Stainless Steel Coffee Vault, Airtight Container, Portable Kitchen Storage, 16-Ounce Vault Jar, Red

I was surprised to find out both how fast coffee loses its flavor, and how good fresh can really taste. I got into roasting my own green beans (available HERE on Amazon: Costa Rica Dota Estate, Green Unroasted Coffee Beans, 1lb ) with one of the poppers still on Amazon that will do so (they are HERE: Toastess TCP-713 Hot-Air Popcorn Popper and HERE: Toastmaster Hot Air Popcorn Popper TPC2 ), then brewing them in the inexpensive little Bialetti Italian moka pot (available HERE: Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker ) for AMAZINGLY fresh coffee I'd never experienced being American! All the barista sites I've surfed (source aapbr dot org) told me that: green coffee beans, when cool and dark, last a year or two in storage, and some (Arabica) even get better with age. Once you roast them, after three or so days of CO2 release, they start to lose flavor within TWO WEEKS! Once you grind the beans, the grounds start to lose flavor in FOUR DAYS. This is all trumped by the correct storage techniques. Here are the ones I've tried on Amazon that work GREAT, and don't cost a fortune like the vacu seal machines that can be over $200 US! Green beans: I use the "pseudo vacuum" of the COFFEEVAC (see it here: Tightvac Coffeevac 1 Pound Vacuum Sealed Storage Container, Solid Black Body/Cap ) which isn't a vacuum at all, but works fine for green. Does NOT work for new roasted as it doesn't have a co2 release valve. Freshly roasted beans step one: For the first 3 to 4 days you need a container with a CO2 release system. One (the Friis, see it HERE: Friis 16-Ounce Coffee Vault, Stainless Steel ), is more expensive and has replaceable filters. The other (The bean safe, see it HERE: BeanSafe "The Coffee Storage Solution", Polypropylene -MOCHA ) is cheap, and only has a small valve, but doesn't require replacement filters. Freshly roasted beans step two: Best is to use right away after the three day roast period. Roast just enough for your next few day's needs. The normal popcorn popper will take 81 grams for roasting green beans (about ½ cup or about 5 tablespoons green). These yield (bigger) roasted beans of about 9 tablespoons. Since a tablespoon of ground is roughly the same as a tablespoon of roasted beans, and the moka takes 3 tablespoons for 6 cups of espresso/moka each pot, that gives you roughly three days of roasted beans. I keep the roasted (since they will be used in a few days) in the next "step up" of vacuum: a semi-true vacuum with the airscape sealer (see it here: Planetary Design Airscape 64oz Chrome ). This gets close to a "real" vacuum, and just enough to let a little extra CO2 escape over those 3 days. FINALLY, for fresh grounds, the most vulnerable, you'll need a true vacuum to extend the life. I use the handheld freshsaver from foodsaver (10% of the cost of the foodsaver system, see it here: FoodSaver FSFRSH0060-035 FreshSaver Handheld Vacuum Sealer with Starter Kit, Red ) with the little "Tupperware" reusable foodsaver tubs. In the cool/ dark (don't refrigerate) this vacuum will keep fresh grounds fresh for over a week, close to the taste when just roasted. For background, I'm not a coffee snob, but as a throat cancer survivor I have barely any taste buds left and coffee is one of the few great tastes that still work. Also, the above is FAR less expensive than either buying drip or certainly Starbucks. Amazon has green beans of very high quality (see link in first paragraph). These can be (eg. Sumatran Arabica) over $40+ a pound roasted, not very fresh when you get them, and you can get them for under $10 at times on Amazon GREEN, REAL savings. Enjoy!

