To store or not to store coffee for long periods is a question that coffee aficionados often ask themselves. If you are someone who goes through their coffee fairly quickly, then you may not give storing coffee a second thought. But if you like to buy in bulk while wishing to preserve freshness and flavor, then you can look to getting a quality coffee canister.
Airtight coffee canisters offer a great solution to storing coffee and we have complied a list of the five best options in this category. Our list of the best coffee canister kicks off with the Planetary Design Airscape Coffee Canister which gives you a good bang for your buck by offering aesthetics and functionality at its best. You get a sleek-looking container designed to do its job well with its vacuum-sealed plunger lid to preserve maximum freshness of coffee beans.
From there we move on to other impressive contenders that all encompass important features like volume, dimensions, sealing type, and construction material which all work to determine the best coffee canister for different types of coffee users. Take a look at our recommendations in the comparison table below followed by detailed product descriptions of each canister. And we conclude with a coffee canister buying guide that looks to answering any other concerns you may have about getting the best canister for your kitchen.
More features: fits for liquids storage, BPA-free, hand-wash
The Airscape coffee and food canister from Planetary Design is a high-quality, uniquely designed container that preserves your coffee and other perishable goods the best way possible. With this special functionality and its gourmet quality materials, there are few other home canisters that can match this list’s Editor’s Pick in quality and value.
The canister itself is made with restaurant-grade 18/8 stainless steel and BPA-free components, meaning that it’s food-safe.
The patented plunger lid design is airtight, locking out air and humidity for better freshness and flavor from the food contents. The two-way valve essentially creates a vacuum seal that extends your food’s lifespan. To indicate that it’s working, the lid even creates an easily identifiable “whoosh” sound, so you know your airtight canister works.
Storing coffee is no hassle. The interior is resistant to stains and odor and keeps the beans perfect for a fresh tasting brew.
This canister isn’t solely for keeping coffee grounds tasting fresh – you can use it to store any perishable food that’s sensitive to the elements: tea, powder like flour and sugar, cereals, biscuits, seeds, nuts and herbs, even pet food.
Of course, with any high-quality product you can expect a higher price. The Airscape is somewhat pricey, but you can expect a product that lives up to its value.
The Airscape is also compact, stackable, and comes in fun colors.
More features: 4,000 hours standby time; 3 hours charge time; one-button operation
Coffee beans are the basis of a wonderful cup of coffee. Make sure they stay fresh with the vacuum container from the brand, SoulHand. The features include an airtight seal, with 4,000 hours standby time, 3 hours charge time as well as a single and simple button operation. Yes, that does mean that it can last up to 250 vacuum seals and releases in one single charge.
For the frugal and avid coffee lover, this provides a great deal at a low cost. More than that are its features. This vacuum-sealed coffee canister ensures the freshest java beans. Coffee beans lose flavor and freshness the second they are exposed to air or sunlight. To enjoy the freshest cup of coffee available, this canister helps keep your coffee beans fresh for a fresh grind each morning.
Whole bean coffee puts the control into your hands. Whether you want a fine or a coarse grind, it’s easy to do with whole beans. Coming in both a 1.6 litre, and a 1.2 litre container, there’s a range of options for every household. Create the coffee specified for your taste and store it in a canister that matches your aesthetic.
More features: date tracker, color variations, measuring scoop included, bail clasp, BPA-free, 30- day return policy
From a company with a passionate focus on accessible coffee and constantly improving to help you make the best home brew possible, the Coffee Gator coffee container is a sleek and colorful device that helps keep your coffee tasting as fresh as possible.
Designed specifically for storing coffee beans and grounds, this airtight stainless-steel canister has a valve system that releases CO2 (that is harmful to the coffee’s flavor) and keeps oxygen out, preserving the freshness. The coffee bean quality is retained in this “military-grade vault”, and with that sturdy stainless-steel exterior, your beans are protected from flavor-draining UV rays as well.
This canister comes in a variety of fun colors, so you have an attractive piece of work on your counter.
A calendar wheel on top of the lid helps you track the best before date, so you know how fresh the canister’s contents are, reducing the risk of perfectly good coffee beans going to waste in the trash. The dial itself could be vulnerable to getting stuck, but Coffee Gator would be more than willing to help you with that.
Not quite satisfied with your canister? One of the reasons Coffee Gator products are so well liked is because the company prioritizes customer satisfaction. There is excellent customer service and a 30-day return policy where you can receive either an exchange or full refund.
The great customer service backing up a pretty well-made coffee canister are both reasons the coffee container from Coffee Gator is our list’s runner up.
