Robobrew Review vs Grainfather
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- čas přidán 10. 09. 2024
- It's tough to make a video about the Robobrew without comparing it to the Grainfather, so let's dive right in and do exactly that. For the full Grainfather review, see this video here: • Is The Grainfather Rig...
As always, please check out WNYBrews.com!
One of the reasons the immersion chiller is less efficient at cooling the wort is the material of construction. Stainless steel has a thermal conductivity rating that is about 10 times lower than that of copper.
There are pros and cons with any system but generally the manufacturers will listen to feedback from users and improve their units over time. The Grainfather for examples has had plenty of hardware and software upgrades and improvements since its initial release.
Good comparison. I have both and prefer the Robobrew. I have it on a milk crate so the height of the controller is no issue. In fact, I prefer the controller down there as it's out of the way and doesn't fall off all the time like the GF one. As you say, if they take everything the Robobrew improved upon and put it on the GF it would be worth the extra money.
Great idea on the milk crate! Thanks
Great job! exactly what I needed to see! I really appreciate your effort in preparing this video! I have been using a home-made gas burner BIAB system and this really interests me for all the same reasons you voiced in this video!
instablaster...
I use a kitchen towel around my finger to lift the lid when it's hot. You don't need any special gloves but I agree that a handle on the lid would be a good improvement.
I would prefer a camlock on the Grainfather but I have no real problems with the threaded fitting, you are not supposed to screw it on very tight. However, if camlocks meant I won't get the check valve I'd rather stick with the threads. I have accidentally started the pump with nothing attached and I'm glad my wort didn't spew everywhere.
I've done all those things too. The gloves help when you accidentally forget the filter on the GF after heating the water!
Awesome video bud, really helped out with the pros and cons. I'm currently brewing on my ten gallon 3 vessel system outside and a friend of mine is getting into homebrewing so to help introduce my friend to the hobby, I used my sparge kettle with a grain bag and helped him brew a BIAB batch inside on my stove, I forgot how much simpler it is, and I am now debating on moving over to a robobrew now, I always dread the prep and cleaning of my current system every brew day lol, even brewing my next batch inside BIAB again lol. I didn't realize how much more stable/easier it is brewing indoors where conditions never change. Your channel name caught my attention in my feed, I also reside in WNY, if you ever want to trade/share brews let me know, cheers, subscribed.
Nice!
I'm in Hamburg.
@@Wnybrews I'm not to far off, about a hour drive from Hamburg, in Barker 14012 myself. Any clubs you are aware of worth looking into?
My wife and I brew and we bought our GF in 2017. At that point, GF was next level and there wasn't really a competitor that checked all the boxes like the GF at that price point. My favorite part of the GF is the small amount of space it takes up, a self contained mess. Feeding the recipe into the website and letting GF do the work for you is wonderful. Also the delayed heating is great for waking up to hot strike water. However, in 2017 there wasn't a sound competitor like there is today with the Robobrew. Back then I would have bought the Robobrew, but after being spoiled by my GF for 3 years, I still have to recommend based on the convenience. I also know that you can install camlocks on the GF as well, there are people that have. I have never had any issue with my GF, not one. I am going to get the insulation jacket to speed up the heating time though. I watched your video comparing the two systems because my buddy is interested in a GF, but I just wanted to show him some good comparison videos for reference. Great video.
I appreciate it. I have both and I did switch the GF to camlock so both could use the counter-flow.
I have the jackets too and I think they do help the boil intensity.
Great reviews, helped me make my mind up. Thanks.
Great video! Your comparison was really good, part fact and part opinion and the right mix of both. Im starting out from scratch so tgis has really helped my purchase decision
What model is this robobrew you're using in this video? I'm very interested in this unit but there seems to be a few different variations of the robobrew. Many thanks.
Using a robobrew - the chiller is totally fine. Set up a recirculating system in a cooler with ice water and a cheap amazon water pump - boiling to 15 degrees celsius in less than 15 minutes. Total added cost for hoses, clamps, and pump: 35 dollars
Are you recirculating the wort through the coil, or water through the coil?
@@Wnybrews Sounds like he's pushing water thru the Chiller, that's why he needs the amazon water pump, I use something similar with my old copper wort chiller and a small pump, using a dedicated small cooler that I also use to store the chiller, pump and hoses. FYI tip, when using this type system, do not add to much water to the cooler because the pump sucks water off the bottom of the cooler and the ice will " Float On the Warm Water" reducing the chillers effectiveness. Keep an extra bucket handy and pump off some of the extra water caused by the ice melting to keep the water level low.
Thanks for your video !
Do you have recommendations... for those who have a Glycrol chiller? And,are curious, for those elsewhere?
Good discussion video thanks for sharing!
Loved the review. Have a Grainfather myself and doing multiple upgrades.
Do you know what parts are interchangeable between the Grainfather and Robobrew? For example are handlebar for the inner basket, glass lid,... interchangeable?
Have made a camlock conversion and used the filter plate.
I am close to buying a Grainfather as I like the idea of brewing indoors vs. a cold garage (Canadian winter) and like the idea of the bluetooth control (family time is hard to balance) but are there any concerns with smell with using a GrainFather or Robobrew in the house?
My wife hates it, I love it. It's not too pervasive though so she stays out of the area.
Dude it was a great review thank you very much
Great review...I have a Robo Brew but going to purchase a Grainfather
The robo brew also was originally made to be used as a distiller .. with a lid and still head ...
I recently purchased the Grainfather and I love it. It's easy to use, easy to clean and easy to store. I'm sure that applies to the Robobrew as well but additionally the Grainfather bluetooth controller, phone/tablet app and website system is a really nice bonus. It makes it easy to make up a recipe, easy to program the controller and the controller helps you every step of the way. I could do without it yes but it is a really nice thing to have.
