Some of you may not be aware that I’ve got a bit of a thang for kombucha. If you missed this post, you should definitely read it (it’s a l-o-v-e story)! No, really… read it!
don’t judge me… you will fall in love too!
Now that you’re up to speed on my issues infatuation, let me give you an update on how me and my CB (continuous brew) system have been getting along. Let me sum it up with this: BEST PURCHASE EVER! It was a bit of an investment, but I am soooooo glad that I bought it!
I know, I know… you can totally brew kombucha on the cheap. You can grow your on SCOBY and brew in small batches (just Google it) and you don’t need to buy this set up that I bought. Check out this great DIY guide and recipe. But, let me tell you why I bit the bullet and ponied up my cash for the CB system:
- It’s way cheaper. If you are someone who is forking over 4 bucks per bottle at the store (like I was), you will now be paying pennies for a bottle. Literally pennies. I’ve almost paid for the system with the money I’ve saved in the two months that I’ve been brewing my own. Saving $4 or more (depending on how much you drink) per day adds up pretty darn fast.
- We drink a lot of kombucha. A lot. In addition to my personal kombucha obsession, my husband and 2 out of my 3 kids are also hooked. (My 4 year old is the only hold out. She doesn’t like “boocha”, (as she calls it). I don’t think I could keep up with the demand. With this method, I can bottle a gallon (that’d be 8 16 oz. bottles) every 2 days. That gives us each 1 bottle per day.
- I am a freak about clutter. I can barely tolerate the things that I must have sitting on my counter. If you add to that a bunch of random bottles from batch brewing, I might just lose my mind. Seriously. The CB system is neat and tidy. (Note: I wish I had ordered the brewing tee to cover up heat strip.)
- It is super easy. Can you boil water? That’s literally the only skill you need. Well, I take that back. You also need to be able to pour your gallon of tea into the brewer without making a mess. This happened to me once (ie: not being careful when pouring into the brewer)… but it need not happen to you. Take the extra 2 seconds to pour carefully.
- Great customer service. Hannah (of Kombucha Kamp) will answer any questions that you might have about kombucha or brewing. I emailed her a couple of times before I purchased and she answered promptly on each occassion. Her site is a wealth of information.
Do you brew your own? What are you waiting for? Get after it… you can boil water, right?
Shared at: Fight Back Friday, Sunday School, Monday Mania, Fat Tuesday, Kombucha Challenge
I’ve yet to try kombucha but I am absolutely LOVING making water kefir to get the probiotics (and milk kefir too, but totally different)
I just got the CB system (from Kombucha Kamp) and started my first brew on Saturday. Of course here in MD, it’s gotten cooler so I think my first batch may take longer then expected. I’m so excited also. Tomorrow is day 5 and I’m going to “test” it.
I’m obsessed with Kombucha and I agree that this system will save me a ton!
I’m in MD too Brooke. So disgusted with this weather! I’m itching to get my garden in.
Let us know how your first batch turns out! I don’t need quite so large a brew so I am currently trying to grow my own . . . not going so well. Maybe it’s the weather?
Jen,
I will definitely keep you posted how it turns out.
I just messaged you. It probably is the weather here. I broke down and turned on the heat this week (just for my brew actually).
I found a quality ceramic water cooler and set up my continuous brew much cheaper (no heat band). I haven’t tended it in a while, so I have a mammoth scoby in there right now that needs cleared out. I really could use Hannah’s tutorial on managing CB.
I’ve been cbing for about 2 months. I had been batch brewing for a couple months before that and just sort of morphed into cb. I bought a 2.5 gallon ceramic water dispenser and put it on one of those wheeled plant caddys so I can roll it around my counter as I need it. I don’t use a heating pad. We brew and use about 3 gallons per week. In order to brew more I keep a separate 1 gallon batch that I add to my cb every 5 days or so. I add tea as I draw off, but drink more than my current system holds so adding in the separate batch keeps it brewing faster. Anyone who is hesitant to try brewing — you really can’t screw it up! You don’t need the kit system, but it can give you a lot of confidence when starting out and makes it easier for set-up. However, you certainly don’t have to buy a kit, especially if you know someone who brews and is willing to give you a scoby. It’s SO worth it!
Good tips Linda! You definitely don’t have to buy a kit… but I don’t know anyone who brews kombucha (or even knows what it is!)… and I wanted it to be fool-proof! And the kit is definitely fool-proof… this fool proved that!
I didn’t know anyone who brewed, so purchased a scoby online for $20 after shipping. I know some people advertise scobies on Craigslist, but I wasn’t comfortable with that route. I got a 1 gallon jar and read a lot of websites and really, it’s EASY, but doing anything for the first time can leave you feeling uncertain. (Especially when scobies are so weird and ugly and you just don’t know if they’re okay… yes, they’re okay!) Since starting, I discovered the “grow your own scoby” method and tried it to see if it works — it works great and is much cheaper than buying one. I just want everybody to know that you don’t have to spend a lot to become a brewer, and you too can get the benefits of booch without making a large investment.
Linda, I am actually trying to grow a scoby from an original GT’s. It’s not working really well. I think you are correct to be wary of buying scobies from just anywhere. We fully trust Hannah @Kombucha Kamp and I will likely be purchasing a scoby from her instead of trying to be cheap about it with the store bought version. You don’t have to buy a full CBS. I don’t need one for just me and my hubs. But I do need a better scoby starter for sure. http://www.kombuchakamp.com/11044-14.html
Jen — the scoby I grew from a store bought kombucha took about 6-8 weeks before it got very substantial. I think it would have helped if I had fed it more tea; I just poured the store bought bottle into a jar and let it sit. It was also in winter, so it may take less time if it’s warmer. Good luck!
I grew my scoby from GTs Kombucha last June. It worked very well. I have a very healthy group of scobies now that I have shared from 3 times. It does work. Look for a bottle of unflavored raw kombucha that has yeasties floating around. Not to downplay Hannah, though, as she is great and her site has given me lots of education.
Is there anything special you have to do to a standard water cooler ceramic vessel for it to be a Continuous Brew system? Put a screen in front of the spiget? Also, how do you know when to take the mother scoby out? When you share a scoby do you just take a piece of it? Thanks for your input ! (Trying to make cb without the pre-pkg investment).
You don’t have to do anything special to it except cover the top with breathable fabric. Just wash the vessel with distilled white vinegar and rinse. I only take my scoby out when I clean it– about every 4 months or so. I trim it and give pieces away or they can compost as well. I’ve even seen recipes for scoby candy and jerky!