6 BEST COFFEE STORAGE CONTAINERS THAT KEEP YOUR COFFEE FRESH
Coffee storage containers are essential for keeping your beans fresh and your inner barista happy.
Even if you spend hours researching the right coffee maker, the best recipe, the perfect grinder, and the most exceptional specialty coffee, it’s impossible to make a flawless cup of coffee at home with stale beans.
At A Glance:
- MY TOP PICK: Coffee Gator Storage Container
- BEST SEAL: Fellow Atmos
- GREAT VALUE: Tightvac Coffeevac
That’s where coffee containers come in, and fortunately, there are tons of great options on the market. I’ve done the research and tested dozens to deliver these top six, guaranteed to keep your precious coffee beans fresh.
The 6 Best Containers For Storing Your Coffee
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No products found. | Coffee Gator Storage Canister |
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| No products found. | Planetary Design Airscape |
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| No products found. | Miir Coffee Canister |
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| No products found. | Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister |
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| No products found. | Tightvac Coffee Vac |
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| No products found. | OXO Good Grips Coffee Pop Container |
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Where should you start in your pursuit of the best coffee container? Here are my six favorite storage solutions for the coffee in your kitchen.
1. Coffee Gator Storage Canister
Material: Stainless steel
- Capacity: 22 oz, 16 oz, or 11 oz
- Sealing method: CO2 valve
The Coffee Gator storage container isn’t as trendy as some of the brand-name options on this list, but it does its job perfectly for about half the price – and even includes a coffee scoop. That combination of convenience, quality, and value is why I awarded it the top spot.
The stainless steel construction, airtight seal, and one-way valve work to neutralize the main threats to your coffee: air, moisture, and light.
I love the date wheel integrated into the lid. I have always aspired to be the kind of person who dates my food before storing it in the freezer but have never quite mastered the organizational skills. Does that sound like you? This built-in system is for people like us! I always know exactly how long I’ve had my beans.
The only downside is this container a bit bulkier than some of the others, especially the larger sizes. I wouldn’t necessarily choose it for travel or to display in one of those modern minimalist kitchens.
PROS:
- Date wheel integrated into the lid
- One-way valve ensures freshness
- Great value for money
CONS:
- A bit bulky
- Not dishwasher safe
2. Planetary Design Airscape
Material: Stainless steel
- Available sizes: 8 oz, 1.2 lb, 2.5 lb
- Seal type: Patented plunger lid
The Airscape stainless steel coffee canister uses a patented plunger lid design to eliminate air. My favorite thing about it is the “whoosh” sound it makes when it closes. It lets you know it’s sealed properly, and it’s incredibly satisfying to actually hear that flavor-destroying air whooshing away from your coffee.
The Airscape is available in the largest size on this list (up to 2.5 lbs). So if you like to save money by buying coffee in bulk, this is a great option for keeping it reasonably fresh for about a month.
One thing I learned the hard way is not to put the lid in upside down because it becomes very difficult to remove. I had to watch a YouTube tutorial on the topic, which suggests I’m not the first to make this mistake.
PROS:
- Clever lid design to remove air
- Available in a large range of sizes and colors
- Lightweight and durable
CONS:
- Relatively expensive
- Don’t put the lid upside down
3. Miir Coffee Canister
Material: Stainless steel
- Available sizes: 12 oz
- Seal type: Accordion-style seal
Miir is a family-owned Seattle-based company known in the coffee industry for hip gear and an environmental ethos. While I was certainly impressed by their charitable donations and certifications like B-Corp and 1% For The Planet, I was more impressed by the quality of their coffee canister.
The Miir coffee container is sleek and stylish – the opposite of the cumbersome-looking Gator tin. Sized to fit a 12-ounce bag of beans, it’s available in matte white, matte black, and copper (my favorite). The stainless steel build is ultra-durable and so well made that Miir backs it with a lifetime warranty.
The smooth exterior, reasonable size, and solid build make it my top pick for hitting the road with my coffee.
The unique accordion seal system takes a little getting used to, but after a time or two, I found it really easy and practical. My only complaint is that there is no max fill line inside the canister, and if you overfill it, the seal won’t work properly.
PROS:
- Sleek and attractive design
- Accordion-style seal keeps air out
- Durable, with a lifetime warranty
CONS:
- Only available in one size
- Finicky to clean
4. Fellow Atmos
Material: Stainless steel or glass
- Capacity: 0.4 L, 0.7 L, or 1.2 L
- Sealing method: Integrated vacuum pump
The Fellow Atmos vacuum canister continues the Fellow tradition of high-quality products with great style—and a bit of a price tag.
