Anyone using an Airscape?

[Darkbulb]

As I'm getting more and more 'into' coffee I'm looking for a good, sub-30 dollar canister to store the coffee beans in.
I've spent some time reading through reviews and the gals over at seattlecoffegear.com (love those women!) reviewed this Airscape container that looks very neat.

Is anyone using one and if so, what are your thoughts/experience?

 

[YetiDave]

Can't say I've used one, but it seems like a bit of a gimmick

 

[Mick]

I have a large and small that I use. They are VERY well thought out, excellent design, and WORK extremely well at keeping coffee fresh. the double one way valve design (one in the inner seal and one in the outer lid) lets the coffee expel gas but keeps air away from the contents)

I have a little less than a lb of Costa Rican La Amistad in my large Airscape and about 1/3 lb of espresso roast in the smaller Airscape. I use the Airscapes for longer term storage (in it maybe once every 2-3 days to pull more coffee out) but I use Tightvac cans for my daily in and out use.

I've found that I use Tightvac for my "every day in and out storage" as I find them easier to get in and out of faster and easier.

I got 2 sets of 4 Tightvac cans when an amazon seller was blowing them out for 1/2 price (just could not pass them up at that level). They only had the clear ones at the blow out price which is what I got.

http://www.tightvac.com/product-p/set4.htm

Link to manufacture's site for info only, they do show MSRP on the 4 product set so this is NOT a recommendation for where to purchase

Orphan Espresso video about the Tightvac cans

They have a second video about the Tightvac you can look at here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eK2mPjXnjI

 

[Darkbulb]

Funny, I was looking at the TightVac as well - I understand they are not actually vacuum seal but rather 'air tight'.
Do you like the TightVacs as well?

 

[Mick]

Funny, I was looking at the TightVac as well - I understand they are not actually vacuum seal but rather 'air tight'.
Do you like the TightVacs as well?

Yes the Tightvac are not vented but I use them to store the coffee I will use every day so I am into them 3-6 times a day. I can easily empty the small one in a day or so and the next size up in a couple of days

I keep pounds of beans in the Airscape cans as they allow the gas to get out but I keep my daily beans in the tightvac cans as they are easier to get into.

I like them both but they have 2 different uses.

Airscapes for longer term storage (only into it once a week or so to refill the tightvac cans)

Tightvac for everyday ease of access (into them several times a day)

I would recommend both since they are for different types of storage (long term - short term).

I try not to have fresh beans in the house longer than 2 weeks. Since I have access to daily roasted beans I wait until I am down to a couple pots worth of beans before buying another pound of beans. Most of the time my beans are here only 10 days before they are used up. The beans are roasted the day I buy them or the day before so I let them sit for 2-3 days to de-gas before starting to use them and try to finish them before 2 weeks elapse.

 

[YetiDave]

I don't think coffee beans release any gas a few days after roasting. I've kept mine in airtight clip lid jars and I've never had one explode so gas release doesn't seem to be an issue. Tbh I'd challenge anyone to a blind taste test on beans stored a week in airscape jars vs any other airtight jar - my money's on no one being able to tell the difference

 

[Mick]

I don't think coffee beans release any gas a few days after roasting. I've kept mine in airtight clip lid jars and I've never had one explode so gas release doesn't seem to be an issue. Tbh I'd challenge anyone to a blind taste test on beans stored a week in airscape jars vs any other airtight jar - my money's on no one being able to tell the difference

A little reading about fresh roast and co2 release

http://coffeetroupe.com/coffeetroupe/measuring-roasted-coffee-co2-degassing/

I find the coffee made from beans that are ground, brewed and drunk within the first day of being roasted is bitter. I find it is still on the bitter side 24 hours after roasting. By 48 hours the coffee has mellowed and stays at that flavor level for the next 10-14 days. After that time the flavor drops slightly but the crema from an espresso machine starts to drop off, disappearing appreciably at 3 weeks after roast. Anything after 3 weeks is milk and sugar coffee for me This is just simple observation here at my home using beans from a local specialty roasting house and the coffee gear I use. Others may notice something entirely different depending on the type of bean, the type of roast, the age of the beans (pre and post roast), as well as a number of other variables such as water, brew time, grounds/water ratio, grind type, and brew method.

As with shaving (even more so) YMMV when it comes to coffee

SCG did a taste test of "stored" coffee.

 

[Darkbulb]

I would recommend both since they are for different types of storage (long term - short term).

I think maybe my 'needs' will be more suited to a TightVac: I buy one pound of coffee beans. And grind 1-2 cups/day (so I go into the canister 1-2 times/day).
One pound of coffee normally lasts about two (sometimes three) weeks for me. The AirScape is REALLY cool...but I think that lid would maybe be a tad annoying having to open it twice a day maybe?

(Thanks for the video, I LOVE SCG) - I think they are a reality show waiting to happen :-D

 

[Proinsias]

I'm always a little suspicious of anything resembling plastic being near my tea. That said I love the little one I have. It does a grand job of keeping green tea in good condition. Being able to push the lid right down to meet my last 20 or 30 grams of tea gives me a happy.

Another big plus point is that you can pretend you are a scientist opening something dangerous everytime you want a round of tea. Never thought I'd enjoy removing the lid of a caddy so much, and thought the novelty would have faded over the last year or so, but it's still pretty cool. If I had a spare few hundred quid and wasn't already knee deep in tupperware I would have these littered all over the kitchen.

I'll agree with Dave that it looks gimmicky but it really is a nicely executed design.

 

[paul.hendricks]

I've got two Airscapes that I got from Crate and Barrel on sale. I really like them, but the black inner lid is a pain to get completely dry after washing, and the clear outer lid can become stained after a while (honestly not sure how, as coffee almost never touches it, but the rim and underside definitely have a beige tint to them now. My coffee never has tasted fresher, though.