More features: tinted to block UV rays, rounded container corners, scoop included
If you’re looking for a coffee canister with the best value, look no further than the Steel POP Coffee Container from OXO. It’s easy to use, space-efficient and made to specially store UV-sensitive foods.
The Steel POP Coffee Container has a tinted body that not only looks good on your counter but blocks more than 99% of incoming UV rays that would otherwise ruin the taste of your coffee. All materials used are food-safe and BPA-free.
The stainless-steel lid becomes airtight without any especially fancy mechanisms: just press the button and your coffee container is sealed and your coffee is preserved. It can store any other dry UV or moisture-sensitive foods airtight. The seal itself does its job, but it’s not a vacuum seal, which some users may be looking for.
Despite having a 1.7-quart capacity, the POP container makes the most of its space. It features a modular stacking system so you can better organize your counter or pantry. The rounded corners also make for easier pouring of your coffee beans. The capacity is ideal for those who purchase 1lb packages of coffee beans or grounds.
There’s also a coffee scoop that comes with this container, which is a nice addition to an overall great product.
More features: twisting removes air, vacuum lock indicator, hand-wash
The Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister is a reliable quality coffee container that, like the name says, uses vacuum sealing to keep coffee fresher for longer. Using this canister can extend your coffee’s shelf life by about 50 percent.
Oxidation, the natural enemy to freshness, will age your coffee beans faster and make your homemade coffee not as good as it could be. With a vacuum seal, this issue is no more. The integrated vacuum pump is all in the silicone lid for a compact design that removes the air inside with a simple twist and lock. A green lock indicator ring tells you when your canister is locked to prevent any air from getting in for up to a week without use.
For further ease of use, the one-touch release function brings the Atmos back to normal pressure with the press of a button in order to open the container.
The Atmos comes in a variety of styles and capacities which can be categorized as clear glass and matte stainless steel. The latter can be considered an upgrade as it protects more against that flavor-draining sunlight and comes in either black or white.
The capacities range from .4 L (6 oz) to 1.2 L (16 oz). Fine coffee grounds are not recommended for this canister.
If you’re strictly looking for a decent vacuum canister for your coffee, this is the best choice on this list for you.
More features: date tracker, measuring scoop included, BPA-free, built-in scale line, bail clasp, 2-year customer support
The Veken airtight coffee canister is a handy all-round canister that does its job keeping air out and looks good doing it. It’s effective, durable, and perfectly measured to store and serve the right amount of coffee every time.
Made from thick high-quality stainless steel, this canister does not compromise durability and remains easy to clean. A one-way CO2 valve gets rid of the carbon dioxide emitted from the beans that would otherwise ruin the flavor.
A quick-release and easy-seal clasp feature is what keeps your beans fresh for longer.
The date tracker included on the lid helps you keep track of when your coffee beans should be used, making sure they’re always fresh. Veken also promises that their tracker dial is high quality and won’t wear off the number like others would.
The inside of this canister has been measured perfectly to hold exactly 45 coffee cups worth of coffee beans (22 oz) and includes scale lines so you can easily see how much is left.
A scoop is included for perfect portion servings and can be attached by the hook on the canister’s side. A few customers have reported they hadn’t received the scoop, but that’s where the 2-year customer service comes in. Returns and replacements come free of charge if you have issues or aren’t satisfied.
Coffee only tastes best when it’s fresh and full of flavor. To preserve these qualities, you need to know how to store your coffee beans the right way, shielding them from elements like heat, dampness, light, and oxygen. A coffee cannister is a convenient way to do this but with so many varieties available how do you choose the right one? Here are some tips on how to choose the best coffee canister to keep your coffee serving you longer.
The key to storing coffee beans correctly is to find an airtight container and all worthy coffee canisters on the market come with this feature. The airtight feature guarantees freshness at its best because as coffee beans move farther and farther away from their roast date, the more they lose their freshness and flavor, and the less likely they become to yield a quality cup of coffee.
Elements like moisture, heat, light and oxygen get right to work as soon as coffee beans are ground speeding up oxidation and extracting both flavor and aromas along with freshness from your coffee. Storing coffee beans in a cannister will help preserve these essential qualities and prolong the life of your roasted coffee.
Along with finding the right canister, you also need to store your coffee in the right spot. For instance, coffee stays best in a cool, dark and dry spot such as a cabinet or pantry, shielding it from sunlight. But cool does not imply putting it in the fridge or freezer for the humidity can cause moisture to deteriorate the coffee beans faster.
Another spot to avoid is placing your coffee beans above or next to warm spots in the kitchen such as the oven or cabinets constructed above the stove. Other places that get direct sunlight or heat from cooking equipment should also be avoided.
