To Find the Best Coffee Canister, I Stored and Brewed Pounds and Pounds of Beans

Coffee can be a functional means to jump-start your day, but also a pleasant ritual and culinary experience in its own right. 

And great coffee starts with great beans. Most bags of coffee will stay fresh for a couple of weeks, which is about the time it’d take someone who drinks a cup a day to go through a bag. But therein lies the problem: Not everyone finishes a bag of coffee within that timeframe, and old coffee can taste stale—a whisper of its sweeter, pleasantly acidic former self.  

What’s a coffee drinker to do, then? You can buy a coffee canister that’s designed to keep beans fresher longer. To find the best canisters, I tested nine of them.

The Tests 

• Coffee Storage Test: Using our winning coffee grinder and drip coffee maker by OXO, I ground and brewed a single cup with 18 grams of beans from Tandem Coffee Roasters and 288 grams of water (a 1:16 ratio). I recorded aroma and flavor notes, then placed 200 grams (about two cups) of the beans (all from the same batch roasted on the same day) in each coffee canister and sealed the remaining coffee in the original bag it was shipped in. I left the canisters and bag undisturbed for 10 days. After this period, I gathered a group of friends for a blind tasting of coffee brewed from each sample using the same brewing method and ratio. We recorded aroma and flavor notes and any differences between the samples to assess how and whether the beans’ flavor and quality had changed during storage.
• Usability and Durability Test: To evaluate how easy the coffee canisters were to open and close and how durable their closure mechanisms were, I opened and closed each canister 15 times, noting how easy it was to do so and whether the closure mechanism or latches seemed to be secure after repeated use. I also washed each coffee canister by hand, noting any issues with cleaning them.

What We Learned 

What Is ‘Fresh’ Coffee?

“Fresh” coffee is hard to explain since coffee doesn’t technically expire. Old coffee just won’t taste all that great, but it won’t look any different. 

But what causes coffee to age faster? Oxygen. After roasting, coffee beans have carbon dioxide (CO2) inside of them, which helps shield them from oxygen. But, over time and as coffee degasses—releasing that CO2—it loses this shield. That being said, degassing is important, as CO2 can prevent flavor extraction. It’s also why most coffee beans now come in bags with one-way valves and airtight seals so CO2 can get out, but oxygen can’t get in. 

How Do Coffee Canisters Work?

Per coffee expert (and YouTuber) James Hoffmann, there are three types of coffee canisters, all of which work differently.  

• Airtight containers: These usually have sealed lids to keep air out. Five of the canisters I tested were this style.
• Displacement containers: These canisters have a mechanism that pushes oxygen out. I tested two of them.
• Vacuum-sealed containers: Like a vacuum sealer, this type of container removes oxygen and creates an airtight seal. I tried two of them.

Yes, We Really Could Taste the Difference

After decanting and storing identical coffee beans—all from the same batch roasted on the same day—in each of the canisters for 10 days, I gathered a group for a blind taste test. Honestly, I was prepared for all of the samples to taste pretty much the same.

As I brewed my way through 10 samples—the nine canisters plus the original bag that the coffee came in—my group and I sipped and wrote down our impressions of each. Since the taste of coffee can be hard to describe, we used the Specialty Coffee Association’s Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel to help us pinpoint the flavors present in each brew. I also asked tasters to note how strong they thought the flavors and aromas were in each sample, and whether any tasted stale or off in any way.

When we talked through our thoughts on each of the brews at the end of the tasting, I was stunned not only by how different the samples tasted but that we all rated and described each sample similarly. At the bottom of the rankings were the two displacement-style canisters. Tasters described these samples as “neutral” and “hotel coffee” at best, and “harsh,” “acidic,” “weak,” and “watery” at worst. 

In the middle of the pack were the airtight canisters. Tasters found most of these samples to taste “normal,” “smooth,” and “level,” with more bright notes of acid and toasty, nutty flavors. They weren’t the strongest, boldest cups, but were generally fine.

All of my tasters unanimously chose the coffee stored in the Fellow Atmos vacuum-sealed canister as their favorite in the blind tasting. They described the coffee made from beans stored in this canister as “balanced” and “rich,” with notes of dark chocolate, molasses, and dried fruit, which is exactly what I wrote down when I initially tasted it.

How does this innovative coffee canister keep beans so fresh-tasting? It employs a unique design in the lid to pump air out of the container. After pressing the silicone-ringed lid into the canister, you twist the lid back and forth multiple times to pump out the air inside. A small button in the lid will eventually drop, revealing a green ring around it, when a vacuum seal has been achieved. By removing the oxygen inside the canister, coffee beans (or any other dry goods you’d like to store) will stay fresher longer. 

But what about the coffee bag? When I stored the coffee beans in a resealable bag, the brewed coffee tasted almost as good as that stored in the Fellow Atmos. However, with a non-resealable bag (I still pushed as much air out as we could and clipped the top closed), my group and I could really tell the difference. Tasters described this coffee as “thin,” “stale,” and even “papery,” indicating it lost its vibrancy as it was exposed to some air. Resealable coffee bags with a valve may do a pretty good job of keeping your coffee fresh over a few weeks, but without a seal, transferring it to a coffee canister is a much better bet.

