What equipment do you need to brew kombucha?

You&#;d like to make homemade kombucha, but don&#;t know what brewing equipment to choose? In this article, find out which material is a must for making kombucha, which is optional, and which to avoid.

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To make homemade kombucha, you&#;ll need at least the following supplies:

• A wide mouth jar
• A cloth that allows oxygen to circulate (plus the rubber band to secure it)
• Pressure resistant bottles

Other kombucha making supplies can also be used. They are, however, optional, or even already in your kitchen!

Psst, you can also get our kombucha brewing kit! And check out all our equipment.

Kombucha Brewing Kit

From $42.69

Making homemade kombucha is simple, easy, and inexpensive!

Save time with our all-in-one homemade kombucha kit &#; a quality choice for an easy start!

Which Brewing Vessel to Use to Make Kombucha?

The must-have for your kombucha adventure? 1 gallon (3.8 litre) glass jar with a wide opening.

Why? The volume is ideal, and the wide opening is the key to optimal oxygenation, which is necessary for healthy kombucha!

What Material Should My Kombucha Brewing Vessel Be Made Of?

There are several options:

• Glass: Transparent, easy to clean, and safe, it&#;s the undisputed winner.
• Plastic: Opt only for food-grade, high-density plastic (HDPE), like the plastic boilers used in the food industry.
• Stainless steel: Used by the pros! Professional kombucha makers love stainless steel tanks (or vessels).

1 Gallon Fermenting Glass Jar

$27.50 - $32.29

Simplify your homemade fermentation production with this high-quality 1 gallon fermenting glass jar, with or without airlock!

&#; Let&#;s bust one metal myth!

We often hear that kombucha and metal don&#;t mix. Not true! Stainless steel, which is commonly used in kitchens, is perfectly resistant to contact with kombucha. So don&#;t hesitate to use your stainless steel utensils (colander, spoon, knife)!

What Brewing Vessels to Avoid?

• Narrow mouth containers: Kombucha will not get enough oxygen from these containers.
• Old ceramic jars: Many jars contain lead, which is dangerous for your health. What&#;s more, their fragility is legendary.

Which Fabric to Cover Kombucha?

Kombucha needs oxygen to ferment! Therefore, it&#;s essential to cover the opening of the jar with a cloth. Not only does this allow good oxygenation, which is essential for fermentation, but it also protects your precious beverage from enemies such as fruit flies, as well as debris and dust.

Choose a fine mesh fabric: a dishcloth, a napkin, an old (but clean!) sweater, or a fine cotton fabric embroidered with our beautiful logo &#;.

Fermentation Cloth Cover With Rubber Bands

$5.00

This lovely cotton cover is an ideal kombucha jar cover and also works as a general fermentation cloth cover.

Kombucha Cover Fabrics to Avoid

• Etamine (cheesecloth): The mesh, which is too large, allows fruit flies to sneak into your jar&#; Horrifying! &#;&#;
• Coffee filters: They don&#;t allow for proper aeration.

Which Bottles for Bottling Kombucha?

You&#;ve brewed a delicious kombucha and now it&#;s time to bottle it. But which bottle should you choose?

Want more information on kombucha brewing equipment? Feel free to contact us.

To ensure that your kombucha is fizzy and keeps well, you need a bottle that is:

• Hermetically sealed: To trap bubbles and create fizz.
• Pressure resistant: To avoid explosion&#;

The best kombucha bottles are:

• Swing top bottles: These bottles ensure long-term durability and give your kombucha a professional look.
• &#;Grolsch&#; type beer bottles: Strong and airtight, they are economical and retain the fizz well.
• Carbonated beverage bottles: An economical and practical choice!

750ml Swing Top Glass Bottles (Case of 12)

$51.90 $58.90

Effortlessly store and carbonate your fermented beverages with these foolproof swing-top glass bottles!

Kombucha Bottles to Avoid:

• Decorative bottles: They may look pretty, but they don&#;t withstand pressure.
• Mason type glass jars: They don&#;t withstand pressure.
• Old kombucha bottles with broken seals: They may be less airtight and are not ideal in the long term.

Optional Accessories

Beyond the essential supplies, other accessories can make your kombucha-making experience even more enjoyable and convenient. Let&#;s discover them!

&#; For Tea Making

• Tea ball/infuser: Useful if you&#;re using loose tea. Choose one with fine mesh to limit tea debris. You can also use a small cotton bag or compostable tea sachets.

&#; For Filtering and Bottling

• Sieve or filter: A fine mesh sieve is useful for filtering kombucha before drinking. It can be made of metal or nylon. A coffee filter or, better still, a nylon filter bag, can be very handy.
• Racking cane: A racking cane (auto siphon) helps prevent transferring yeast sediment from the bottom of your fermentation jar when bottling.
• Metal or plastic funnel to properly pour your kombucha into the bottles. Opt for a funnel with a built-in filter to remove any impurities.

