Craig Lyn Design Bean Vaults ?

JHCCoffee

I am thinking about purchasing these Craig Lyn Bean Vaults as I have yet to find an effective and workable solution for storing single doses outside of my freezer that does not involve single vacuum bags. Anyone see or use these?

Any alternative product suggestions? The critical criteria for me are: 1. Stores 15 to 18 g of medium beans (not more than 20 g); 2. Has a sufficiently wide diameter (ie not a one bean wide diameter! ), 3. Airtight seal.

And some wishful thinking: 4. The ability to remove air. 5. The ability to inject argon with a needle or small tube. 6. Variable volume.

I have tried many many alternatives and the closest I get is a very small glass jar that had cork stoppers that I replaced with silicone stoppers that I cut to shape. But once the stoppers are pushed in, they are challenging to remove as I had to cut them (horizontally) too short to make them fit right. Once pushed in the top of the stopper is almost level with the jar rim. I tried those small mason jars with flip lids and gaskets but even the smallest ones are too big.

I also tried plastic centrifuge tubes, but have been unable to find ones with a flat bottom that are also airtight and wider than one or two beans. I have more tried but didn’t work returns to Amazon then I can count 🤪

Fyi, I lightly vacuum seal and freeze my decaf beans (I only drink decaf) in 6 dose (3 days of shots) portions at the apparent optimum resting time (which according to folks on this board is 3 to 4 weeks). However, once I unfreeze and open a 6 dose bag, I notice that the beans start to deteriorate (stale) pretty quickly if not well sealed in mini glass jars, with noticeable changes from “just unfrozen” the night before (day 1) to day 2 and day 3.

Fyi, I don’t have sufficient freezer room for storing single dose centrifuge tubes for more than one pound of coffee, and buying another freezer would not go down well with my wife, who wants me to purge stuff in preparation for an eventual downsize in our living quarters. 😢

A side topic: wondering whether my decaf coffee bean resting time is too long, as I seem to be struggling more with staling since I changed from 2 weeks resting to 4 weeks resting. Infact, I originally used to store my beans for 1 week and liked the fresh flavour of my medium roast decaf beans. I just now created a separate post for this topic here: here

simonc

JHCCoffee what about grinding from frozen and putting bag back in freezer immediately? No deterioration of beans between use?
Wish my taste buds could taste difference across a few days!!

JHCCoffee

simonc what about grinding from frozen and putting bag back in freezer immediately? No deterioration of beans between use?

I’ve done that and noticed moisture formation on the beans that remain, which can/did impact flavour. Others noticed this type of impact as well. So stopped doing that.

simonc Wish my taste buds could taste difference across a few days!!

I am noticing two things with my leaky vials: A: Significant increase in flow on Day 3, possibly Day 2. B: Sone in body, strength and flavour.

LMSC

I am keeping them simple!

The standard beans meant for daily use are on 2 for £2 Ikea canisters. A canister would typically hold 32-34 grams. Works a treat.

The decafs are in a jam jar frozen. They come out a few hours before if I remember to. Otherwise, 30 mins before pulling a shot. My daughter’s choice of beans are in also in the freezer. I pull them out as a first thing in the morning if she is home.

They are all good and haven’t seen any issues with the shot or taste. In the case of decafs, if I keep them out for 30 mins or grind from frozen, the shot is faster. But, it tastes great, though.

JHCCoffee

LMSC The standard beans meant for daily use are on 2 for £2 Ikea canisters. A canister would typically hold 32-34 grams. Works a treat.

If you have a moment can you post a link to these Ikea canisters so that I know which ones to look at. Most appreciated!

Ando

I have these bean vaults and have had them for well over a year. All I can say is I haven’t had any issues with them - are they worth the money over some of the cheaper alternatives? I don’t know, possibly not.

JHCCoffee

Ando I have these bean vaults and have had them for well over a year

Hi Ando. How do you find the seal on them? Is there a gasket or o-ring? Are they airtight? Do you think that the o-ring or gasket will last?

Cuprajake

I had these ones

Didn’t last long, waste of money really

punkypj

I have a set of the Craig Lynn which I use for decaf that keep in the freezer and they are great. We don’t get through decaf that fast but useful to keep a store, I just grind straight from frozen if we use them.

I also have the glass bean vaults that I dose out my day to day coffee into. Those are from what used to be Lynn Weber, those are also good but easy to smash so get spares.

I’ve also looked at these but never purchased any. You can stick them all in a vacuum canning box I think to suck out the air. They come in much smaller sizes than kilners and are better quality (I have bigger ones I use for sourdough starter etc).

https://weckjars.com/product-category/mini_mold/

JHCCoffee

punkypj I have a set of the Craig Lynn which I use for decaf that keep in the freezer and they are great

Hi Punkypj. How do you find the seal on them? Is there a gasket or o-ring? Are they airtight? Do you think that the o-ring or gasket will last?

LMSC

JHCCoffee

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/oertfylld-spice-jar-glass-stainless-steel-60391350/

I also use this, which is very good and it holds about 21g of beans.

😊

Jollybean

Ando

JHCCoffee They have a rubber o ring. I have used them daily since the end of 2021 and not had to replace any of them although one has come slightly loose.

Comparing them to Jakes video of the Weber ones, I would say the lids are def more secure. I wouldn’t have been happy with those ones for sure.

I don’t know re airtightness - I don’t leave coffee in them for any longer than 3 days and when I do I can’t taste the difference - but so many variables involved and I drink milk drinks mainly etc..

I didn’t pay for the holders for them as I drew a line at the cost - not having these is something I regret. I’m clumsy and knock them over like they are pins in a ten pin bowling lane all the time and it drives me insane.

Jollybean

I use these

They hold about 18g normally. Don’t use them in the freezer but work well for me.

JHCCoffee

I bought these Jars
for $54 Cdn for 24. Quality is not great but they work and the price is right. I searched high and lo, but I could not find a similar but better quality product of that size and general design.

FYI, they may be a tad small for some folks (they hold a maximum of 17g of City+ roast decaf beans). There is also a small airspace under the centre of the lid that does not fill with coffee.

JHCCoffee

PS My portfilter and dosing collar (I found a very high height stainless steel one on Etsy) sits on top of the oakwood block in the photo. It is stained to match and sealed with butcher block sealant (paste). The bottom has a hole drilled to fit over the bolt on the Niche. The key dimension is height. In hindsight I could have made it a tad wider/longer and cut a portafilter diameter sized insert into the top, to hold a basket.