Grainfather review after 100 brews

[Saisonator]

I may be wrong but i cannot remember a single thread about a GF element burning out, people love to have a moan when things go wrong so if it was a big issue i am sure we would be well aware of it by now.

The element may be a weak link and the BM not having a sealed one is a big plus but is it worth spending an extra �£600 because someone on a forum predicts the GF element will only last 150 brews, even if that is correct as i said earlier at 2 brews a month its going to last you 6 years!

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As well as the element on the BM being replaceable, it is also in a position where it is unlikely to scorch. The BM system where the wort is pushed upwards is also better and I think less likely to cause compaction.
Build quality of the BM is heavier and better commercial quality.
I think it is worth £600 more, but if you don't have the money then it's not an option anyway so a compromise has to be made.
Thinking about it, 150 may have been a bit of a conservative estimation.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The BM system where the wort is pushed upwards is also better and I think less likely to cause compaction.

I think it is worth £600 more, but if you don't have the money then it's not an option anyway so a compromise has to be made.

Thinking about it, 150 may have been a bit of a conservative estimation.

You think it will only last 150 brews, you think it may cause more compaction and now you think 150 brews was a conservative estimate, i think you need to post some facts and not just pure speculation.


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[Gerryjo]

Out of curiosity for those that have a GF and the element does burn out, what's the cost of replacement parts, fitting of which to me sounds like a factory job unless you're DIY minded and I would hazard a guess and say there are a few brewers using high ended all in one products that do so more as a hobby or a passing fad which in that case may last a lifetime or end up in the corner of a garage if they breakdown.
Personally I would love an all in one but if I was going to spend that much cash I would think about going into brewing for a living as my daughter keeps saying.

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[Slid]

I wonder why it is that GF buyers are always trying to justify their purchase, not only here but on the AHB threads also. Whichever unit one purchases whether it be a GF or a Klarstein or Ace it is how it is looked after, the GF came out here in 2014 and there has been a few elements burned out, but keeping the base clean without using an abrasive, i.e acid cleaning should keep make for a longer life span. The Braumeister will see me out, well over a hundred brews since 2010, but in saying that I am more than happy with the Ace, just not happy with cemented in elements, no need for them.
And the Robobrew is from a different stable than the GF and the Ace.

I think this a very interesting point and of course, is not limited to the Grainfather.

I am personally keen to encourage anyone tempted by the GF to research the alternatives, which are possibly more attractive now than a few years ago, when I bought mine, and which might represent a less selfish allocation of tight family budgets.

Wandering back to the OP, I believe I read somewhere that much of the huge advertising budget on cars is actually spent to console the purchasers that their car is OK after all the issues they may have had post purchase.

 

[Saisonator]

You think it will only last 150 brews, you think it may cause more compaction and now you think 150 brews was a conservative estimate, i think you need to post some facts and not just pure speculation.


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Considering you have ability to ban me from this forum, it's best for me to give up on this one now.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have never banned a member for having a difference of opinion i just asked for facts rather than speculation.

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[DoctorMick]

Out of curiosity for those that have a GF and the element does burn out, what's the cost of replacement parts, fitting of which to me sounds like a factory job unless you're DIY minded and I would hazard a guess and say there are a few brewers using high ended all in one products that do so more as a hobby or a passing fad which in that case may last a lifetime or end up in the corner of a garage if they breakdown.
Personally I would love an all in one but if I was going to spend that much cash I would think about going into brewing for a living as my daughter keeps saying.

Sent from my ALE-L21 using Tapatalk

I suspect if the element goes it'll be a case of binning the machine. If it does happen to me I'll contact iMake to see what they can do first tho, there customer service has been spot on so far. Mind you, if it makes it to 150 brews before it gives up I don't think I'll be disappointed.

 

[Gerryjo]

If it ever does give up the ghost here's an interesting link to view.These type of heaters are in use on my equipment in work and operate 24/7/365 and I haven't seen one replaced in 11 years and they sit at 80c constantly and capable of a lot higher as you can see in the spec sheets.
http://watlow.co.uk/products/heaters/flexible-silicone-heaters.cfm

 

[Hoddy]

I think I've had my BM 2 1/2 years and maybe knocked off about 45 brews.

To be honest I chose the BM because at the time the it was by far the most advanced, and the only known quantity piece of HB kit like it on the market.

It is (and I think most people agree) the most solid and component based bit of kit. i.e. You can replace every single item on it. Nothing is proprietary.

But the GF has advanced and come a long way since the BM has been released. And it is allot more compatible these days.