Airtight Containers Were Easier to Use Than Displacement Ones

Given their innovative designs, I was surprised that the displacement-style canisters fared so poorly in my tasting. I assumed that the displacement of oxygen would have a positive effect and give these models a leg up on more simply designed canisters. However, this lackluster performance was also a relief, as these models were the most difficult and annoying to use. This was particularly true of the MiiR canister, which employs an accordion-style stopper that was almost impossible to flip open to seal when inside the container.

On the other end of the design spectrum were the airtight canisters, which were very straightforward to use. Some were simple containers with swing-top latching lids, and others had separate stopper-style lids that you push into the top of the canister to seal, and pull out to open. The most effective models had a silicone seal or gasket around the edge of the lid where it made contact with the canister to lock air out. The easiest canisters to open featured a central button, rather than a locking latch or a stopper that needed to be pried up from around the edge of the container (though this wasn’t particularly hard to do with any model). This easy-open design was also an appealing feature of the Fellow Atmos, which opens with a simple press of its center button, emitting a satisfying “whoosh” sound as the vacuum pressure inside is released.

Why Materials Had an Impact

When storing coffee, it’s also essential to keep it away from heat, light, and moisture to preserve its freshness. Some of the canisters I tested were opaque, made from materials like stainless steel that block the penetration of light, and others were translucent, made from plastic. Some of the translucent containers in this lineup claim to be made from UV-blocking materials, but I can’t speak to their effectiveness. Clear containers are best stored in a dark place like a cabinet or drawer to ensure they aren’t exposed to light. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Coffee Canister

A great coffee canister creates a firm, reliable seal to keep the coffee beans inside from being exposed to air. Ideally, it uses a vacuum mechanism to pump out the air inside the container as well. It should have enough capacity to hold a pound of coffee beans, but be compact enough to store and clean easily. A central button in the lid is the most comfortable design for opening the canister, and opaque material is better than clear, as light can cause the coffee inside to degrade faster.

Our Favorite Coffee Canisters

The Best Coffee Canister

Fellow Atmos Vacuum Coffee Canister

$40 at Amazon $40 at Williams Sonoma $41 at Target

What we liked: The coffee made from beans stored in this canister was hands-down the best, with a rich, balanced flavor. It has a simple, minimalist look that would be at home in any kitchen, and its opaque stainless steel material means it can be stored anywhere you like. The twisting motion to vacuum-seal the canister is intuitive and easy to do, and the green indicator button helps you know when the canister is successfully vacuum-sealed. It’s also easy to open with the push of a button. There’s an electric version of the Atmos, too.

What we didn’t like: This canister was on the pricey side, though you are investing in quality here. It did take a fair amount of twisting to seal the canister when it was mostly empty. You have to be very careful with the lid, as it can’t get wet during cleaning. You also can’t store ground coffee in this canister, since it can clog the fine mesh of the vacuum-sealing mechanism. 

 Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel with silicone seal
• Capacity: 1.2 liters, holds 1 pound of coffee beans
• Dimensions: 4.25-inch diameter, 6.75 inches tall
• Canister type: Vacuum
• Care instructions: Canister and lid are not dishwasher-safe; hand-wash only with damp, non-abrasive sponge; do not clean lid under running water; prevent liquid from getting inside the lid

The Best Budget Coffee Canister

OXO Steel Coffee Pop Container

$23 at Amazon View on Webstaurant Store $19 at Oxo

What we liked: Of the airtight canisters tested in this lineup, this one was the best. Coffee made from beans stored in it was rated fairly highly by tasters, noting many of the same flavor elements present in my first try of the coffee. The coffee wasn’t as strong as that of the Fellow Atmos, but was deemed “normal-tasting” and “smooth.” Its lid is very easy to open and close with a push of its central button, and the silicone material around the lid’s edge makes an effective airtight seal. This canister is affordable and versatile—you can store either beans or ground coffee in it—and it stacks well.

What we didn’t like: The canister’s material is tinted and claims to block UV rays, but I can’t speak to its effectiveness. I generally recommend storing clear containers out of the light in a dark cabinet, drawer, or pantry to maintain maximum coffee freshness. The stainless steel look of the lid was sleek, but it did show a lot of water spots after washing and scratched easily (though the lid is interchangeable with other OXO POP lids if you’d like to swap it out). Since this canister is a simple airtight container, it won’t keep coffee as fresh and vibrant as one that uses a vacuum-seal design.