Recently, I've been on a steep learning curve with regards to a great cup of coffee and the Friis Coffee Vault has been part of that journey. Having bought coffee beans from a dispenser in my local grocery store and then placed the plastic lined bag in the freezer this container has erased two problems causing me to drink bad coffee. The fact that I wasn't even aware that I was drinking bad coffee shows you what a connoisseur I am. I have since discovered that when coffee beans sit out for a while they go stale (such as in the grocery store dispenser). And placing coffee beans in the fridge or freezer causes condensation to form on them when they meet room temperature. This also affects their flavor and freshness. Replacing my grinder has also brought enlightenment but I'll save all that for another review. So, I now buy vacuum packed coffee, store it on the kitchen counter with this Friis container that lets the carbon dioxide leave but doesn't allow more oxygen in. The first morning that I opened it, after storing my beans in it overnight, the powerful aroma of the fresh coffee was incredible - enough to wake me up without even drinking a cup. The Coffee Vault is well made, sturdy, easy to open and clean. Which brings me to a mistake I made. DO NOT WASH IT! Your natural instinct, like mine, may be to clean the container before use. Read the instructions first - you do not wash the Coffee Vault. There is a small filter in the lid that shouldn't get wet and neither should the lid seal. You simply wipe it down with a damp cloth. Fortunately, there's a year's supply of filters inside your new Vault (you're supposed to replace it every two months). I bought the 12 ounce size which perfectly accommodates a normal sized bag of vacuum packed coffee. It's always a pleasure to buy a simple, well constructed product that does what it's supposed to with no fuss.

This is a great container for keeping coffee (or loose tea) fresh. I like the look of it, and the brushed steel is easy to care for by wiping with a damp cloth. If you keep many different kinds of coffee on hand, then this is an excellent container because the top has a dial so that you can set it for when you put the coffee in, or when you need to use it by. The clasp on the side is easy to open and close, and it provides a really tight closure so that coffee stays fresh and tastes better when you use it. For me, the coffee disappears so fast that I don't really use the dial on the lid, but I can see that for other people with multiple kinds of coffee, this would be great. This is called a "coffee vault" but it is also a great container for storing loose tea. This is also small enough that it fits in my cabinet so that I don't have to take up my limited counter space.

I received this item with a few others that I ordered all at the same time. Included in that order was a Bodum French Press, a cordless kettle, and a grinder. This coffee vault in airtight, and does a wonderful job of keeping the coffee extremely fresh so its easy to enjoy everyday. Its design allows extremely easy opening and closing, all while remaining airtight. This model comes with a carbon filter in the lid which is the science behind keeping whatever is inside fresh. The company recommends changing the filter every 2 months or so. Once you receive the item, inside the vault you will find enough carbon filters to last you about a year before you will need to purchase more. Even once that day does come that you dont have anymore filters for replacement they are quite cheap. I have included the amazon link to those filters. At the time of writing (6) filters cost a grand total of $4.99 w/ Free Shipping http://www.amazon.com/Friis-Freshness-Valve-Replacement-Kit/dp/B004ISKWD0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396112903&sr=8-1&keywords=friis+coffee+vault+filter If you are looking for a stylish and effective way to keep your coffee fresh then this is one of the better options available on the market.

For the longest time I was storing my coffee in the bag which the coffee came in. I got fed up with this as Starbucks seems to have switched to bags which rip easily when opening. I chose this canister based upon the looks and price. I don't care for the gimmicky CO2 flter which needs replacing. I view this as pointless and really just as a means of getting more money out of consumers with a consumable (this is how many companies make more money). To be honest, for the filter to work best, they would need to put it at the bottom as CO2 is heavier than air. I'm sure it handles some CO2 but not in any quantity to make a difference. The downside of this filter is that it does not provide an air-tight seal which is what is most widely recommended. I go through coffee fairly quickly and so I'm not too worried about this. The can does hold 1 pound of coffee beans with some room to spare. So far the latching mechanism works well. I have no intentions of using the filters and would not suggest that the presence of this filter system be the deciding factor (either way). Go for looks and price as all cans will be mostly the same. Update Feb 07 2012 So I have had the can for half a year and it's still working out great! The latching mechanism is still solid and my coffee stays fresh. I did want to note that I was unaware that CO2 buildup was an issue for folks who roast their own beans (something I've never done but wanted to do). Therefore my commentary on the CO2 valve was unwarranted as it does serve a much needed purpose. So, it's hard to find any flaws with the can. I'm very happy and would still suggest this to anyone who's looking for a great storage can for their coffee.

