Coffee beans do not have a long life span in my dwelling. They appear to stay fresh in the bag. I just wanted something more sturdy. I opted for this canister because it comes with a metal spoon attached, does not let light in through a plastic window, seals well, and has a CO2 filter. It seems to work perfectly, and when I open the lid a wonderful waft of coffee aroma greets me. The date function on the lid does not interest me. The beans are never around more than a few weeks. The one curious part of the construction of this container, and of every container I examined, is that the CO2 filter is installed at the top of the canister. On a bag at every market I visit, the filter is located lower, near the middle. That makes sense since CO2 is heavier than nitrogen and oxygen. When roasted beans "exhale" CO2, CO2 tends to sink downward, not upward. There should be more CO2 at the lower part than the higher part. Locating a filter near the bottom seems to make more sense. So why is the CO2 filter on the top? As soon as I find a canister with this consideration in mind, I'm tossing this one out. Or maybe I'll drill a hole near the bottom of the canister for a replaceable filter. My peace of mind is at stake here, and I must care for it. :-) I'm a 73 years old moderate tobacco user, so I have fewer taste buds smothered with smoke. However, I can still barely detect a rancidity in a poorly stored roasted coffee bean. It's not much, but for the few years I have left I'd rather live without the unpleasantness.