Key Specs

• Materials: BPA-free plastic container, stainless steel lid with silicone seal
• Capacity: 1.7 quarts/1.6 liters, holds 1 pound of coffee beans
• Dimensions: 6.25 inches long, 4 inches wide, 6.5 inches tall
• Canister type: Airtight
• Care instructions: Container and removable seal are dishwasher-safe; lid is hand-wash only

The Competition 

• CoffeeVac Patented Airtight Coffee Vacuum: This is a hybrid between a vacuum-sealed canister and an airtight one. To close it, you push a button in the lid as you press down, which pumps out a small amount of air from the top of the canister as it descends. It creates a vacuum seal to lock out external air, but some oxygen remains inside the canister. The coffee made from beans stored in this container was okay but a little flat. Tasters described it as “not very strong,” “hotel coffee,” “level,” and “subtle.” If you’re interested in the benefits of vacuum sealing, the Fellow Atmos does a better job.
• Planetary Design Airscape Coffee Canister: This displacement-style canister uses a plunger to push out air from inside the canister before sealing the top with a silicone-ringed lid. The plunger was fairly easy to push down, but a bit hard to tug on to release, especially when it was near the bottom of the canister. The model I tested was very large and bulky—it could hold over two pounds of beans—taking up a lot of real estate on my kitchen counter and making it awkward to wash (though it does come in smaller sizes). Tasters found the coffee made from beans stored in this canister as “harsh” and “ashy” with a “neutral strength.” 
• Coffee Gator Coffee Canister: This airtight canister did a pretty good job of keeping the coffee fresh. Tasters noted toastiness and cocoa flavors in the brewed coffee, though it was a bit on the acidic side. The canister has a one-way CO2 valve built into the lid, allowing the coffee to de-gas as it sits, but preventing oxygen from coming in. That design does make this canister a little finicky to wash, as the filter can’t get wet. You have to change the filters periodically, which is a bit of a nuisance.
• MiiR Airtight Coffee Canister: I had high hopes for this displacement-style canister given its sleek design, but using it was incredibly frustrating. To displace the air inside the canister, you place an accordion-style stopper on top of the beans, then flip a switch on top of it to push it open, sealing it against the sides of the canister. I found it almost impossible to flip the switch, which had so much resistance to it that I could barely press it down with one hand, especially when it was down at the bottom of the canister. On top of the difficulties opening and closing the canister, tasters found its coffee sample to be “weak,” “watery,” and “very acidic,” and it only holds 12 ounces of beans. 
• Williams Sonoma Coffee Bean Canister: The coffee made from beans stored in this straightforward airtight canister was pretty good, with notes of hazelnut and vanilla, though tasters found it “a little flat.” Its one-piece lid pushes into the top of the container, and you pry it out to open it, which is simple enough to do, though it does have a bit of resistance. Its plastic body is tinted, though the product description does not specify whether it blocks UV light. Its slim profile makes it easy to store, but it may be a little difficult to wash for folks with larger hands.
• Oggi Stainless Steel Coffee Canister: This swing-top airtight canister is made from stainless steel and has a silicone gasket in its latching lid. It was easy to open and close, though its latch felt flimsy. It did already have some scratches on its powder-coated exterior from shipping, making me wonder how it would hold up over time. It also has a very specific design aesthetic that would be most at home in a country or traditional-style kitchen. The coffee brewed from beans stored in this canister was okay, with some notes of chocolate and bright acidity, but it was also deemed “watery” and “beany” by tasters. 
• Progressive International Plastic Coffee ProKeeper Storage Container: This airtight canister came in a close second to the OXO model. Like the OXO, it features a lid with a silicone seal and a translucent plastic body that blocks UV rays. It employs a plastic latch on its lid, which was just a smidge harder to use than OXO’s ergonomic button, as you have to ensure the lid is all the way pressed down in order to hook the latch properly. Tasters deemed the coffee “buttery,” “nutty,” and “strong,” though they did not detect some of the cocoa or fruit notes from the original sample. If you prefer this design over the OXO, this canister will do a decent job.

FAQs

Can I store ground coffee in a canister?

This depends on the type of canister. You can store ground coffee in airtight or displacement containers, but not one that’s vacuum-sealed. The vacuum mechanism will suck up grounds, potentially causing clogging and other issues.

What size coffee canister do I need?

The better question is: How much coffee do you want to store? Get a canister that’s just big enough for it (extra air will just cause the beans to degrade faster). A 1.2-liter canister that holds one pound of coffee beans will likely work well for most people. 

What else can I store in a coffee canister?

Tea and spices are common, since these both also benefit from an oxygen-free environment. I don’t recommend storing ground spices in a vacuum-sealed canister, though, for the same reasons as ground coffee.

Why We’re the Experts 

• Afton Cyrus is a food blogger, recipe developer, culinary instructor, and food writer and editor with a passion for baking. She spent eight years as a test cook and editor at America’s Test Kitchen before becoming a contributor to Serious Eats in 2023.
• Her recipes and food writing appear online for Serious Eats, King Arthur Baking Company, and other outlets, and in print in award-winning and New York Times-bestselling cookbooks for America’s Test Kitchen and Ten Speed Press.
• For this review, Afton tested nine coffee canisters.