Help keep your coffee fresh in an airtight coffee canister, as fresh coffee is an essential ingredient for creating the perfect brew. But as soon as you open your pack the clock starts ticking, the flavour will slowly start to disappear.
The moisture in the air, the temperature and the oxygen around the coffee beans will all contribute to how long it stays fresh. Keeping your beans or ground coffee in an airtight container will help to extend the shelflife once that pack is opened.
We’ve put together a list of the best coffee canisters to help you keep your coffee brewing at its best. For the freshest brew an ordinary tin won’t do, you need a special tool. Let’s have a look:
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9 of the Best Coffee Canisters in 2021
1. Coffee Gator – Fresher Beans and Grounds for Longer
- Size: 6L x 5W x 6H inches
- Made from: Stainless Steel
- Finishes: Black and Brushed Stainless Steel
This amazing little stainless steel container looks beautiful and works like a charm. Keep your coffee in tip-top shape, until you’re ready to make your brew.
Safeguard from flavour destroyers with this zero-BPA coffee canister featuring innovative freshness valves that release Co2 but keep the oxygen inside. It creates an airtight seal to stop your coffee from losing its subtle flavour undertones.
This canister comes with a handy travel jar so that you can take your beans on the road if you need a brew while you’re in the office or visiting a friend – clever right?
The lid has a handy calendar wheel, where you can log the purchase or expiry date so that you know exactly when your coffee has reached its peak. It’s a military-grade vault for your coffee. What’s not to like?
Pros:
- Will keep your coffee fresh
- Military-grade airtight vault
- Durable
- In lid date tracker
Cons:
- Limited colours available
2. Airtight Coffee Canister, HOKEKI Stainless Steel Container
- Size: 5.1L x 5.1W x 5.9H inches
- Made from: Stainless Steel
- Finishes: Black, Blue, Rose Gold and Brushed Stainless Steel
The Hokeki coffee canister comes in four stunning colours to fit any kitchen. It has an airtight vacuum seal and is made from food-grade stainless steel with a metal clamp. This container lid is made with BPA-free plastic and is a perfect vault for your coffee beans or grounds.
It sports a one-way Co2 valve, making sure the harmful oxidation gasses are released while the flavour of the coffee stays intact. Similar to the Coffee Gator this canister has a date function where you can set the storage or expiry date. Hokeki provides an unconditional satisfaction guarantee and Lifetime Warranty with this product.
Cons:
- Replacement valves are difficult to find
3. Airscape Coffee Storage Canister
- Size: 8.58L x 7.32W x 6.69H inches
- Made from: Galvanised Steel
- Finishes: Ash, White and Black
If you’re looking for an extra-large container then this Airscape is a great option as it holds a kilo of coffee beans. That’s more than most families will need! The Airscape forces the freshness-destroying air out of the canister while keeping the goodness in.
It sports a BPA-free patented two-way valve lid to release Co2 and preserve freshness. The package also includes a clear top insert so that you can see how much coffee is left inside. You can use this canister to store more than just coffee beans, of course, store sugar, oats and so much more.
Pros:
- Large capacity for bulk buying beans
- No filter needed
- Works well to lock in freshness
Cons:
- Doesn’t include a date tracker
4. Friis 16oz Stainless Steel Coffee Vault
- Size: 8.58L x 7.32W x 6.69H inches
- Made from: Galvanised Steel
- Finishes: Ash, White and Black
Launched in 2008 this is one of the original coffee storage canisters. They have been featured in Wired Magazine and Real Simple Magazine. With a string of awards, this is a great little buy.
Keep the air out and vent away Co2 with this coffee vault. The stainless steel base and BPA free lid make this coffee canister sturdy and durable. In the package, you will find a handy measuring scoop and a years worth of valves. It holds a 16 ounce 1lb bag of coffee beans.
Pros:
- Holds a 1lb bag of beans
- Comes with 6 extra replacement valves
- Keeps beans fresh
Cons:
- Doesn’t include a date tracker
5. Siwanamu Coffee Canister, Airtight Stainless
- Size: 8.15L x 5.76W x 5.55H inches
- Made from: Stainless Steel
- Finishes: Black
This good looking canister is airtight and comes with a one-way valve that allows carbon dioxide to escape with no manual intervention. It’s recommended that you change the valve every six months.
Made from stainless steel it comes with a BPA-free rubber seal lid. The package includes a coffee scoop and cleaning brush. Conveniently store the brush and scoop using the hangers to the side of the canister. The container blocks out light to preserve freshness fully.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Comes with a scoop and brush
- Works well to lock in freshness
- Includes date tracker
Cons:
- The brush bristles fall out on occasion
- Only available in black
6. OXO Good Grips Airtight Coffee POP Container
- Size: 4.5L x 6.5W x 7.75H inches
- Made from: Plastic
- Finishes: Clear plastic with brushed stainless steel lid
Don’t let the clear finish of this container mislead you. It provides 99% protection from UV rays and moisture. OXO is a well-known brand in the coffee industry and knows how to protect coffee beans and guard their flavour. It fits a 1lb bag of coffee beans so is a decent size.
You can get these containers in 3 different sizes to protect any UV sensitive items. The lid comes apart for easy cleaning and all plastic elements are BPA free. It provides an airtight seal with the press of a button.
