Best Steel Container
| Size | 1.9 liter |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Color | Silver |
The next item on my list of the best storage containers for coffee is the Coffee Gator. There are many reasons to love this model, including its sleek exterior, sturdy construction, and, of course, performance when it comes to keeping coffee beans fresh.
Now, it has a stainless steel body and an airtight lid that keeps the air away from the beans, so it’s pretty basic. There’s also a special valve that allows the CO2 to vent away.
At the same time, it does not let the air in. Such a system ensures the proper sealing of the lid but keeps oxygen out.
Note: The body of this coffee canister is pretty light, while the real weight is in the lid, which might cause the canister to fall on its side when the lid is open.
Another cool thing about the Coffee Gator is that it is available in 8 different colors and 3 sizes (4, 6, and 7.5 inches tall). It also comes with a scooping spoon, which is a very pleasant bonus.
3. Coffeevac 1 lb – Best Budget Friendly
| Size | 1.85 liter |
| Material | Plastic |
| Color | Black Cap & Body |
The next product I want to share with you is the famous Coffeevac 1 lb. And there’s a reason behind its popularity: Coffeevac really does its job.
The way this container works is very simple. You just need to push the special black lid down to get rid of the unwanted air.
Then close the container, and voila! The top lid is see-through, so you can always know how much coffee you have left. If the black lid is down near the bottom, it’s time to run to get a fresh batch of coffee.
Note: The sizes listed in the Amazon product description and the actual canister capacity are different because the airtight lid takes up quite some space when inside the canister.
This coffee storage container comes in 10 colors. Made of sturdy stainless steel, it does have some weight to it and feels rather durable. This is one of those items that combine simplicity, effectiveness, and reliability.
4. Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister – Best Vacuum container
| Size | 0.4 liter |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Color | Matte Black |
Allow me to share another vacuum container for coffee that can become a great addition to any kitchen.
The Atmos by Fellow is a stylish, sleek model (ideal for fans of minimalism). Its matte black finish makes this canister look more expensive than it really is.
But aside from being super stylish, the Atmos container also does an excellent job of protecting coffee beans and keeping them fresh.
This model uses an integrated vacuum pump (inside the lid) that removes the air to prevent your fresh coffee beans from losing their properties.
There is also a vacuum light indicator, which means you will always make sure your coffee is safe from oxygen.
It gets better: the black finish will prevent the sunlight from affecting the beans. Therefore, you can keep your Atmos container anywhere you want. You don’t have to hide it in the cabinet and can even use it as a part of your kitchen decor.
If you don’t like the idea of buying smaller batches of coffee, you can benefit from one of the coffee subscription services.
The way they work is quite simple: you pick what you like, and the company delivers freshly roasted beans right to your doorstep.
You can have a weekly or a monthly subscription depending on how much coffee you usually drink.
5. Friis Stainless Steel Coffee Vault Canister – Runner up
| Size | 0.5 liter |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Color | Silver |
Another top-rated coffee canister on our list, the Friis seems to be everyone’s favorite, and I understand why. It is very nicely made and does a great job keeping coffee fresh.
This container has a sturdy stainless steel body. It comes in 3 colors and 2 sizes. The lid is airtight, which means it keeps oxygen out.
However, it has a special valve that allows CO2 to escape. And even though such a construction might seem quite simple, it works to create perfect storage conditions for the coffee beans.
Note: This coffee container comes with a replaceable valve, which implies more expenses on the user’s side.
As a great bonus, the Friis keeps the light away too. We can easily say that coffee is perfectly safe when being stored in this canister.
Why You Absolutely Need a Coffee Canister
Have you noticed that the majority of coffee bean packages are labeled the Best Before date and this date is within 12-24 months?
Truth is, coffee beans cannot remain fresh for such a long period.
In fact, freshly roasted beans have their flavor and aroma peak within the first 72 hours, and then start gradually losing those positive properties.
And the more time passes, the more coffee flavor disappears. At the same time, the beans even acquire negative odors that only become more noticeable with time.
Interestingly enough, green coffee beans (unroasted ones) can remain fresh for more than a year, but only in ideal storage conditions.
The process speeds up when the beans are affected by light, heat, or moisture. So, when the coffee storage method does not protect the beans from these factors, they can lose their freshness and aroma in mere days.
For example, if you keep freshly roasted beans in a proper coffee canister, they will preserve the freshness and their positive properties for around a month. And for an untrained palate, they will taste fresh for an extra month after that.
But when your coffee jar allows the air, heat, or moisture in, the beans lose their aroma within the first week. Sometimes even faster.
So, what can we take from this?
A good coffee container can serve as a shield against the external factors. It can be your little safety vault that preserves the precious aroma of the coffee beans.
The Best Way to Store Coffee Beans: Main Rules and Tips
The Best Way to Store Coffee Beans
It is clear now that to enjoy your favorite coffee beverages and their unique flavors, you need fresh beans.
And, of course, you need to store them properly. Here are a couple of tips on how to do that:
- Keep the air out. Oxygen can literally ruin your coffee. It makes the flavor cells collapse, causes the evaporation of the precious aromatic oils, and can even create a favorable environment for microbial life growth. So, you need to protect your beans from oxygen as much as you can. An airtight coffee container would do the trick.
