10 Best Wort Chillers of 2023: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Wort chillers are excellent if you want to cut the time for cooling your brew, whether at home or not. But it is also essential for larger batches as the best time for fermentation is right after boiling the wort.

So, there is no time to waste if you want the best results. And with the best wort chillers, it is not only more convenient but also much easier and of course faster. But understanding what will be the best for you is of paramount importance.

Top 5 Best Wort Chillers: Editor Recommended

ImageProductRatingPrice
Our Pick1
NY_Brew_Supply_W3850-CV-removebg-preview
NY Brew Supply W3850-CV

10
2
Northern_Brewer_-_Silver_Serpent-removebg-preview
Northern Brewer – Silver Serpent

10
3
HFS_R__Homebrew_Beer_Wort_Chiller-removebg-preview
HFS(R) Homebrew Beer Wort Chiller

10
4
E.C._Kraus-HOZQ8-1578_Immersion_Wort_Chiller-removebg-preview
E.C. Kraus-HOZQ8-1578 Immersion Wort Chiller

10
5
NY Brew Supply - copper wort chiller
NY Brew Supply – copper wort chiller

9

And that is why we are here to tell you all you need to know and understand about the wort chiller. So, continue reading if you have settled your mind on finding that perfect wort chiller for you!

10 Best Wort Chillers Reviews:

Our research has boiled it down to some of the best in the massive market of wort chillers. Do consider reading through and checking them out!

1. NY Brew Supply copper wort chiller, 3/8″ x 50′

1. NY Brew Supply copper wort chiller
  • 50′ Copper Tubing
  • 24″ Overall Height
  • 9″ Coil Diameter
  • 8″ Coil Height

Whether you are new to brewing and beer making or a veteran, you will love this one! Its simple and straightforward design and comparatively affordable price make it an attractive wort chiller.

This chiller has up to 50 feet long copper tubing, which is around twice the amount compared to their 3/8 standard chiller. So, it can cool much faster, even for larger batches, making things more convenient.

Moreover, its height is long enough that it covers up to the lip of a keg kettle. This helps to speed things even faster with more efficiency. And thanks to that, you can chill up to a 15-gallon or 56-liter large batch!

You can also do it with a small batch of 5 gallons or 19 liters of wort chilling. It has vinyl tubes that pass the water through up to the copper coils in order to cool the brew. The coil has a diameter of around nine inches.

However, this does mean that the copper wort chiller works depending on the water’s temperature flowing inside it. But as long as you can maintain a cool water flow, it can keep the brew chill consistently without fail.

Besides that, it uses brass for the hose adapter. Overall, it does an amazing job for the price at an efficient speed that will surely impress you without breaking the bank.

Pros

  • Suitable for both newbies and veterans
  • Covers up to the lip of a keg kettle
  • Can chill up to a large 15-gallon batch
  • Maintains cool temperature consistently
  • Excellent performance for the price

Cons

  • The copper stems are a bit shorter than advertised
  • Connectors may leak sometimes

2. Cold break 12.5′ Wort Chiller, 3/8″, 100% Pure USA Copper, 15′ Vinyl Tubing

2. Cold break 12.5%E2%80%B2 Wort Chiller
  • 12. 5-foot kitchen copper wort chiller. Designed for 2-3 gallon…
  • Made in Michigan with 100% pure 3/8-inch OD USA Copper tubing
  • 15 feet of vinyl tubing – (2) 4-foot lengths
  • Strong stainless steel hose clamps

Home brewing is an excellent way of cheaply making beer, whether for commercial reasons or not. And for that purpose, we recommend this wort chiller from Cold Breaker!

It can typically make smaller batches of 2 to 3 gallons or around 11 liters. This beer coil chiller is perfect for a basic brewing kit and to make convenient and faster batches at home.

The copper tubing has 3/8 inches OD and is 100% pure. So, you are getting your money’s worth with this high-quality pure copper homebrew chiller. Its coil measures 6.75 inches in diameter with a good inlet or outlet height of around 13.5 inches.

Besides that, the hose has a female garden hose fitting and is totally lead-free and safe. It also has stainless steel clamps that are strong and durable, providing leak-free performance.

However, to avoid any cases of leakage, the manufacturer advises checking the hose clamps for any leaks every time before use. The right time to get the tightest and most secure seal is to tighten the hose when the vinyl tube is still warm.

This will give you the most out of this home brewer. The individual two vinyl tubings are 4 feet long, with a total tubing of 8 feet!

