EvanOz85 Senior Member Joined: 9 Jul 2011 Posts: 259 Location: Lafayette, LA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II Grinder: Baratza Preciso, Hario... Vac Pot: Bodum Santos, Yama 5-cup Drip: Chemex, Kone 3, Kalita Wave,... Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Fri Nov 16, 2012, 12:38pm Subject: BeanSafe Coffee Canister
While shopping at Bed Bath & Beyond the other day, I noticed a new coffee storage product on their shelves. It's called BeanSafe, and it has a one way valve with the word "VALVE NEVER NEEDS REPLACING" in big letters on a sticker on the unit. I was very very tempted to pick one up, but first wanted to see if anyone here has used one yet? If not..I'll be the guinea-pig.
Irrelevant. The product is an airtight container with a one way valve that the manufacturer claims will never need replacing. That is what is necessary for roasted bean storage, and anything else the marketing team comes up with is in my opinion irrelevant.
I picked one up today. There is a small glass bead inside the silicone vent that apparently moves slightly up when enough pressure is built up against it from CO2. It is supposed to rise just enough to let the pressure out, then fall without letting oxygen back in. At least that's how I'm assuming it works.
I'm testing it out with a pound of Sweet Maria's French Roast Blend that I roasted well into second crack. Darker roasts vent off a ton of CO2 so I figured this bean would be great for testing.
I use something similar... Called Ziplock airtight containers, and swap them out once every couple of months.
They seem to work well for me. Although truth be told, I haven't noticed a huge difference between the ones in the air tight ziplock containers and the ones I had been storing normally..
So, it could just be an elaborate marketing ploy. Now, if it were vacuum sealed, that might be another story, but it isn't...
I haven't ever tried vacuum sealing coffee, I don't think it's ever been suggested? Hmmm... Maybe I just had a new million dollar idea... :D
I'm honestly unsure if this is working. Upon closer inspection, there is a small hole inside the bottom silicone vent. The glass ball literally rolls free inside the sillicone and just rests inside the small hole whenever the unit is on a smooth surface. Meaning if you tilt the unit or even disturb it slightly, the glass ball rolls out of the hole and can let oxygen into the container. That's all fine and good, however I'm not sure if the ball is actually sealing anything by sitting inside the hole. My suspicions arise from the fact that if I smell the vent, the smell of coffee is VERY strong even after over a weeks roast. If the container were sealed, shouldn't there be no smell arising? It COULD just be that the sillicone has absorbed some of the smell, but I really don't know how to test this.
Anyone have any input or ideas on how to see if this thing is actually working?
I'm honestly unsure if this is working. Upon closer inspection, there is a small hole inside the bottom silicone vent. The glass ball literally rolls free inside the sillicone and just rests inside the small hole whenever the unit is on a smooth surface. Meaning if you tilt the unit or even disturb it slightly, the glass ball rolls out of the hole and can let oxygen into the container. That's all fine and good, however I'm not sure if the ball is actually sealing anything by sitting inside the hole. My suspicions arise from the fact that if I smell the vent, the smell of coffee is VERY strong even after over a weeks roast. If the container were sealed, shouldn't there be no smell arising? It COULD just be that the sillicone has absorbed some of the smell, but I really don't know how to test this.
Anyone have any input or ideas on how to see if this thing is actually working?
i would go with the fact that it's a one way valve then you will smell something coming out. Otherwise it wouldn't be a valve... But the whole description doesn't really make sense when you look at it from the valve part...
It says "One way valve to let the co2 out while still letting the oxygen in"... What? I'm sorry, but one way is one way... So, at most it's faulty description, at worst false advertising.
If the ball rolls around there no matter what, then it is not a one way valve in any shape or form. But to as if it works.. You'll need to report back and store some coffee normally, and some using this new found miracle and let us know the difference :)
Well it doesn't roll around no matter what..only if you tilt the container. It sits in the hole, otherwise.
I understand that a one way valve would let out a smell, but shouldn't it only be letting it out while the beans are off-gassing enough to lift the ball? These beans have finished most of their off-gassing yet there is still a constant smell of roasted coffee emanating from the valve.
According to Illy, degassing proceeds over a period of weeks or even months. Even a small amount of gas could carry a strong scent.
But does the container seal when the internal pressure is less than or equal to the external pressure? One way you might try to test this is to place a small cup of warm water inside the container, close it, allow it to cool, and then see if you can hear an inrush of air when you open it (or disturb it).
As an aside, silicone airlocks are also marketed to home beer brewers and winemakers. A do-it-yourself approach is to buy one of those (they cost less than $5) and then use silicone adhesive to attach it to the jar of your choice.
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