A Cigar cooler vs A Cigar humidor

When it comes to preserving cigars, both the cigar cooler and cigar humidor are essential tools for aficionados, though they serve slightly different purposes. A cigar humidor has long been the go-to solution, designed to maintain a stable environment for cigar storage using materials like cedar wood. Its origins trace back to 1887, when Irish furniture maker Terrance Manning crafted the first humidors from Brazilian rosewood. Humidors have since evolved, offering cigar lovers a traditional, elegant way to keep their collection fresh.

What are Cigar Coolers?

Cigar coolers are essentially modified wine coolers designed specifically for storing cigars. While originally intended for wine bottles, these coolers have been adapted to maintain the perfect environment for cigars, providing a balance of temperature and humidity. Although cigar coolers tend to be more expensive than standard wine coolers, they offer larger storage capacity and require less maintenance compared to traditional wooden humidors.

Unlike traditional humidors, which rely on natural wood materials to regulate humidity, cigar coolers use advanced technology for more precise control. This makes them a reliable option for storing cigars, especially in areas with fluctuating climates. However, the design of cigar coolers often means they are equipped with metal racks designed for wine bottles, which are better suited for storing cigar boxes rather than individual cigars. For those who wish to store loose cigars, replacing the racks with Tupperware containers is a practical, if less visually appealing, alternative.

Cigar coolers are generally larger than traditional humidors and require more space. While they might not have the same classic aesthetic, their functionality and capacity make them a popular choice among serious cigar collectors and enthusiasts.

The Art of Temperature control

Temperature control is a key reason cigar enthusiasts often choose cigar coolers over traditional humidors. Maintaining the right temperature is crucial for preserving cigars, as it directly impacts relative humidity and the quality of the smoke. The ideal temperature for cigar storage is around 70°F, but a slight range from 65°F to 68°F is also excellent for long-term preservation.

Cigar coolers offer precise and effortless temperature adjustments through intuitive touch panels. With just a few clicks, users can set their preferred temperature, and the electronic system takes care of the rest, ensuring cigars stay fresh year-round. Most cigar coolers allow temperature settings between 41°F and 71°F, giving users flexibility based on their storage needs. Once set, the cooler maintains a consistent environment, unaffected by external conditions.

The automatic control system adjusts as needed, ensuring that the temperature stays within the desired range. Well-sealed glass doors also play a role, preventing moisture loss and helping maintain optimal conditions inside the cooler. In addition, most cigar coolers allow users to switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit with easy-to-use control buttons, and a digital monitor keeps track of the current temperature, providing real-time updates.

A Thermoelectric Cooling system

Cigar coolers utilize thermoelectric cooling, a technology based on the Thomson effect, which involves the flow of electric current between two junctions to either emit or absorb heat. In this system, when electricity flows, one side of a metal plate heats up, while the other side cools down. A fan then channels the cool air from the cold side into the storage area, gradually lowering the temperature.

This gradual cooling process is highly beneficial for cigar storage, as it avoids sudden fluctuations in temperature that could damage cigars. Thermoelectric systems are preferred over conventional vapor-compression systems due to their simplicity and lower maintenance needs. Since the system has no moving parts, it is less prone to wear and tear, reducing long-term maintenance costs.

Overall, thermoelectric cooling provides cigar coolers with a reliable, energy-efficient method for maintaining the perfect storage environment, ensuring cigars are preserved in optimal conditions without the need for frequent upkeep.

What are Cigar Humidors?

Cigar humidors are specialized storage containers designed to maintain the ideal environment for cigars, ensuring they remain fresh and flavorful. Available in various sizes and styles, they range from small wooden boxes for personal use to larger cabinet or walk-in models for commercial settings.

Crafted from high-quality wood and often lined with Spanish cedar, humidors retain moisture better than ordinary materials. They typically come equipped with a hygrometer to measure humidity and a humidifier to circulate and purify the air. Hygrometers can be either analog or digital, allowing users to monitor conditions easily.

By preventing cigars from drying out, humidors ensure a superior smoking experience compared to those stored in unsuitable conditions. The stogies and tobacco products stored in humidors taste significantly better than those kept in suboptimal conditions. For quality options, brands like Prestige Import Group and Quality Importers are known for their reliable humidors that effectively maintain ideal humidity levels and moisture retention.