Pros:
- Vacuum seals
- Holds 1 lbs worth of beans
- Protects against UV
Cons:
- Not recommended for storing flavoured coffees
- No date tracker included
7. De’Longhi Coffee Canister, Vacuum Sealed
- Size: 5.12L x 5.12W x 7.56H inches
- Made from: Stainless Steel
- Finishes: Polished Stainless Steel
De’Longhi is a well-known brand in the coffee space, they make a few amazing coffee gadgets. This coffee canister is no exception to their usual craftsmanship. We’ve featured them on our best espresso machines lists previously.
The De’Longhi canister has a built-in date indicator to help you keep track of the freshness of your coffee. Made from polished stainless steel it’s both durable and beautiful at the same time. The seal works with a press-type vacuum, keeping freshness in for longer, to open just push the button to release the vacuum and you’re good to go.
Pros:
- Large capacity for bulk buying beans
- Includes a date tracker
- Vacuum seals
Cons:
- Limited colour range
8. Coffeevac 1 lb – The Ultimate Vacuum Sealed Coffee Container
- Size: 4.88L x 4.88W x 7.75H inches
- Made from: Plastic
- Finishes: Black
The product information lists that it vacuum seals with the push of a button for effective and attractive coffee storage. It allows you to keep the aroma in using Tightpac’s patented vacuum system, but this behaves more like an airtight seal rather than a vacuum. Either way, it will still keep your coffee fresher than leaving it in the bag and it comes at this affordable price.
The sturdy container will hold up to 1lbs of whole bean or ground coffee with ease.
Pros:
- Holds 1 lbs worth of beans
- Dark container to block out light
- Affordable price
Cons:
- More airtight than vacuum
- No date tracker included
9. SAKI Glass Coffee Canister
- Size: 4.4L x 7.2W x 6.3H inches
- Made from: Glass
- Finishes: Glass with black lid
The Saki coffee canister is beautifully made out of durable glass. It has an airtight silicone rubber seal with a Co2 exhaust button. Once pressed the small knob will release the carbon dioxide that has emitted from the coffee.
Made with non-toxic BPA and lead-free materials to protect you and your family from nasty chemicals. It’s easy to clean, very user friendly and won’t stain. The container is on the smaller side so won’t hold a large bag of coffee, so its use will depend on how much coffee you are keeping.
We recommend putting this container in a cool, dark cupboard to support freshness of your coffee as it’s made of glass and won’t protect against light.
Pros:
- Made from durable glass
- Money-back guarantee
- Locks in freshness
Cons:
- No date tracker included
- On the small side
- Co2 release is very manual
- No protection against heat and UV
What to Look Out for in a Coffee Canister
The disappointment of stale coffee is a big one, you’ve spent all the time, waiting in anticipation and the coffee tastes terrible. We don’t want that to happen to you!
To keep your coffee fresh it’s important to protect it against moisture, high temperatures and oxygen. So ideally you’d like to ensure that you buy a canister that is dark, airtight and cool. When selecting a canister consider the following:
- Airtight seal: To keep your coffee fresh, having an airtight seal is very important as oxygen will slowly seep away the aromas and subtle flavours within the coffee. An airtight seal will also protect against moisture so that your coffee stays fresher for longer
- Materials: Something like stainless steel will keep your coffee cooler, and will protect against light. Coffee preserves better in dark cool areas. Be careful of glass containers, unless you’ll be storing them in a dark cool cupboard we’d be cautious here
- Date tracker: This can be a bit gimmicky, but can also be super helpful if you don’t drink a lot of coffee or if you’re a bit forgetful. Generally, you won’t need one if you’re having a few cups of coffee a day, but if you’re an occasional coffee drinker, or if you’re a connoisseur who juggles a few different coffee varieties at a time this feature can be super helpful!
- Co2 valve: The fresher the coffee, the more Co2 it will release. Co2 is released rapidly after the first few days once roasted. For some coffees, the amount of Co2 it emits might be minimal by the time it is purchased so this feature is handy but not entirely essential for everyone. If you’re opening your canister daily this will help to release Co2 any way. But if you don’t open your canister all the time then a Co2 valve will help preserve your coffee. An automatic valve will also work better for times when you’re on holiday and can’t manually press the release button for a week or so
- Size: A good coffee canister should hold at least one bag of coffee. So the one you choose will depend on the size of the coffee bags you normally buy. If you’re a buy in bulk kind of person then you’ll have to get an extra-large canister. Most containers should fit a standard 1lb bag of beans, but don’t assume as sizes vary
FAQs
Can you store coffee beans in mason jars?
Technically you can store coffee beans in a mason jar, however, we don’t recommend that you do. Not only does coffee beans need an airtight seal it also requires protection from light and higher temperatures. A mason jar will also not have a Co2 release valve similar to those little gadgets you’ll find on the bag of coffee. So unless you’re keeping your mason jar in a dark cool cupboard and opening it daily to use your beans, we’d recommend getting a specialised coffee canister instead.
How long does coffee last in a Mason jar?
We wouldn’t recommend keeping more than a week worth of coffee in a mason jar. This is because mason jars don’t protect against light or heat and won’t release Co2 for coffee that is stored over a long period of time.