Stainless Steel Funnel With Strainer

$14.30

Transferring your fermented beverages and other liquids into a container has never been easier than with this stainless steel funnel with a strainer!

&#;&#; For Monitoring Fermentation

• Self-adhesive thermometer: Allows you to see the fermentation temperature at a glance. We recommend fermentation between 18 and 30°C.
• Heating mat: Useful in winter to warm up kombucha that is too cold.
• Refractometer: Used to determine residual sugar content. Learn how to calculate the sugar in your kombucha.
• pH paper or pH meter: These can be useful for measuring acidity and ensuring a safe pH level for your kombucha. However, they are optional for domestic use.

Brix Refractometer (Sugar Tester)

$44.50

An affordable and accurate Brix refractometer to measure the sugar content of your fermentations, such as kombucha!

&#; For Cleaning

• Brewery wash: A soap specially designed to remove stubborn residues in bottles. Allow to work, then rinse. Highly effective.
• Long, flexible brush: ideal for cleaning the inside of bottles. It reaches difficult nooks and crannies and scrubs narrow necks for a thorough clean.
• Dish soap: An affordable and accessible option for cleaning bottles. Shake hard, and allow to work. Does not clean thoroughly.

PBW Cleaner (Powdered Brewery Wash)

$13.90

Powdered Brewery Wash, or PBW cleaner, is a must for any fermenter that wants to improve their equipment cleaning!

Get Started!

• Discover our kombucha brewing kit
• Buy materials to make your own kombucha
• Complete guide to making your own kombucha
• All our homemade kombucha recipes

So, you have decide that you like the idea of making kombucha at home, but not sure exactly what you'll need.

Good news! Making kombucha at home requires only two, very simple supplies: a brewing vessel and cover. It's that simple!

There are a few other supplies that can come in handy for brewing, but aside from these two items, everything else is optional. Keep in mind the below tips when picking out a container and cover and you'll be ready to make homemade kombucha in no time.

Material Options: What to Use

• Glass. Glass is the best option for brewing kombucha. Not only will it not react to the acidity of the brew, it doesn't scratch easily or contain chemicals such as BPA. You will need something that is at least 1.5L in size but 2L or larger is better.  For continuous brew systems a larger glass jar with tap is needed. Be sure the spigot inside the jar is plastic, not metal, as metal can damage the kombucha SCOBY. This Kombucha Brewing Jar by Mortier Pilon is specially designed for continuous kombucha brewing and even includes a lid with a re-writable label to make it easy to keep track of your batches and they look really retro and cool. Please do remember that glass jars should not be sterilized with heat as generally speaking the jars with the taps are NOT suitable for hot liquids.
• Plastic. Plastic is cheap and easy but there are cautions if you are using plastic. Only certain types of plastic are suitable for brewing kombucha due to the acidity of the brew. All the plastic containers we sell are suitable. Only BPA free Polypropylene is safe to use. Plastic is generally cheaper than glass but you do need to ensure that it does not become scratched or crack and they are sometimes not as strong (and they nearly always don't look quite as nice!)
• Porcelain. Porcelain is generally safe for brewing kombucha, as long as it is food-grade, all our porcelain vessels are food grade and have a lead free glaze. Avoid porcelain pieces such as vases or decorative pottery that are not food-grade and check any check to make sure the glaze is food-grade to prevent potential contact with lead.

Material Options: What to avoid

• Crystal. Because crystal contains lead you should never use crystal to brew kombucha.
• Metal. Metal is generally detrimental to kombucha. The only possible exception is stainless steel. Because it is relatively inert, some brewers feel it is a reasonable alternative to glass however the quality of the stainless steel and if it is solid or plated are all important factors to consider. We recommend that you steer clear of stainless steel as there are too many pitfalls and potential issues.

What Size?

The size on the whole is not important so long as it is big enough to hold all the ingredients while maintaining the correct ratio's and leaves room at the top for the brew to bubble and breathe (at least an inch but more if possible)

When choosing a container size, consider that kombucha brewing time is 7 to 30 days. The batch size should be large enough to provide kombucha for drinking plus starter tea needed for the next batch.

You do also need to consider the neck size as you need to be able to get your hand in and out to remove and pop in the scoby so a narrow neck is no good. Also the surface area at the top will influence brew speed. the larger the surface are the faster it will brew however If your kombucha gets fermenting too quickly, the batch may become too vinegary in flavour. In short, be aware that the size of the surface area may affect how fast your kombucha ferments, and be ready to adjust you fermentation time accordingly.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website professional beer brewing equipment.