- Avoid sunlight: UV rays are damaging to many things, including coffee. So, it’s better to store the beans in an opaque canister or in a dark, closed cabinet. Keep it away from the heat. When stored in a warm (or hot) environment, coffee starts to chemically react to it and loses its flavor. That’s why you should keep the coffee canister away from windows, stoves, ovens, radiators, etc. Room temperature is fine, but a cooler pantry area would be even better.
- Avoid moisture: This external factor is also deadly for coffee. It causes the beans to deteriorate and lose their aroma. Plus, too much moisture creates a friendly environment for bacteria. That’s why coffee needs to be stored in dry places. It’s also a good idea to keep it away from the sink or your cooking surfaces where it’s not much about humidity but some drops of water can reach the beans.
- Avoid steam: Steam is the combination of both heat and moisture, which means it is deadly for the beans. Therefore, move the beans away from such cooking devices as coffee makers, rice cookers, boilers, kettles, and so on.
- Don’t buy too much: This is my golden rule, and I advise that you follow it too. The more coffee you buy, the longer it will lie on the shelf. And the more flavor it will lose. So, it’s always better to buy small batches and go fast through them, then buy a fresh batch, and continue.
All of this means that the most optimal way to store coffee beans is in an airtight, dark container because such a simple solution can deal with all negative factors – moisture, heat, oxygen, and light – at once.
A Word on Coffee Canister Materials
When it comes to coffee containers, most users believe that we have more than enough options to choose from.
Here are the most common container materials:
- Glass: The main downside of glass is that it’s transparent. This means it will not protect the beans from sunlight. So, if you decide to go for a glass container, it’s best to keep it in a cupboard, away from light.
- Steel: Stainless steel canisters don’t cause a chemical reaction with coffee, which means they are completely suitable for storage. Plus, such containers are great for keeping the light away from the beans. They are very durable too and can serve you for years.
- Plastic: Plastic is generally a good choice. But thin plastic containers aren’t that good with keeping the odors away from the beans. It’s better to give your preference to thicker options.
- Acrylic: These containers are pretty much the same as plastic ones. Their main advantage is affordability. But it’s rather difficult to find a good airtight acrylic jar.
- Ceramic: Ceramic coffee containers are quite popular because they come in a variety of colors and designs. Not all of them have airtight lids though, so you need to be careful with this type of coffee storage.
Should You Store Coffee in the Fridge?
Ahh, one of the most ancient coffee myths says that keeping the beans in the fridge (or freezer) preserves them fresh longer.
But in fact, it’s not the best idea. And there are two main reasons for that:
#1 – Coffee is hygroscopic, which means it is able to absorb the air around it, including external flavors.
Can you imagine how your coffee would taste after residing in the fridge next to such neighbors as, let’s say, cheese, meat, and other foods?
Even if your fridge and freezer are sparkling clean, the tiny flavor bits may still linger in there. And the beans will easily absorb them.
#2 – Coffee can be killed by moisture. And even if you keep the beans in a dry container, taking them out of the fridge/freezer and then putting them back in will create sudden temperature changes. And they can lead to moisture condensate appearing inside the container.
If you still decide to keep the beans in your fridge or freezer, it’s better to store them in small batches.
This will help you minimize the temperature changes. Also, make sure you use a vacuum sealed container to avoid unwanted flavors.
One of the options you have is buying green coffee and roasting it yourself in small batches. This is probably the best way to get the freshest coffee possible.
And don’t worry, you don’t need an expensive roaster. You can use a popcorn maker instead if you have one!
How Do You Store Ground Coffee?
Now, let’s say your grinder is broken and you have to buy pre-ground coffee.
Or you grind your beans at the local coffee shop.
To enjoy fresh coffee, avoid buying and using multiple varieties at the same time. This will only make your beans lay on the shelf longer and lose their flavor and aroma.
Instead, try to buy smaller batches. Yes, you will have to do that more often, but you will always have fresh beans.
Obviously, you want to keep the coffee fresh, even though it’s already been ground. The rules here are the same as with whole-bean coffee. Avoid air, light, and moisture.
But you should also keep in mind that ground coffee loses its freshness faster. In a good storage environment, it will preserve its aroma for around a week.
What Makes a Good Storage Container for Your Coffee Beans
Now, I know that every coffee lover has his or her personal preferences. But let me share the main pointers that make a good coffee canister:
Main Pointers for Good Coffee Canister
- Sturdy construction: This one is obvious: you don’t want a flimsy container with an unreliable lid, but you want something solid and durable.
- Airtight lid: As you already know, oxygen ruins the coffee flavor. That’s why you need something that would help you create an oxygen-free environment for the beans.
- CO2 valve: Now, let me explain this one. There’s no proof that CO2 can ruin the flavor of coffee. On the contrary: when the beans degas and emit CO2, it pushes the oxygen away, creating a more favorable storage environment. But when there’s too much CO2, it can create pressure inside the container and compromise its sealing. So, a CO2 valve would be nice to get rid of the excess gas.
- Date wheel: This nice bonus will help you track the freshness of your coffee.
- UV protection: Whether it has a solid color or a special coating, a good coffee container should be able to protect the beans from sunlight.
Conclusion
Now, if you want a reliable, stylish container for a reasonable price, consider the Ankomn Turn-N-Seal.
This sleek little device will protect your coffee beans from anything that could affect their flavor. Plus, it’s extremely easy to use thanks to its simple vacuum mechanism.
And if you want something aside from plastic, think about getting the Coffee Gator. This metal container is likely to serve you for years, keeping your coffee beans fresh and rich in flavor.