Just purchased a Friis coffee canister as it was a low-priced, highly-rated option for coffee storage. I thought I would leave an initial review to provide my take on why I think the Friis does keep coffee fresh, but likely does not vent co2. It is a well constructed container with a tight rubber seal and “co2 vent” on top. The reason that I don’t think it vents co2 is due to the fact that co2 is more dense than air, and in a sealed environment will fall to low points and pool. Farmers with grain silos actually count on the off-gases from grain to pool in the bottom of silos, displacing air and creating an anaerobic environment, helping to preserve the grain. In normal environments there is enough air circulation to keep gasses mixed, but in a sealed coffee container any off-gassing of co2 would pool at the bottom of the container, displacing air through the valve. The anaerobic environment created by the co2 might help to preserve the coffee. However, I am dubious as to whether there is much, if any, off-gassing beyond the first few days after roasting. I cut one of the “co2” filters in half to see if there is anything special and found plastic caps and a small rubber disk. Nothing in the construction makes me believe it does anything other than allow gas of any type to move through it. I can’t really understand why constantly replacing them would do anything at all. My conclusion is that its just a good reasonably-priced coffee canister and the marketing buzz is likely a placebo effect from the “freshness valve” marketing.

The Friis 16-Ounce Coffee Vault, Stainless Steel is a great coffee storage container. At first glance, this is a very well constructed container with a nice appearance. The lid seal that mates against the edge of the container fits nicely, the latch is firm and provides a secure air tight seal when closed. Thers is also a manually selected rotating date wheel on the lid to remind you when to replace your Freshness Valve. The manufacturer suggests the following: 1. Wipe the interior of your canister with a damp paper towel. Do not get the seal ring or freshness valve wet. 2. Dry the Coffee Vault completely with a clean towel before filling with coffee. 3. Check and clean the canister seal ring often to make sure it is free of coffee particles. 4. Do not immerse in water or clean the Coffee Vault in the dishwasher. 5. Do not let the Freshness Valve get wet. 6. When changing from one flavor of coffee to another, clean your Coffee Vault with a damp paper towel. When initially received, I cleaned my Coffee Vault with a damp paper towel as recommended, and there was a considerable amount of residue removed that appeared to have been from the manufacturing process. It took several wipes to clean it all out. Your Coffee Vault arrives with replacement Freshness Valves and you can order additional valves from the manufacturers website, and possibly from Amazon. Stored coffee always has that fresh roasted smell. Please rate this review if you find it helpful.

I use about a dozen of the Friis 16 ounce stainless steel coffee cans to store left over roasted coffee. I have stored them in both a whole bean and as ground coffee and these Friis cans are definitely effective in keeping coffee fresh for a few weeks. I use them in conjunction with Dry-Erase easy peel on and off stickers, so I can label the type of coffee that I have, the roasting profile, whether it is ground or whole, and the roasting dates. The inner valves are easy to replace too, and I change them out every month or two. I have to warn the Amazon.com community though that there are a few Chinese Knock-Off versions of these stainless steel cans going around and although I've been suckered into buying a few of these I've yet to find flaws with them. So far, both the Friis and the Chinese knock-offs are holding up good in craftsmanship and quality. I even dropped a few of them a few times and they were still good to go. I'll be buying more of these soon, as I am a Micro-Roaster and often times I am left with bits of left over roasted coffee from a few batches. I like to use the left overs to sample different profiles and also to give to other coffee connoisseurs to get their opinion on a certain origin and profile of the roasted coffees.