Robobrew Single Vessel Brewery

Feels cheap – The entire machine feels a bit cheap and I didn't even get 2mins in to my first brew and it broke a clip. I know it's an entry level machine compared to the grainfather but the quality testing must be 0 as I put no pressure on this before it snapped.

A Very Good (relatively) low cost way of getting into all-grain home brewing – The Robobrew single vessel all-in-one home brewing system is a terrific way of getting into all-grain home brewing. Most home brewers start off with simple malt extract (eg Coopers) brewing, then graduate to so called "kit and kilo" brewing, partial mash, and then all grain. Robobrew combines the functions of mash tun, sparging vessel and kettle in one unit. Briefly, it consists of a modified stainless steel urn with two heating elements in the base (500 and 1900W for 2400W total). It has a large stainless steel "malt pipe" with a perforated base which fits inside the unit: this is for holding the malt. There is a study ball-lock tap outlet, and an electronic display for selecting temperature. The unit also comes with a stainless steel immersion wort chiller. So how does it all work? Put in your calculated volume of strike water, turn on both elements to heat to your desired mash temperature, put in your malt pipe, pour in your malt and start mashing away! After an hour or so, you raise the malt pipe and place the included stand underneath to start sparging (washing the malt). While this is happening, you can start heating the water to boil temperature for your boil.

So what are the pro's and cons?

GOOD POINTS- Very competitive price (the next cheapest unit, the Grainfather, is twice the price!); study handles for moving the (admittedly light weight) unit; simple but sturdy tap; easy to use control panel; simple but effective wort chiller; easy to clean!

BAD POINTS- Lid is a little flimsy and tends to develop rust spots on the underside; malt pipe stand is fiddly to locate (particularly when you are holding 10kg of hot malt that is dripping constantly!); can be a bit slow to reach boiling temps, esp. in winter; with boil volumes over 28L you need to be VERY vigilant to avoid boilovers once boil temp is reached before the hot break; you still need another way of heating sparge water to desired temperature; volume marks are stamped on the inside of the unit, but are on the same side as the controls and outlet, meaning you have to go around the back or turn the unit to read the volume

I have added an external pump to create a RIMS (Recirculating Infusion Mash System) for an additional $100; this improves the efficiency of the system and makes it easier to sparge from a separate urn. Though I have listed a few bad points, none of them are deal breakers: I highly recommend this system for anyone getting into all-grain brewing. There are certainly cheaper ways of doing it (eg BIAB) but this little unit is very well thought out and really does a very good job. I should also mention that the Mk 2 Robobrew has now been released, and this addresses some of the issues I have raised, while also having the option of a built in recirculation pump: all still at considerably less cost than its competitors.

VERDICT: Great system for home all grain brewing with only a few minor flaws; RECOMMENDED!!