For a more comprehensive understanding of how to store coffee properly, take a look at this video:
Coffee canisters come in just about every shape, size and material available. But that doesn’t mean they will all serve you well. To make sure that you get something which offers performance along with aesthetics, here are some important features to keep in mind:
A good coffee canister is not a hefty investment with simpler models starting around the $15 mark and going up to under $40. Some models with additional features like date trackers or CO2 valves may cost a bit more but none should exceed the $50 mark. However, if you wish to go for a pricier model based on a brand name or so, then make sure you’re paying for all the right features and not just the company name alone.
There is a variety of materials used to construct coffee canisters. They all serve their purpose, but each comes with their fair share of advantages and disadvantages.
Stainless steel- high durability
Stainless steel is a very common option amongst canisters. It manages to preserve the freshness of the coffee for longer and keeps the taste.
Glass
Glass is a more aesthetic option for people who will place their canister on display. A word of common caution is that glass containers are fragile and can break. One favored benefit of glass canisters is that they can be placed in the dishwasher.
Ceramic
Ceramic canisters are another eye-catching option that are better at keeping your coffee cool than glass models are. They are strong, and generally easier to clean.
Plastic
Plastic is more common to come across than glass and ceramic, but is not always the best option. If your coffee goes in less than a week, then a plastic container is a good option for you. Otherwise, they are not as durable as stainless steel and they aren’t always airtight for long.
With all materials, a priority should be to block out UV rays like the OXO Good Grips Container.
The sealing of your container is extremely important since it’s a main factor that determines how long your coffee can last fresh.
Push button
Push button lids are very tight. They open a flap when a button on the lid is pressed. While they are airtight, it’s harder to refill them since you have to take the entire lid off.
Latch clasp
A latch clasp is a clamp that holds the lid down. It’s not airtight unless there is a rubber or material that forms around the shape of the edge.
Air tight
An airtight lid prevents any oxygen from getting inside of the canister. This will make sure the coffee beans do not get moist.
Vacuum sealed
Finally, there is the vacuum sealed lid. This lid will compress the air out of the container. This makes sure that there is neither carbon dioxide nor oxygen touching the coffee.
The Editor’s Pick is the ideal choice for vacuum seals.
The size of canister you choose for your kitchen will depend on your personal needs. If you like to buy in bulk you will want a bigger sized cannister to last you well but if you buy coffee for 1-2 person use only, then a smaller version can suffice.
Typically coffee cannisters for home use come in Large, Medium, and Small sizes with the larger versions offering a volume of up to 64.6 fl oz. These cannisters are able to accommodate 22.8 oz of coffee beans or 19.5 oz of ground coffee.
Medium-sized canisters offer a volume of 44 fl oz which work well to hold 16 oz of coffee beans or 13.3 oz of ground coffee.
Small coffee canisters are designed to offer a volume of 30.4 fl oz which allows them to hold 11.1 oz of coffee beans or 9.2 oz of ground coffee.
AccessoriesCanisters can come with helpful accessories such as scoops that can help you take out and refill your canister easier. There are also models available with filters and one-way valves that help keep the coffee as fresh as possible for longer. Dial wheels and see-through lids help you determine whether or not the coffee is still fresh.
The Coffee Gator has a very special accessory; a calendar dial that can help you keep track of how fresh the coffee still is.
The design of your canister will either become a convenience or a nuisance, depending on how carefully you select your coffee canister.
Look for designs that focus on storage. Stackable containers and rectangular boxes are usually easier to store. You’ll want to see how much coffee is inside of the canister, so aim for one that has at least one open window. Some will come with a tracker for how long the coffee will stay fresh or manual calendars already printed on the canister for you.
This factor should be a primary determinant for your preferred container.
You don’t want your container to be too large. Since it’s going to be either in a pantry or on the container, you’re going to want something easy to maneuver around and fit. If you plan on taking the canister with you when you travel, you’ll have to avoid a canister that is too heavy. Therefore, ceramic and glass would be eliminated.
Like with all purchases, it’s always better to get something that comes with a guarantee, so you’re not stuck with a faulty product. Most products have return policy if you are not satisfied with the purchase.
Our favorite overall coffee canister would have to be the Airscape from Planetary Design. The unique patented vacuum-sealing mechanism keeps your coffee beans fresh the most effective way possible while the built quality is unmatched by many other canisters on the market.
Protect your coffee beans with an airtight seal from SoulHand. This container brings forth the best of the best when it comes to convenience and affordability.
The runner up to our top pick is none other than the Coffee Gator coffee canister. This popular colorful container has been designed and produced with quality and passion for the craft of brewing and making sure your brew tastes the best it can. They’re the best coffee canisters for the avid coffee lover and are backed up by a company who proudly stand by their product.
