Coffee bean cellars are designed to simplify your workflow and keep coffee beans as fresh as possible. Unlike airtight coffee cannisters, coffee beans cellars are designed with single dosing in mind. With an airtight cannister, you can store as much as a pound of coffee beans and take out, weigh coffee beans as needed.
Coffee bean cellars on the other hand are pre-filled and store between upto 30 grams of coffee beans each. That would be more than enough for a double or triple shot of espresso. The ones I have store 28 grams of coffee. That is adequate for filter coffee as well. We know that 30 grams of coffee beans for 500 ml of water is the standard. But with 28 grams, it’s close enough and you can lessen the water a bit.
The appeal of a coffee bean cellar is convenience. You can pre-weigh coffee beans, place them in each cellar and they’re ready. When it’s time to make espresso, the pre-filled coffee beans are ready for the grinder. This is the convenience part they offer, and during mornings especially hectic ones, they help.
The other factor is freshness. Oxygen is an enemy of coffee beans as it oxides them. With coffee bean cellars, you don’t have to repeatedly open the coffee bag or canister each time you want to grind some beans.
This accessory is an option for people on the go, because with those hectic mornings, this part of the workflow is ready. It’s also practical for people who don’t consume coffee quickly enough. If you go through a bag of coffee a week then there really isn’t that much concern of coffee beans being oxidized.
If you decide to add coffee bean cellars to your coffee station, then getting ones that have a one-way exhaust valve will be a good idea. This will allow the gas to release and prevent oxygen from entering. They sell all sorts of designs and brands. The ones in this post are by Normcore.
They are a 12-unit set, but also come in a set of 6, and they suit me well with each one housing 18 grams of coffee beans with some room to spare. They’re also smoke gray but also come in clear color. The lids are a bit tight but can’t complain. Ascetically, they look nice and made from a seemingly good quality plastic. I know some people prefer glass, but these are not available in this option.
Price wise, I’d say they are middle range. There are cheaper brands and much more expensive brands. I try to aim for a balance of quality and budget. This is certainly not a must-have item. But if you’re growing your coffee station, and this hobby or passion is lasting then why not. They serve a purpose and convenience is nice to have.