nathanvonbeerenstein
Well-Known Member
Hey guys, thought I’d chuck my preliminary thoughts up after just picking up my new 40L guten after selling my Robobrew v3.
Why I upgraded: bigger capacity (+5L), better circuit components and reliability, wider and less tall( better recirculation and boiloff), build quality, introductory price ($380, and sold my RB3 for $300 without the ss coil).
Initial thoughts:
-for essentially the same thing, the Guten has MUCH better build quality than the RB3. No sharp edges, MIRROR finish, good machining, rolled edges
-I don’t like the pump inlet has no filter though, might be a bitch for whirlpooling (may eventually upgrade the pump since there seems to be room and rought the tap port to the pump instead so I can put a helix on the 1/2 thread). The included bazooka tube is almost useless as a filter.
Also a little kinked and shoddy:
-I can see why the guten switches would be a problem
-Malt pipe centre tube seems more rigid and less likely to fall off mid-brew than the RB3
-no identifiable compliance numbers on the Guten (I couldn’t care less)
-guten panel shows ‘boiling’ instead of having to just put it on an unobtainable number like 110*c you had to do with RB3
View attachment 113542
Also makes audible noises and beeps when pressing buttons
-calibrated right out of the box (for me anyway)View attachment 113543
-variable powers nice, would be handy for boiling/distilling small volumes (like spirit runs)
-guten has a PCB across port and
-guten included chiller probably still shit but more compact and sits lower than the RB3 one, and the arms hang next to each other rather than either side of the kettle
-guten recirculation arm is short and sharp with a nice angle so you lose less heat, takes less space, and gets a nice top of grain bed whirlpool/homengenisation going which would help fight channeling and uneven temps throughout mash (assuming all else goes well)
-guten measurements are in 5l increments and by all reports are in accurate as hell
-guten hook brackets seem less secured too - will be very careful with a full wet basket!
-no rusting on malt pipe seams like I had on my RB3
However, bottom screen is almost too small and almost pops through:View attachment 113538 its literally hanging on by less than 1mm
-would be nice if guten had a notch in the centre of the handle so it stays balanced if you’re using a pulley system, it does have end notches though so won’t come off the handle
-lid on guten fits nicer and has far more practical knobs than the RB3.
BUT! Hard to remove lid when the arm’s attached and removes any and all efficacy of the arms nice angle (goes directly into middle..?)
View attachment 113539
RB was nice in that you could lift the lid and rest it on the square arm to inspect/adjust pipe/stir mash without turning everything off and disconnecting
RB was also better in that you could attach some silicone hose and coil it on top of grain bed, attach a whirlpool arm with a short bit of silicone tube and also was better for recirculating cleaning water and washing down the sides with the hose.
The RB3 pipe was multi-component though and did come loose on a couple of occasions at the joints and bracketsView attachment 113540View attachment 113541
I dremeled off the little tab that was interfering with the lid: did shit all hahaView attachment 113544
With all that said, would I buy the guten over the RB3? Yes. Even at the non-introductory price.
Would I sell my working RB3 for a Guten? Probably yes again. Worth it if build quality/finish, more features of the controller (some are gimmicky though), an extra 5 litres capacity are important for you.
The RB3 is still an excellent machine though and you will be happy with both, but I chose and like the Guten more even before using it.
Suggested improvements/mods:
-some sort of pump inlet filter or false bottom (had issues with the temp probe reading wrong temps under the false bottom during chilling though even with whirlpooling (reading 45 instead of 17). Will soon install a helix and rerout pump input from tap.
-better chiller.
-better interaction between lid and recirculation arm.
Why I upgraded: bigger capacity (+5L), better circuit components and reliability, wider and less tall( better recirculation and boiloff), build quality, introductory price ($380, and sold my RB3 for $300 without the ss coil).
Initial thoughts:
-for essentially the same thing, the Guten has MUCH better build quality than the RB3. No sharp edges, MIRROR finish, good machining, rolled edges
-I don’t like the pump inlet has no filter though, might be a bitch for whirlpooling (may eventually upgrade the pump since there seems to be room and rought the tap port to the pump instead so I can put a helix on the 1/2 thread). The included bazooka tube is almost useless as a filter.
Also a little kinked and shoddy:
-I can see why the guten switches would be a problem
-Malt pipe centre tube seems more rigid and less likely to fall off mid-brew than the RB3
-no identifiable compliance numbers on the Guten (I couldn’t care less)
-guten panel shows ‘boiling’ instead of having to just put it on an unobtainable number like 110*c you had to do with RB3
View attachment 113542
Also makes audible noises and beeps when pressing buttons
-calibrated right out of the box (for me anyway)View attachment 113543
-variable powers nice, would be handy for boiling/distilling small volumes (like spirit runs)
-guten has a PCB across port and
-guten included chiller probably still shit but more compact and sits lower than the RB3 one, and the arms hang next to each other rather than either side of the kettle
-guten recirculation arm is short and sharp with a nice angle so you lose less heat, takes less space, and gets a nice top of grain bed whirlpool/homengenisation going which would help fight channeling and uneven temps throughout mash (assuming all else goes well)
-guten measurements are in 5l increments and by all reports are in accurate as hell
-guten hook brackets seem less secured too - will be very careful with a full wet basket!
-no rusting on malt pipe seams like I had on my RB3
However, bottom screen is almost too small and almost pops through:View attachment 113538 its literally hanging on by less than 1mm
-would be nice if guten had a notch in the centre of the handle so it stays balanced if you’re using a pulley system, it does have end notches though so won’t come off the handle
-lid on guten fits nicer and has far more practical knobs than the RB3.
BUT! Hard to remove lid when the arm’s attached and removes any and all efficacy of the arms nice angle (goes directly into middle..?)
RB was nice in that you could lift the lid and rest it on the square arm to inspect/adjust pipe/stir mash without turning everything off and disconnecting
RB was also better in that you could attach some silicone hose and coil it on top of grain bed, attach a whirlpool arm with a short bit of silicone tube and also was better for recirculating cleaning water and washing down the sides with the hose.
The RB3 pipe was multi-component though and did come loose on a couple of occasions at the joints and bracketsView attachment 113540View attachment 113541
I dremeled off the little tab that was interfering with the lid: did shit all hahaView attachment 113544
With all that said, would I buy the guten over the RB3? Yes. Even at the non-introductory price.
Would I sell my working RB3 for a Guten? Probably yes again. Worth it if build quality/finish, more features of the controller (some are gimmicky though), an extra 5 litres capacity are important for you.
The RB3 is still an excellent machine though and you will be happy with both, but I chose and like the Guten more even before using it.
Suggested improvements/mods:
-some sort of pump inlet filter or false bottom (had issues with the temp probe reading wrong temps under the false bottom during chilling though even with whirlpooling (reading 45 instead of 17). Will soon install a helix and rerout pump input from tap.
-better chiller.
-better interaction between lid and recirculation arm.
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