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The Best Airtight Coffee Storage Containers for Keeping Your Coffee Fresh
Take a look at some of the most commonly used options and find the ideal coffee storage container.
Published November 23, 2021
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Jennie Backteman
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Keeping coffee fresh for a longer period of time can be tricky. You need to find a good balance between the effectiveness of the storage method and accessibility. You don’t want to go through a complicated unpacking procedure every time you want to make a cup of coffee, after all. Ideally, you should split your storage into at least two – one for the short term and one for long-term storage. Finding the ideal coffee storage container to fit the bill for both can take a while, so you should do your best to compare available products as thoroughly as you can. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used options.
Mason Jar
A mason jar is the simplest possible coffee bean container that can produce good results, and it’s not too expensive to obtain either. If you want to go the extra mile, you should take the time to put in a custom CO2 valve on the jar’s lid to keep things as fresh as possible. You just want to have the output end of the valve pointing outwards and you’re good to go. Coffee should be packed in your jar immediately after grinding.
One consideration when using a mason jar for a coffee bean container is that you should keep them away from direct sunlight. Many professional coffee grounds containers come with an opaque design for a good reason – sunlight can contribute to the deterioration of your coffee beans. As long as you keep the jar in a cupboard or similar, you shouldn’t worry too much about it otherwise.
Airscape Container
If you want something a bit fancier, Airscape offers a variety of different airtight containers that coffee enthusiasts love. They have several models for everyone’s needs, but their ceramic coffee grounds container is perhaps their most popular option. The best part is that it’s not ridiculously expensive. Sure, it costs more than a regular mason jar or other general-purpose airtight containers, but it’s actually quite affordable compared to other dedicated coffee containers, and the company is known for its strong approach to customer service as well.
Do take a look around the company’s product line-up. You might decide that the ceramic container is not the ideal option for you in the end – some people prefer the stainless steel model, for example. Take a look at some in-depth reviews because there is a bit of ground to cover when comparing these options.
Resealable Bags
Regular resealable bags can also work well for storing your coffee. You can get models with more advanced sealing mechanisms these days, resembling clothing zippers. They can keep your coffee fresh for a surprisingly long time and can be a pretty good coffee storage container. While it’s arguable whether they’re the best container for storing ground coffee all around, many people prefer them as an option due to their flexibility, cheap price, and ease of cleaning and reuse.
Resealable bags are also great for storing coffee in the freezer due to their flexible shape. If you’re a fan of freezing your coffee beans, this is going to be one of the most attractive options for you, especially if you have a small freezer. And considering the various benefits of freezing your coffee for long-term storage, this is definitely something you’ll want to at least consider. You might prefer other coffee bean containers for your daily use, but the usefulness of resealable bags is not to be ignored for long-term storage.
Coffeevac
Tightvac is a company with a long history on the market for airtight containers, and they have an extensive product line for different uses. Some of their products are popular with smokers, for example, as their containers are some of the best options for storing tobacco. The Coffeevac is a model specifically aimed at the coffee market, and it works great if you need a coffee grounds container with an elegant, compact design that works easily.
All you have to do is push a button to release the cap, and when you close it down, the unique design will ensure an airtight seal by actually creating a slight vacuum. You will find it hard to take off the cap by just pulling on it – that’s how good the airtight sealing is! The Coffeevac is great for long-term storage, and it doesn’t need to be kept in a dark place because it already comes with an opaque design. Of course, you should still avoid exposing it to too much heat, so it may not be best to just put it on the windowsill.
OXO Good Grips
The OXO Good Grips is one of the cheapest models available on the coffee storage container marker right now, but its low price should not deceive you. It works very well and is a popular choice among avid coffee enthusiasts. It’s an elegant transparent design with an airtight lid. The square-ish shape makes it easy to find a place for the OXO Good Grips in your kitchen, and the container is large enough to keep you going for a while without having to refill it.
The only downside for some is the transparent design, which can cause some issues as we mentioned above. As long as you keep that in mind and avoid storing the container directly exposed to the sun, that shouldn’t be a problem though. Some actually prefer the OXO Good Grips for this feature specifically, as it allows them to easily check how much coffee they have remaining without opening the container.
Veken
The Veken Coffee Canister is one of the more advanced models on the market right now, and a great value for your money if you want a more expensive model. It has a beautiful stainless steel design and an integrated date tracker so you can know exactly how old the coffee inside is. You get a nice-looking scoop for your coffee as well, making measurements easier. This is a great coffee grounds container that looks well in your kitchen and can also make a good gift for that coffee lover in your friend circle.
Coffee Gator
The Coffee Gator is a competitor to the Veken in some regards, as the two designs are quite similar. It’s another beloved product in the coffee community, and you’ll frequently see it recommended in discussions about the best container for storing ground coffee. The design looks a lot like the Veken, including the date tracker and the free provided scoop, so it’s mostly a matter of personal preference which one you’re going to go with. A higher-grade container like this one, with an integrated CO2 valve, is definitely a great option if you’re serious about your coffee and want to get the most out of its storage.
Tip: Oxygen Absorbers
No matter what storage method you use, you should also look into buying a pack of oxygen absorbers and throw some in with the coffee beans. They will help keep the coffee fresh for an even longer period and will also help you get the most out of cheaper, less effective containers. Another great use for oxygen absorbers is for when you’re on the go – they’re the best friend for a coffee lover on a trip. You can easily buy them at many stores and online in large packages, so you will typically only need to make that purchase once and be set for a long time. Make sure the ones you’re purchasing are explicitly marked as safe for food use!
Long-term Storage Considerations
If you want to get the most out of your coffee, you should look into freezing it for the long term. This is a popular approach among coffee enthusiasts, and as we mentioned above, certain containers can make it very easy to do this even if you have a small freezer. Ideally, you’ll be freezing large batches of coffee and only taking out smaller ones for daily use. This will help ensure that your beans last as long as possible, and that each cup is as fresh as the first one.
Finding the right coffee storage container is just one component of this – you need to consider various other factors to get the best deal in the end. Sunlight exposure is another common issue, as we mentioned earlier. Make sure you keep your coffee grounds container away from direct sunlight. Even if it’s non-transparent, allowing the sun to regularly warm it up can still cause problems.
It can take a while to find the best container for storing ground coffee for your specific needs, but it’s well worth the effort. This can help you get much more out of the coffee you’re buying, instead of treating the last 10-20% of the bag as something of much lower quality. Talk to other coffee enthusiasts with more experience if you’re not sure how to approach this. There are many factors that you need to consider here, and you want to be sure that you’re seeing the big picture and not missing anything.
About the author
Jennie Backteman
I´m a ultramarathon runner, landscape designer and a coffee lover.
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