Also, that the controller is not at the base of the unit but higher up and angled upwards means I don't have to lie flat on the floor to use the controller, should I want to.
Thanks for the video! So now that you own both a Grainfather and a Robobrew, which one do you find yourself using more often? If their prices were identical, which would you choose?
I end up p using the grainfather more because of the bluetooth. If prices were identical, the grainfather wins.
Looking to buy the grainfather but the extra cost always makes me hesitate. Seems like a large investment but think it'll be the best system for me. Always good see what others think vs the robobrew as an assurance that if you've got the budget and want the convenience the gf has some benefits
How long is the brew day, absolute start to absolute finish on the Robobrew(no preheating overnight)? Also, how long does it take to sparge? Is sparging difficult or challenging to do correctly?
Takes about 7 hours, but I can set it to heat before I wake up, so it cuts it down.
hi , im actually looking for buy a grainfather because i want to start a little business with my own beer, i dont know if the grainfather supports brewing like a 26 gallons per week or in a further time the electric system fails dont know do u think the grainfather worth it ?
That's a full brewing schedule for 26 gallons a week. I would look into a larger system. Or multiple units.
What about the steam when brewing inside that’s a lot of water entering the house ? The Robo has a built in electronic panel that’s a worry as easer to ingress water also will it still work after a couple of years , I brought a gen 1 and was disappointed with Chinese build quality sold it after 5 brews very thin build .
I use an exhaust fan, it does an adequate job, although I'm working on upgrading it.
Just moved from extract kits to all grain and Just pre ordered the robobrew, unfortunately I have to wait to August due to stock issues!
Ugh. Shipping sucks right now. Welcome aboard though
Hi, thanks for such a great review! Just one question, would be possible to use the GF chiller on the Robobrew? Cheers.
Yes if you switch the connection from the proprietary grainfather twist connection to a camlock.
I did after watching David Heath's video
Thank you. I have been looking at getting into whole grain brewing but have limited space and budget. I was looking at propane BITB and what I could do. it seemed a bit too impracticable. When I found the electrical single vessel option it seemed like the right solution, but a bit beyond my hobby budget.
The robobrew may be my answer. Your detailed comparrison has been a real help and I think that a robobrew may be my best answer.
Bring on the beer.
So if the Grainfather could be purchased for $200 less (20% off) which would you choose?
The Grainfather is nice to use because of the controller. I might do a Grainfather over a Robobrew if the price is right. As it is, I bought both :)
Great review. Thank you!
You’re using the chiller wrong on the robobrew , you’re supposed to immerse the chiller in ice water and pump the wort through the inside of the chiller, works really well
Excellent video, thanks
Glad you liked it!
Hi can you recommend a good immersion chiller for the robobrew?
Jason Burns the Scylla from JaDed is my next review. It’s made specifically for the Robobrew and Grainfather.
I'm listening to your review, which is great, and I noticed that you have a Bills shirt on I'm from Buffalo also small world lol 😂
Well thought through review! You have answered so many questions I have been pondering. One more though- how is the boil strength on the robo? I wonder if the thinner metal would make it harder to get a boil...
Jason Lahti both are light boils but they get the job done.
The jackets on each help a lot
A decent review of two great pieces of kit. I have a GF and have pimped it out with Robobrew upgrades such as the camlock connects and false bottom. I believe you're correct on SS gauge and will check it out in the near future. I think the build quality on the GF is finer but the GF with the Connect blows the RB away in terms of automation and functionality. You forgot to mention the Grainfather cloud database and software usability/connectivity to Beersmith and other XML capable files. All things said, I believe the RB is a great deal but it's a Chev Cruze compared to a Grainfather Cadillac. As you mentioned in other words , let your budget dictate the options and functionality.
Well said.
Thanks for the comparison. How well do you think the Robobrew would handle full volume mashing for 2.5 gallons batches?
Good question. Only one way to find out I guess. I'll give it a shot.
@@Wnybrews How did the full volume mash for a 2.5 gallon batch go? I am looking to do the same so am interested how it went, if you have had a chance yet of course :)
Great video? I was just wondering, how do you handle the sparge process with the Robobrew?
You heat the sparge water using something else. I use either the stove or the other unit.
@@Wnybrews What I mean is do you just pour the sparge water over the top of the grains manually or do you have a pump setup or gravity feed where you control the flow? How do you yourself do it with the Robobrew setup?
Sorry. Yes I do pour it manually.
Thank you for this great Video. Go on.
Well, my Robobrew just gave me a E2 code for the second time since September. Not happy at all.
Chris Storey my condolences!
Both systems have issues. The companies say is about 1% of the total units, so hopefully they figure it out.
Great review
I am about to buy
Something.....
1st buy
I know very little- perhaps even nothing
Prost thanks for the info ,
excellent video.....i'm now subscribed!!
You always wear zubaz when you brew?
Only on special occasions!
Robobrew costs 399 dollars where the grainfather costs 1100 dollars..I just bought myself a robobrew, personally i don't think a better chiller and a bluetooth control is worth an extra 700 bucks.
Agreed. Take that money you saved and buy a counterflow or a JaDed Scylla
watch it at 1.5
My only concern is that unit seems to the same as a lot of others like ace/klarstein.
Kevin Walsh it kind of is the same as the ace/guten but with slight differences. The ace from what I have seen here in Australia has a solid malt pipe so u have to choose which pipe to use rather then adjust there are other differences but nothing major and the price here is basically the same
Never heard of it, but now I’m intrigued
There’s actually many names for the other single vessel, from what I’ve heard it works well but the control panel can be hard to program but I have never used it my self so can’t confirm
czcams.com/video/ob_W310qoUQ/video.html