The Atmos is available in three sizes and two materials: stainless steel (matte black or white) or clear glass. I wouldn’t recommend the latter for coffee unless you plan to keep it in a dark cupboard, but then you miss the opportunity to show off your cool Fellow gear!
This canister stands out for its clever vacuum-sealed design. Twisting the lid activates an integrated vacuum pump.
After four or five twists, a green indicator lets you know your coffee is air-free. When you’re ready to brew, simply push the button on top to let the air back in.
Beware that it’s not designed as a permanent storage solution. In my experience, the vacuum starts to fade after about 4 or 5 days. However, it still keeps beans fresher longer than any other option on this list. I’ve enjoyed coffee for up to 6 weeks without substantial loss of quality.
PROS:
- Coffee stays fresh for longest
- Easy-to-use vacuum-seal lid with indicator
- Sleek and stylish design
CONS:
- Most expensive on this list
- Even the largest size can’t hold a pound of beans
5. Tightvac Coffeevac
Material: Plastic
- Available sizes: 1 pound
- Seal type: Push-button vacuum seal
Want a vacuum canister without a Fellow price tag? Check out the Coffeevac from Tightvac. Its simple but effective vacuum seal and wide-mouth opening removes air, blocks light, and lets carbon dioxide vent.
I found it very easy to use, with no finicky seals to twist or expand. One button opens and closes the lid. In a side-by-side taste test with the Fellow Atmos, I found both canisters kept coffee equally fresh for about three weeks, after which the Tightvac quality dropped faster than the Fellow.
That’s pretty great value given that the Coffeevac is about a third of the cost, and most of us finish a bag of coffee beans within three weeks anyway!
The Coffeevac’s affordability is largely due to its plastic build. I don’t mind plastic in this case, and it keeps it super lightweight. But it can hold odors more than steel or glass, so I’d avoid using it to store flavored beans.
PROS:
- Efficient vacuum button to keep coffee fresh
- Great value for money
- Easy to use
CONS:
- Plastic build
- Quite tall, wouldn’t fit in my cupboard
6. OXO Good Grips Coffee Pop Container
Material: BPA-free plastic
- Available sizes: 0.5 qt, 0.8 qt, 1.1 qt, 1.7 qt, 1.9 qt, 2.1 L, 2.8 qt, 4.2 L, 6.0 qt
- Seal type: Push-button airtight seal
The OXO Good Grips Pop Container is a simple, affordable, and efficient storage solution. Push a button to create an airtight seal, then push it again to open.
These containers aren’t designed specifically for coffee, but I found the 1.5-quart size perfect for holding a pound of ground or whole bean coffee.
The entire Pop Container line is made for easy stacking and storage on shelves and in pantries, and you can buy them in sets of various sizes. And unlike the coffee-focused canisters with specialty seals, the OXO Pops are dishwasher-safe and great for keeping coffee in the freezer.
The obvious negative of the container is that it’s clear, meaning light can still affect your precious beans if you keep it in the open. Store it in a cupboard away from light and heat, and you’ll have no problems.
PROS:
- Very low price
- Easy-to-use one-button seal
- Stackable, efficient storage
CONS:
- Transparent plastic lets light in
- No valve to vent CO2
What type of containers are best for storing coffee?
Keeping your coffee beans tasty and fresh means keeping them away from light, heat, moisture, and oxygen — all things that are generally difficult to avoid. Hence the importance of the right container to hold the beans, according to the coffee educators at the National Coffee Association USA (1).
“To preserve your beans’ fresh roasted flavor as long as possible, store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature.”
In this buyer’s guide, I’ll cover how the design and construction of the best coffee canisters affect each of these factors, making it easy to store coffee beans properly.
What is the best material for storing your coffee beans?
Storage containers can be stainless steel, glass, or plastic, each of which has its own set of pros and cons.
- Stainless steel is an ideal choice because it blocks light and is incredibly durable. A stainless canister will last forever, through countless washes. However, the trade-off is that it is the most expensive.
- Plastic is cheaper, and dense plastics in a dark color can block UV rays just as well as steel. It is a bit less durable in the long run, but if you fumble your beans in a pre-caffeinated haze, you don’t have to worry about it breaking if it hits the floor.