But IMHO which would I prefer now? My BM or the latest GF?

Personally for flexibility, build quality, and the potential to replace items that "might" fail. It's the BM for me.

Hey you can buy a ford with all the same toys as a BMW. One is allot more expensive as the other. But they both still get down the road and arrive at the destination. Only the driver knows the reasons why he's chosen to own and drive ether car.


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[ITMA]

Bumping the thread to mention that my Grainfather element blew up at the weekend - brew #20 (ish). Proper (small) ball of flame and all. Just a feeble "pop" rather than a big bang though.

I'm not sure if it's the element or the thermal fuse that went, and I daren't open up the bottom to check in case it invalidates the warranty.

I wonder if the reset switch was faulty as it appears to be fused into place?

Bottom of the boiler was clean.

 

[stevey]

I bet you can buy just the boiler for the GF, i.e. minus the pump, pipework, controller, etc. Probably as cheap as an element for the BM.
I'm not going to get into the GF v BM debate, but as I store my gear in a spare bedroom and brew downstairs in the kitchen, I don't really want to be carrying the better made heavier constructed version ;-)

 

[ITMA]

I'm not aware of an official source for just the boiler (apart from second hand etc). For a while you could get a "grainbrother" for double brews which was basically the kit without the chiller. Don't think they even do that now.

Seems a bit bonkers to hard wire the element in like that when it's a likely cause of failure. Hey ho I'm 90%+ sure the warranty will sort things out - if not I'll be looking elsewhere for options.

 

[welly3]

Grainfather owner here, I'm up to about 70 batches on it. I was brewing once, occasionally twice a week for a short while. No sign of it burning out or anything like that. And I'm not going to worry about it until it happens either, if it does. I'd get another one tomorrow if it did happen to burn out because it's been a great piece of equipment that has easily paid for itself.

Not sure where all this speculation of it lasting 150 brews is coming from though. It's pretty much worthless conjecture unless there's any evidence to suggest they're all croaking it at 150 brews and I've not heard anything of the sort.

 

[F00b4r]

The main difference between the GF and BM element is that at the BM one is a very long low density element, because of this it is relatively difficult to scorch it or the wort. The GF one is pretty similar, apart from not being replaceable, to those in tea urns, they do have a tendency to scorch (probably why it originally had two elements of different power) and you need to keep them clean. My old BIAB Buffalo boiler would look clean on the bottom but if you wiped it with acid, even just using a lemon slice, you could see the difference.
That said, I would be looking for a warranty replacement if the element blew, especially as they appear to have deliberately made it impossible to replace yourself.

 

[ITMA]

Not sure where all this speculation of it lasting 150 brews is coming from though. It's pretty much worthless conjecture unless there's any evidence to suggest they're all croaking it at 150 brews and I've not heard anything of the sort.

It was just a finger in the air guess earlier in the thread. I've got a exact fact now, which is 20 brews. Hopefully I'm an outlier on the bell curve.

 

[Slid]

Bumping the thread to mention that my Grainfather element blew up at the weekend - brew #20 (ish). Proper (small) ball of flame and all. Just a feeble "pop" rather than a big bang though.

I'm not sure if it's the element or the thermal fuse that went, and I daren't open up the bottom to check in case it invalidates the warranty.

I wonder if the reset switch was faulty as it appears to be fused into place?

Bottom of the boiler was clean.

I would guess that the reset button being faulty is a fair bet. Mine cuts out very quickly at 83C if there is gunk adhering to the plate during the sparging / heating to boiling stage. So maybe mine is a bit sensitive and yours was the opposite.

FWIW, Friday's brew was GF #68, with the first being 13 March 2016.

 

[welly3]

Another evening, another grainfather brew. I will have to take it gently as it's almost on its way out, apparently.



Tasty beer to get the creative juices flowing.



"One day son, you'll be a big fermenter just like your mum and dad!"



Tucked away for the night with its midnight snack of pacific ale yeast. (yes, the blow off tube did go into a jug of starsan)

 

[foxy]

Agree with Slid what I would consider is the knock off switch could have been faulty, I would be trying to buy a new body and rewire everything back in, Magicalpancake did this with his Ace.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

It's the first time I have heard you can replaced the body, £250 plus postage. :shock:

https://www.home-brew-hopshop.co.uk...-replacement-boiler-body-pump-with-cover.html

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[welly3]

That's not too bad. I've got a spare controller from when I bought the new grainfather connect controller. So that'd basically be a "grainbrother" for 250 quid. Although would need the grain basket as well, thinking about it. Hmm.