Many different components go into brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Some of the most important factors every coffee lover should take into consideration include:
- Quality of the coffee beans
- Temperature of the water
- Ideal brewing method
- Best coffee grinder
However, one important component of making coffee that people often forget is the freshness of the coffee beans. If you take pride in brewing your coffee, you know how important it is to keep your coffee beans fresh. It’s key to store your coffee in the right containers to ensure its freshness and have it last as long as possible.
In this article, we explain why every coffee lover needs to keep coffee beans fresh. We also take a look at the best coffee bean containers available, so you can lock in the rich flavor of the beans you love.
Why Do You Need a Coffee Bean Container?
It’s important to properly store your coffee beans to preserve their fresh roasted flavor as long as possible. The best way to do this is to keep them in a coffee bean container at room temperature and away from sunlight.
When choosing a coffee bean container, you need to keep in mind different elements of the container that will determine the state of your coffee beans while they’re in it. Consider the following elements:
- Material: Most coffee bean containers come in either plastic or stainless steel. Even though plastic is the easiest and cheapest option, it isn’t the most durable. Stainless steel is the most ideal material to store your coffee beans thanks to its durability and effectiveness at blocking any light that can affect the taste of your beans.
- Capacity: As a rule of thumb, a coffee bean container keeps your beans fresh for 1-2 weeks when stored properly. Knowing this helps you determine how big you want your coffee bean container to be. For example, if you live alone and make coffee for yourself every morning, you probably don’t want to fill up a 1-kilogram container full of coffee beans.
However, the most important aspect of your coffee bean container to consider is the seal. The seal makes coffee bean containers different from other types of containers.
At the very least, your container should have an airtight seal. If you buy freshly roasted beans, they continue to release carbon dioxide for an additional two weeks after roasting. For this case, a one-way valve is even better as it lets carbon dioxide out without letting any oxygen into the container.
Finally, you can also opt for a vacuum pump container that sucks the air out of the container. This is the priciest option but is also the most effective way of keeping your coffee beans fresh for the longest amount of time.
Now, let’s take a look at the best coffee bean containers to keep your coffee fresh longer.
Best Coffee Bean Containers
Here are the best coffee bean containers for keeping your favorite roast fresh.
OXO Good Grips POP Container
First on our list is the most affordable option for a coffee bean container: a plastic container with an air-tight seal.
This container from OXO keeps food fresh, so it’s perfect for coffee beans. It’s space-efficient, so you can keep your beans dry and tucked away in your dark cupboard, far from any potential sunlight or heat that may harm them.
This BPA-free, dishwasher-safe container also has a convenient fill line so that you can see how much you’re filling when storing coffee. To engage the airtight silicone seal, all you have to do is press the button on the top of the container. OXO also has several accessories available to go with your coffee storage container, and if you decide to get more than one, you can easily stack them.
Veken Coffee Canister
Next, we have the Veken Coffee Canister.
This airtight stainless steel container is specifically designed for storing your coffee. It helps maintain the freshness of your coffee thanks to the one-way CO2 valve and BPA-free silicone seal.
The container is made with thick, high-quality stainless steel to keep your coffee beans in a comfortable environment. The build-in scale line helps you figure out when it’s time to add more coffee to the container.
As a bonus, this best coffee storage container also comes with a date tracker on the lid to set the expiry date, as well as a stainless steel coffee scoop so you always scoop the perfect scoop.
Airscape Coffee Storage Canister
This Coffee Storage Canister from Airscape is an extra-large coffee bean storage container that holds 2.5 pounds of coffee beans, making it great for families or those who drink multiple cups of coffee a day. It’s easy to keep this container in either your pantry or your countertop, and since it’s a stainless steel coffee storage container, you don’t have to worry about too much light hitting your beans.
What makes this best coffee canister’s design unique is the use of a patented plunger lid with a two-way valve that pushes and keeps out excess air and humidity to preserve and protect the freshness and flavor of your fresh beans. You’ll hear a “swoosh” sound to let you know that it’s working properly. Plus, the translucent top gives you a glimpse of how much coffee is left, preventing having to unnecessarily open the container, which can affect coffee freshness.
KKC Borosilicate Glass Coffee Bean Storage Container
Next, we have this Glass Coffee Bean Container from KKC.
Glass typically isn’t the preferred material for coffee bean storage due to fear of it overheating, but this isn’t the case for this container. Made from borosilicate glass, this container is durable and can handle high heat. This doesn’t mean that you should place your coffee beans directly under the sun, but you can rest assured that this container will prevent quick overheating.
This airtight coffee bean storage container holds up to one pound of coffee beans. The bamboo lid has a silicone ring and locking clamps, ensuring your coffee remains fresher, longer. It also comes with a copper spoon so that you can measure the perfect serving every time.
Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister for Coffee
Last up is the Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister for coffee and food storage.
This stylish coffee bean container has a vacuum seal that keeps your beans fresh. Once you close the container, simply twist the lid to remove any air from inside the container. It is reinforced with a powerful silicone ring. When left unopened, this container keeps air out for up to a week, making this airtight container perfect for storing coffee.
The minimalist design of this container makes it easy to keep anywhere, from your countertop to your coffee bar. You can also use this container to store other food products you want to keep fresh, such as peppercorns or tea.
Final Thoughts
Many components go into a good cup of coffee, but if you use stale beans, nothing else matters. It’s important to have proper storage for your coffee beans, and a coffee bean container helps you do that.
Choose a container with your ideal capacity with an airtight seal, so you never have a stale cup of coffee.
Because Brock is the tallest member of the team at 6 foot 5 inches, when he’s not thinking about food, he’s eating his favorites: pizza, burgers, tacos and burritos. He's always experimenting with the latest kitchen gadgets and exploring new techniques in the kitchen.