Pros

  • 100% pure copper home wort chiller
  • Makes up to 3-gallon batches
  • The stainless steel hose is lead-free and safe
  • Sports a height of 13.5 inches
  • Offers two 4 feet long vinyl tubes

Cons

  • May require the need to replace the hose pipe clamps
  • Takes a longer time to cool than most copper chillers

3. Home Brew Stuff Super WC-25

3. Home Brew Stuff Super WC 25 1
  • Made in the USA
  • 3/8″ copper, 25′ length
  • 6″ inlet and outlet hoses
  • Improves the clarity of your beer and helps separate cold break

Copper has up to 28 times more thermal conductivity than stainless steel. So, when it comes to wort chillers, it is easy to see why more people prefer it. And if you want this efficiency in your home and at a great price, then look no further!

This copper coil is 25 feet tall, making it an excellent chiller for those who want to cool their home brew at a fast and efficient speed. The coil or copper tubing is a typical 3/8 inches.

Besides, its immersion-style design helps to keep the coils raised in the kettle to provide the highest performance to the process. Not only that, but it also helps in reducing any chance of infection or contamination of the wort.

However, that is not the only impressive factor about it! While it can chill up to a 5-gallon or 19-liter batch, the process doesn’t take much time at all. It can reduce the temperature from 190 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes!

Plus, it ensures no waste of water with a balanced flow rate and heat transfer, thanks to the copper length and design. All of this gives it the well-deserved reputation of being the best immersion chiller, among others.

Additionally, the outlet and inlet hoses are about 6 inches in length. Along with that, its pure copper tubing helps to provide additional imparting trace minerals, which in the end, ensures the preservation of the beer flavor.

Pros

  • Chills 5-gallon batches within 20 minutes
  • Helps to retain the flavor of the beer
  • Reduces any chance of infection or contamination of the wort
  • Cheap price point
  • Offers a 25 feet tall copper tubing

Cons

  • The water pressure can pop off the hose adapter

4. HFS(R) Homebrew Beer Wort Chiller (7.5” 2.9”/30 plate, 3/4″ x 1/2″ NPT)

4. HFSR Homebrew Beer Wort Chiller 1
  • 304 Stainless with 99.9% Copper Brazing
  • 2.9″W x 7.5″L x 30 Plates (3.5″H) — 1/2″NPT Wort Fitting x 3/4″ NPT…
  • -321F to 392F Temperature Range – Max PSI 145
  • Cools 10 gallon batches from 212F to 75F in 10 minutes

If you are looking for a super-efficient and fast wort chiller, then you can’t miss this one! It is a plate chiller, so it has plates instead of copper tubings or coils, and this design helps in cooling impressively fast.

This CE-certified and UL-standard-listed chiller has a build of premium grade 304 stainless steel with 99.9% copper brazing. It ensures a corrosion-free, safe brew chilling with no chance of any harmful chemical transfer.

As the cold water runs through each of the plates, it covers a maximum surface area than other styles, thus providing the fastest cooling you could imagine! It helps the wort reach a safe fermenting temperature than any immersion wort chiller.

The plate chillers, 30 in total, measure around 2.9 inches in width and 7.5 inches in length. But you can choose to customize it by getting the number of plates you want or need for your chiller.

Besides that, with a standard garden hose, it has a water-in and water-out fitting of ¾ inches. Along with that, the wort connector fittings are exactly ½ inches NPT. And with the smart utilization of the closed-loop cold water pump system, you can also save water!

The plating is clearly superior to the popular copper coils and leaves the ice bath method to dust. It takes only 10 minutes to cool a 10-gallon or 37.8-liter large batch from 212 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros

  • Made with CE-certified and UL-standard-listed materials
  • Ensures safe cooling with no transfer of harmful chemicals
  • Provides the fastest cooling possible
  • Possible to order just the number of plates required
  • Can be used with a pump

Cons

  • Shows clogging issues sometimes
  • Small; takes two turns to cool a 5-gallon batch with the 30-plate size

5. Northern Brewer – Copperhead Copper Immersion Wort Chiller

5. Northern Brewer %E2%80%93 Copperhead Copper Immersion Wort Chiller
  • The copper brother to our customer favorite Silver Serpent, the sleek…
  • Simply drop your clean chiller into the kettle a few minutes before…
  • Brew with peace of mind like never before. Drop-angle connections keep…
  • Standard garden hose connection allows for brewing outside or connects…

Here is another great option for you if you trust immersion chillers the most and you weren’t satisfied with the previous ones. Its standard copper coil construction, along with an affordable price, gives it the spot on our list.