- Glass is both breakable and transparent to UV rays. However, some people enjoy being able to see the contents of their canister. If you use a glass container, make sure you keep it in a dark cupboard between uses.
Can you store coffee beans in Tupperware?
Tupperware is a decent budget option for coffee beans. Choose an opaque Tupperware in a dark color and seal it tightly. But it won’t work as well as a dedicated coffee storage canister with a specialized seal.
The Importance of the Seal
The seal is what distinguishes a great coffee storage container from a basic Tupperware bin with an airtight seal.
Look for a canister with a one-way valve that allows carbon dioxide out without letting oxygen in. This is important because if you buy freshly roasted coffee beans (which you should for the best flavor), they will continue to off-gas CO2 for up to two weeks after roasting (2). And that gas has to be able to escape.
Many coffee bags from premium brands are equipped with one-way valves and resealable ziplock-style closures, making them decent short-term storage methods.
The best bet is to find a canister with an integrated vacuum pump, which sucks the air out of the canister, sort of like the coffee equivalent to vacuum sealing food for storage. This is a great system but generally comes at an increased cost.
Consider The Capacity
Choosing the right capacity of container comes down to how much coffee your household consumes. As a rough guideline, a coffee canister should extend the lifetime of your fresh coffee supply for one to two weeks. So you shouldn’t buy more coffee than you can drink in that timeframe.
Coffee professionals like Joe Behm, President of Behmor, which manufactures home roasters and smart brewers, believe coffee starts to drop off in flavor a week after roasting (3).
“If you work under the premise that coffee begins to lose its flavours within seven days of being roasted, then at the eighth day you tend to lose some character in the coffee.”
With this in mind, size your coffee canister to match your weekly or biweekly coffee consumption. Or buy several small canisters if you prefer to have several coffees on the go at once.
Can I store ground coffee in a canister?
I’ve referred mostly to whole bean coffee in this article because the most flavorful cup results from coffee ground right before brewing. But if you can’t grind your own coffee, all the same storage rules apply to pre-ground coffee – in fact, to a higher degree.
It is even more important to keep pre-ground coffee in a proper canister away from light, heat, moisture, and oxygen. Its increased surface area means it gets stale even faster than coffee beans. I recommend splurging on a vacuum-sealed canister for your pre-ground coffee and trying to use it within a week or two of purchase.
What about coffee pods?
There is no reason to buy a special container for coffee pods. Just keep them in a drawer or coffee shelf away from a potential heat source, such as your stove.
Aluminum coffee capsules, like those used in Nespresso machines, are already tiny coffee containers – sealed against air, moisture, and light. Keurig-style K-Cups are sealed with ground coffee and air inside, so I hate to break it to you, but that coffee is probably already stale.
The Verdict
The best coffee storage solution keeps coffee away from light, air, and moisture. It’s practical, affordable, and easy to use. Of all the containers I tested, I found the Coffee Gator Storage Canister best met those criteria. Plus, it includes handy extras like a date-tracking wheel and coffee scoop. It’s perfect way to keep your coffee beans or grounds fresh for longer.
FAQs
The best way to keep brewed coffee fresh is to decant it into a thermal carafe, thermos, or insulated mug. Depending on the quality of the vessel, this can keep your coffee hot for up to 12 hours. Using an external heat source like a hot plate (or reheating your coffee in the microwave) can add an unwanted burnt or bitter coffee taste.
The best container to keep coffee hot is a double-wall vacuum-insulated thermos with a tight-fitting lid. These containers are perfect for storing coffee as they’re designed to eliminate all types of heat flow, keeping your brew hot for about 8 to 12 hours.
Yes, coffee beans expire, but coffee doesn’t go bad the same way as fresh food. Expired coffee beans won’t make you sick. Rather, exposure to oxygen causes coffee to get stale, gradually losing flavor intensity and complexity. Coffee pros will tell you this starts around two to four weeks after roasting.
References
- National Coffee Association USA. (n.d.). How to Store Coffee. Retrieved from https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/how-to-store-coffee
- Driftaway Coffee. (2015, September 2). What Is The Bloom and How Does It Affect Taste? Retrieved from https://driftaway.coffee/bloom/
- Ospina, A.K.M. (2019, January 2). Coffee Degassing: What Does It Mean for Brewers & Roasters? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2019/01/why-does-coffee-degas-what-does-it-mean-for-brewers-roasters/