Spanish cedar shelving

The interior of cigar humidors is often lined with Spanish cedar, a specially chosen wood known for its excellent moisture-regulating properties. Spanish cedar can absorb excess moisture, helping to maintain a balanced humidity level within the humidor. This unique characteristic is crucial for preserving the quality and flavor of cigars.

In addition to lining the walls, dividers and trays within the humidor are typically made from Spanish cedar, ensuring that every part of the storage area contributes to optimal conditions. This wood not only helps in moisture regulation but also imparts a pleasant aroma to the cigars, enhancing the overall smoking experience.

Using Spanish cedar shelving significantly increases the lifespan of cigars by preventing them from drying out or becoming overly humid. This careful control of humidity levels ensures that the cigars retain their intended flavors and aromas, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy a consistently superior smoking experience. Overall, Spanish cedar is an essential component in the design of high-quality humidors, providing both functional and aesthetic benefits.

Hygrometer

A hygrometer is an essential device used to measure humidity and moisture levels within a wooden humidor. Typically, it is mounted inside the lid of smaller humidors or attached to the door of larger cabinet humidors. The hygrometer features a display that allows users to monitor changes in humidity, which is crucial for maintaining the ideal environment for cigars.

There are two primary types of hygrometers: digital and analog. Digital hygrometers provide precise readings and often include features such as temperature displays and memory functions for tracking humidity over time. Analog hygrometers, on the other hand, use a dial and needle system to indicate humidity levels and are favored by some for their classic aesthetic.

Regardless of the type, a hygrometer is vital for cigar enthusiasts, as it helps ensure that humidity levels remain within the optimal range. This monitoring prevents cigars from drying out or becoming overly moist, both of which can adversely affect their flavor and smoking experience. Proper use of a hygrometer is key to preserving the quality and longevity of a cigar collection.

Humidifier

A humidifier is a crucial device in cigar humidors, responsible for controlling moisture and humidity levels. It circulates fresh air throughout the humidor to maintain the ideal humidity range of 65% to 70%. This regulation is vital for preventing cigars from becoming too dry or overly moist, ensuring they retain their quality and flavor.

Humidifiers typically use gel or clay-type materials to maintain humidity. One popular option is Boveda humidity packs, which are designed to release or absorb moisture as needed. These packs are convenient because they can be easily replaced when their effectiveness diminishes, making them a favored choice among cigar enthusiasts. Boveda packs come in various humidity levels, allowing users to select the one that best suits their storage needs.

For more complex storage needs, crystal-based humidifiers are also available. These humidifiers can hold a larger amount of water and are suitable for maintaining humidity in larger or more sophisticated setups. Regardless of the type used, a reliable humidifier, along with Boveda humidity packs, is essential for preserving the integrity of cigars, allowing aficionados to enjoy their collection at its best. By maintaining optimal humidity levels, humidifiers play a vital role in enhancing the overall smoking experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is more effective in terms of cost, a cigar cooler or a humidor?

A cigar cooler is expensive in cost but cheaper and low in maintenance whereas the price of a hygrometer varies on the storage capacity and it requires regular maintenance costs for humidification.

What happens when the cigar direct contact with the air for more than 4 to 5 days?

The cigars absorb and release moisture. If you keep a cigar without a humidor, it will dry out. The humidor is the best way to keep cigars for storage.

Can I keep cigars in a wine cooler?

Cigars dry out after many days and the wine changes its flavor after the opening of just a day or twice. A wine cooler is a good choice for storing cigars for brief ages. Keeping the temperature at 50 to 55 degrees F with a moisture position of 70 percent will keep your cigar fresh for a long time in the wine fridge. In this way, you can enjoy these two effects together and store cigars with wine in a wine fridge.

Do I take cigars out of plastic to put in the cigar humidor or cigar cooler?

No, it is not compulsory. But it is a good approach to keep cigars out of the packet because the moisture can properly pass through the cigars. And the humidor can work efficiently.

How long can a cigar within a humidor last?

A humidor can last for years. It depends on the proper use and care.

Do I need to buy a new cigar humidor if any of the features stop working?

No, you don’t need to change the whole unit. You can find the components of cigars on different sites and get them from there.

Our Final Verdict:

Humidors have been around for ages and they’re still the most popular way to store your cigars. Upon our thorough checking, we have chosen the Cigar cooler as our top pick as it can provide either cooling or heating function which makes your cigar fresh the whole year round.

PROS AND CONS OF THE CIGAR COOLER VS TRADITIONAL HUMIDORS:

What about you, most especially the cigar aficionado, which one do you prefer? Share your thoughts with us!