The Copperhead has a 25 feet tall length of pure copper coil, which is quite appropriate for home brewers. And with its quality and belonging to the same family as the popular Silver Serpent, it has a very fast cooling mechanism compared to its size.

Along with that, thanks to its drop-angle style connections, you don’t have to worry about any kind of contamination. This also includes any surprise leakage of water entering the brew, as the design ensures it stays out of the system and the kettle.

Moreover, you don’t even have to sanitize the chiller. All you need to do is to make sure you place it inside the kettle a couple of minutes before the boiling of the brew ends. Other than that, you can rest about any pollutants or contamination occurring through it.

Besides, because of its typical standard garden hose for connection, you can conveniently brew outside or even connect it to a laundry sink faucet to make the most out of the chilling system and water source.

To top it all, it comes fully assembled at your doorstep, so you can start using it on the get-go! This includes the hose clamps, tubing, and barbed fittings as well.

Pros

  • Ensures surprise leakages don’t enter the brew
  • Offers relatively faster cooling than most of its competitors of the same size
  • Possible to brew outside
  • Comes fully assembled at your doorstep
  • Doesn’t require extra sanitization before use

Cons

  • Shows leakage problems

6. Northern Brewer – Silver Serpent Stainless Steel Immersion Wort Chiller

6. Northern Brewer %E2%80%93 Silver Serpent Stainless Steel Immersion Wort Chiller
  • A simple tweak, adding barbed fittings and a drop-angle to our…
  • Simply drop your clean chiller into the kettle a few minutes before…
  • Brew with peace of mind like never before. Drop-angle connections keep…
  • Standard garden hose connection allows for brewing outside or connects…

If you are reading through, we briefly mentioned this popular little guy in the product review above. So, let us get into the details that make it so preferred among consumers.

It is the first released product among the two and shares pretty much every quality with its brother Copperhead. But with its durable and sturdy quality, it still manages to shine on its own.

Thanks to the clever and simple tweak of the barbed fittings and drop-angle, it manages to spill zero leakage into the kettle or brew! This gives this beer brewing chiller the reputation and name as the most sanitary immersion chiller on the market!

Besides, the barbed fittings and tubings also come fully assembled and ready to use. So, you don’t need to spend your time reading the manual and having to go through the hassle of putting it in place.

The product measures about 9 inches in width and 16 inches in height to the bend. So, it is a pretty basic or standard chiller for home brews that is safe and easy. Alongside, its tubing is also a standard 3/8 ID.

Among the two versions, the most significant difference is pretty much the material. So, when it comes down to preference, if you want a great standard and efficient brew chiller at home, then this is it!

Pros

  • Known as the most sanitary immersion chiller on the market
  • An excellent alternative to copper immersion chillers
  • Manages to spill zero leakage into the kettle or brew
  • Safe from contamination
  • Comes pre-assembled

Cons

  • May leak with prolonged use

7. HomeBrewStuff Brew Supply AZ-WCF25-D Deluxe

7. HomeBrewStuff Brew Supply AZ WCF25 D
  • 25′ of 3/8″ Copper Tubing
  • 14″ Overall Length
  • 7″ Coil Height
  • 13″ Coil Diameter

Since most wort chillers get brittle over time with use, if you are planning to use it for a long time without having to get a new one, then it is time to invest a bit more for the benefit in the long run.

And this deluxe model from the company is one we highly recommend! It has a unique soldered copper design, which gives it the high durability and sturdiness that you can bet will not lose over time.

Other than that, it gives you the option to adjust the position and angle of the output and input hoses, thanks to its heavy-duty brass fittings. This ensures a total leak-free secure connection while also adding to the chiller’s overall high quality and durability.

Thanks to these brass fittings, you can connect to your cold water sources more easily and conveniently by just using your garden hose connection. The hose is 5/8 inches in size, which is more sturdy and durable than any standard garden hose design.

Besides that, its soldered copper tubing has 3/8 inches OD and is 25 feet long unraveled. This ensures a more efficient heat transfer than most you can find on the market.

So, this gives this wort chiller counter flow an overall length of 14 inches and a coil height of 7 inches. Along with that, the coil has a diameter of 13 inches.

