The 6 Best Coffee Canisters of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

How We Tested

Every canister and canister set featured in this article was sent to our coffee expert's home and was tested by storing 3 to 5 ounces of coffee beans in each canister; he spent five weeks testing them intermittently. Part of his evaluation looked at how fresh the coffee beans stayed, how easy the lids were to open and close, and how well the canisters withstood general wear and tear. After testing, he submitted feedback about what he liked and disliked, and he rated each canister in the following areas: design, performance, durability, cleaning, and overall value.

Other Options We Tested

• Old Dutch International Canister Set: This four-piece hammered copper set takes something timeless and mixes in new-age elements, such as silicone gaskets. However, the airtight seal wasn't the best, according to our tester. It was difficult to fully close the lids on some of the canisters in the set, indicating that air was getting in and out. The ones that did close were difficult to open and shut. It requires "two hands and a lot of effort to remove the lid and get to your coffee beans," our tester said. That said, he called it a solid value-for-money option, as it comes around the same price as many solo canisters on this list. To keep the copper sparkling, occasional hand washing is recommended. Just make sure to avoid harsh brushes or cleaning products that could damage the material. Our tester said that cleaning is simple and that he could fit his hand inside every canister—even the smallest one. Sizes include 1 quart, 1.5 quarts, 2 quarts, and 4 quarts.

• Barnyard Designs Decorative Nesting Kitchen Canister Jars: As soon as our tester opened the box, has was impressed by the color and how clearly the lettering was printed on the canisters. Our tester said that these lids were the most difficult to open by far. After beginning the testing process, he noticed that the silicone band on one canister was twisted, making it even more difficult to open and close. While this didn't happen to every canister he used, he found it inconvenient to fix the silicone and eventually left it twisted. The canisters performed better than he expected when it came to their storage abilities, however. He kept 3 ounces of coffee beans in one canister and, over time, brewed two cups of coffee using a Chemex. The first cup was brewed after two weeks, and the second after five weeks. Compared to the other coffee he tested, our reviewer gave the taste of these beans an above-average score. If you can overlook slightly cheaper materials, these canisters are more than a rustic novelty. Note that they are hand wash only but easy to clean quickly with a sponge.

What to Look for in a Coffee Canister

Airtight Seal

The number one detail to look for in a coffee canister is whether its seal is airtight or not. This will preserve the life of your coffee beans and keep them fresh for the longest amount of time. Luckily, it's quite easy to find airtight canisters in a number of sizes, designs, and prices.

Material

Stainless steel is the most common material a coffee canister is made from, but plastic, ceramic, copper, and glass are all options too. One key detail to look out for is whether the material is translucent and would expose coffee beans to UV rays, which would make them go stale faster. This mainly applies to plastic and glass. Another concern is durability. Would you prefer a more durable material like stainless steel? Or is aesthetic the biggest factor? In which case, you may prefer something that stands out more like ceramic or copper.

Ease of Use

The majority of kitchen canisters are equally easy to use since you normally just pop the lid on and off. However, many models have minor nuances and intricacies to them, including ones on this list. The lid on the Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister can be twisted multiple times to release air trapped inside the jar. It's an extremely helpful feature, but it takes a few extra seconds. Another example is the Planetary Designs Airscape Kilo Canister, which has a plunger lid to press down before the top lid is put on. Some people may prefer these added steps because they improve a product's performance, while other customers care most about simplicity.

Capacity

If you routinely get the same size bag of coffee beans, check beforehand when buying a canister to make sure your go-to coffee will fit. Some canisters can hold a pound of whole bean coffee, while others may be too small for that. Price is often linked to storage capacity, so expect to pay a little more for larger canisters.

Sets

Many coffee canisters come in sets or share designs with other canisters that can be purchased separately to make a set. This is handy for storing other goods while keeping the same style in your kitchen. It's also handy for a canister set to have varying sizes, as not all kitchen goods need the same amount of space.

FAQs

Do coffee beans expire?

Roasted coffee beans are a perishable product, but if stored properly they do not spoil or rot. It is highly unlikely that you will get sick by drinking coffee made from old beans, unless the beans have grown mold after being exposed to water. So it is safe to use coffee beans after their expiration or "best by" date has passed. Just expect the flavor to be greatly diminished.

When do coffee beans lose flavor?

If stored properly, whole bean coffee loses nearly all of its flavor in about six to nine months and ground coffee in about three to five months. Coffee steadily begins to lose flavor much earlier than this, however. Whole bean coffee tastes best when brewed within 14 days of roasting, and ground coffee is best within a shorter time frame of about 10 days. This window may feel brief, but don't worry: coffee still tastes good even after these respective time periods have passed. Think of it as a reference point for when coffee is at its peak freshness rather than a deadline by which you have to brew.

Should I keep coffee in the freezer?

It's usually a bad idea to keep coffee in the freezer. Exposure to moisture is one of the biggest factors that makes coffee taste worse, not to mention the temperature fluctuation that could occur from opening and closing the freezer. This rule is not set in stone, however. If coffee beans were sealed airtight and able to avoid moisture, the freezer could slow down the process of them going stale, but it's generally riskier and much more effort for very little, if any, difference compared to storing them in an airtight and opaque coffee canister.

What is green coffee?

Green coffee refers to coffee beans that haven't been roasted yet. This is also called "raw coffee." Green coffee beans should typically be roasted within one year of purchasing them. Otherwise they may lose their flavor. That said, some roasters choose to age coffee beans for multiple years to accentuate certain flavors in the beans, similar to aging wine or whiskey, but this is an intricate process that only works with certain varieties of coffee.

What is 18/8 stainless steel?

18/8 stainless steel is often used for food and drink products that can include coffee canisters, thermoses, and more. We asked Graham Nearn, the Senior Vice President of Product Creation & Design for PMI Worldwide, to explain what exactly the term means. He explained that 18/8 stainless steel is made from 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel and said it's so commonly used because it's "food-grade, durable, and resistant to corrosion."

Are coffee canisters recyclable? 

Yes. The plastic cans, steel cans, and tin cans that coffee comes in can be recycled. There are also ways to repurpose coffee cans, from using them for fun crafts to turning them into planters, bird feeders, household storage containers, and more.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

This piece was written by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. To make these selections, he researched the elements and conditions that cause coffee to go stale, referenced customer reviews, and consulted articles published by third-party sites. He spent several weeks testing and reviewing every canister that appears in this article.

Sources

Allie Caran, the Product Manager at BaristaValet, was interviewed for this piece. She previously worked as the director of education at Partners Coffee. Allie has been in the coffee industry for more than 15 years.

Graham Nearn is the Senior Vice President of Product Creation & Design for PMI Worldwide. He oversees the Stanley brand, which has manufactured vacuum flasks and more since 1913.