Why Electric Vacuum Canisters Are Not Ideal for Coffee Storage?

When electric vacuum canisters first appeared in stores, they seemed like the perfect solution for keeping coffee fresh.

"Just press a button, and it's sealed!" But is it really that simple?

In 2016, when our vacuum canisters were introduced to coffee shops, there was a common misunderstanding, especially among experienced coffee makers:

"Vacuum canisters remove the coffee's smell."

This belief went against what I knew about using vacuum storage for coffee. Our tests and blind tastings with experts always showed that vacuum canisters were great for keeping coffee fresh.

So, why did experienced coffee makers believe this wrong idea?

I found the answer after visiting a coffee shop that had been open for 30 years. The owner, after hearing my pitch, quickly tried to dismiss me:

"Young man, vacuum canisters aren't new. We've had them for decades."

I explained that our turning-pump system was different, but he wasn't impressed:

"Yours still needs manual pumping. A few years ago, battery-powered ones were popular. No pumping needed. How is yours new?"

Curious, I asked why he stopped selling those electric canisters.

"They were terrible!"
Every customer came back complaining. They said their expensive purchase made the coffee taste worse, like all the flavor had disappeared."

Interested by this feedback, I bought several electric vacuum canisters for testing. To my surprise, the coffee stored in these canisters did lose a lot of flavor, just as the shop owner had said.

Confused, I looked through the user manuals and found the reason:

"Smart Detection: When pressure decreases, the canister automatically starts pumping again."

Boom! This feature, which seemed helpful, was actually bad for storing coffee. Here's why:

Freshly roasted coffee beans release carbon dioxide. Also, vacuum seals can get worse over time due to dust and dirt, causing small leaks. In a regular vacuum canister, this might lead to loss of vacuum, but the coffee would still be in a closed container.

However, with electric vacuum canisters, the automatic re-pumping feature means that as soon as pressure decreases (either from gas release or small leaks), the pump starts working. This constant cycle of air being drawn in and pumped out is like placing coffee beans in front of a fan, quickly removing their delicate flavors and smells.

Seven years have passed since my visit to that coffee shop, and vacuum storage for coffee has become more accepted among coffee lovers. Whether you use our products or not, the idea of vacuum storage for coffee is good.

For the best coffee storage, the top method is still using a vacuum-sealed bag and keeping it in the freezer. Vacuum storage has always been good for coffee - it's just a matter of choosing the right way to do it.