<p><strong>I value <em>sealed</em> over <em>opaque</em>.</strong> Go for the sealed glass. <em>Opaque</em> is not really the goal, but rather <em>in the dark</em>. Keeping the stuff in a dark location, even in a clear container, will be fine.</p>

<p>As far as priorities for storage in general, <a href="http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=70">according to the USA National Coffee Association</a> (and others including <a href="https://bluebottlecoffee.com/frequency/store-coffee?tonx=1">Blue Bottle</a> and a <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2010/10/the-coffee-storage-conundrum-how-to-keep-beans-fresh/64118/">lengthy missive from The Atlantic</a>), there are <strong><em>four things</em></strong> that are most important for coffee freshness; that is, <strong><em>minimizing exposure</em></strong> to the following:</p>

<ol>
<li>air</li>
<li>moisture</li>
<li>heat</li>
<li>light</li>
</ol>

<p>... <em>in that order</em>, according to NCAUSA (first link above). That is, keep it <strong><em>sealed</em></strong> (minimizing airflow and humidity, most important), <strong><em>cool</em></strong> (but not cold/refrigerated), and <strong><em>in the dark</em></strong> (somewhat less important). The best place to do this is in an airtight container in a dark, cool pantry. If kept in a dark place, you don't even need to make the container opaque. Lastly, the "light" factor is the lowest in priority, so "mostly dark" is probably good enough.</p>

<p>I tend to re-use coffee containers for this purpose (I have a bunch of <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B001E5DYTO">illy cans such as these</a> that work well, are a good size, and have a one-way valve on the bottom). Once you buy the coffee, the tins are "free"!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-30T14:31:33.813Z
"In the dark" - I can't believe I didn't think to just put it in the cupboard...
fredley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-30T14:38:52.263Z
@fredley -- It *looks* lovely on the counter, but *tastes* better from the pantry. :)
hoc_age
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-09T15:54:58.833Z
@fredley You could just have kept the airtight container in the opaque one.
qedk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-09T15:55:37.220Z
@therewillbecoffee Sadly it wouldn't fit either way around.
fredley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-09T15:56:49.967Z
@fredley Ohhh ok.
qedk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-30T14:28:20.657Z
2015-06-30T14:42:27.867Z
2015-06-30T14:42:27.867Z
hoc_age
<p>I know that ideally, I should keep my ground coffee in an airtight, opaque container.</p>

<p>Currently, I'm limited to one that is airtight, but glass, and one that is opaque, but not that airtight (it's actually a bag with a zip seal).</p>

<p>While I get around to getting a decent new container, which is the best to keep my ground coffee in?</p>

<storage><ground-coffee>
Should I use the airtight container, or the opaque container?
fredley
# Should I use the airtight container, or the opaque container?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-30)

I know that ideally, I should keep my ground coffee in an airtight, opaque container.

Currently, I'm limited to one that is airtight, but glass, and one that is opaque, but not that airtight (it's actually a bag with a zip seal).

While I get around to getting a decent new container, which is the best to keep my ground coffee in?

**Tags:** storage, ground-coffee


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-06-30. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

**I value *sealed* over *opaque*.** Go for the sealed glass. *Opaque* is not really the goal, but rather *in the dark*. Keeping the stuff in a dark location, even in a clear container, will be fine.

As far as priorities for storage in general, [according to the USA National Coffee Association](http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=70) (and others including [Blue Bottle](https://bluebottlecoffee.com/frequency/store-coffee?tonx=1) and a [lengthy missive from The Atlantic](http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2010/10/the-coffee-storage-conundrum-how-to-keep-beans-fresh/64118/)), there are ***four things*** that are most important for coffee freshness; that is, ***minimizing exposure*** to the following:

1. air
2. moisture
3. heat
4. light

... *in that order*, according to NCAUSA (first link above). That is, keep it ***sealed*** (minimizing airflow and humidity, most important), ***cool*** (but not cold/refrigerated), and ***in the dark*** (somewhat less important). The best place to do this is in an airtight container in a dark, cool pantry. If kept in a dark place, you don't even need to make the container opaque. Lastly, the "light" factor is the lowest in priority, so "mostly dark" is probably good enough.

I tend to re-use coffee containers for this purpose (I have a bunch of [illy cans such as these](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B001E5DYTO) that work well, are a good size, and have a one-way valve on the bottom). Once you buy the coffee, the tins are "free"!

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: "In the dark" - I can't believe I didn't think to just put it in the cupboard...  
> **username_1**: @username_0 -- It *looks* lovely on the counter, but *tastes* better from the pantry. :)  
> **username_2**: @username_0 You could just have kept the airtight container in the opaque one.  
> **username_0**: @therewillbecoffee Sadly it wouldn't fit either way around.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Ohhh ok.  

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