Pros

  • Soldered copper tubing; doesn’t turn brittle over time
  • Sports a durable brass fittings hose connection
  • Made of premium durable quality materials
  • Comes with an adjustable angle and position of hose input and output
  • Long-lasting

Cons

  • Minor leaking issues

8. Exchilerator Maxx Ready To Brew Counter Flow

8. Exchilerator Maxx Ready To Brew Counter Flow
  • EASY TO USE – FAST CLEAN UP. The Maxx is for a brewer with a pump,…
  • USES FDA COMPLIANT copper, PEX, stainless collars, lead-free solder…
  • READY TO BREW MANIFOLD INCLUDED temp gauge, 1/2″ s/steel tee, 1/2″…
  • 5 GALLONS 5 MINUTES 5 YEAR WARRANTY. YOU DESERVE THE QUALITY AND…

One of the most expensive and high-end ones on the list, it is a counterflow wort chiller. This means it runs cold water through while its alternating tubes run the hot brew for the perfect, consistent cooling.

It is also a heavy-duty chiller, so you can use a water pump to supply water to get faster and more efficient cooling, other than using tap water. This makes it possible to cool a 5-gallon or 19-liter batch within 5 minutes!

Along with that, all the materials used are FDA-compliant, starting from copper, stainless collars, and PEX. The brass fittings and solder are lead-free and safe as well, making it the best counterflow wort chiller for home brewing.

Besides that, the ferrule and nut fittings have been soldered skillfully through its entire length. So, while other counterflow wort chillers require constant sanitization, it ensures zero contamination and no areas to sprout infections, which means less sanitization and worry.

Moreover, with the PEX tubing and the non-metallic ten-gauge wire placed in a co-helical manner around the inner copper tubes, it helps to keep it in the center to provide an even all-around 360 degrees of cooling.

Thus, you are getting the maximum efficiency in cooling for a fast and perfectly chilled brew ready for fermentation. The whole system is easy to clean using hot water as well. But make sure to dry it thoroughly before use.

Pros

  • Cools 5-gallon batch within 5 minutes
  • Prevents contaminations and infections
  • Provides an even 360 degrees of cooling
  • Easy to clean
  • Uses safe and FDA-compliant materials

Cons

  • The connections may become loose

9. NY Brew Supply AZ-W1250-SG

9. NY Brew Supply AZ W1250 SG
  • 24 Inch to top of risers
  • 50′ Stainless Steel Tubing
  • 24″ Overall Height
  • 10″ Coil Diameter

While copper is clearly favored, stainless steel is also a great material for your wort cooler. And if you are looking for one with commercial use in mind, then you should definitely check this one out!

It comes with a 50 feet long stainless steel tubing with an outside diameter or OD of ½ inches. This length is great for using keg kettles and cooling larger batches.

The company recommends using a large batch from 10 to 20 gallons or 38 to 76 liters. But you can also use it for smaller batches, like a 5-gallon full boil, making it a truly versatile immersion chiller.

Not only that, thanks to its tall overall height of 24 inches of stainless steel, it can bring the temperature of the brew down from the boiling point in minutes. Thus, it makes it a quick and efficient way of chilling your worts.

Besides that, you can choose between a standard ½ inches or 3/8 inches for the outer diameter. So, you are getting options to choose from depending on your requirements and preference. You can also change or replace the fittings if necessary.

Moreover, the stainless steel is sturdy and solid and will last you for a long time without getting brittle over time. The coil height is around 12 to 13 inches with a diameter of 10 inches.

Pros

  • Durable and versatile
  • Possible to chill both large and small batches
  • Comes with two tubing OD options
  • Can replace the fittings
  • Suitable for use in a keg kettle

Cons

  • The coil may arrive a bit leaning toward one side

10. Blichmann Therminator, Beer Wort Chiller, Stainless Steel

10. Blichmann Therminator Beer Wort Chiller Stainless Steel
  • Blichmann Therminator Stainless Wort Chiller
  • Plate chiller
  • Easy cleanup
  • Includes Blichmann – Therminator Back Flush Hose Assembly

Plate wort chillers are the fastest way to chill your brew or wort at home. Its special design successfully covers and comes in contact with the passing brew for the fastest cooling.

The ruminator plates, constructed from 316 stainless steel, come soldered with 100% pure copper. This combination provides a cooling performance, unlike any other!

Besides, the 316 stainless steel ensures your chiller is corrosion-free and doesn’t leak any of the metals and harmful chemicals into your brew, no matter the temperature of the brew you are passing through.

We all know by now how important it is to keep your wort chiller clean and dry. And thankfully, this unit is very compact, making it easier to clean it after you have chilled your brew.

Along with that, the plate chiller comes with helpful indicators and instructions embedded in it for easier use. It has operating and sanitization or stores side indicators, which makes its maintenance process much easier.

It can turn a 170 degrees Fahrenheit of 10-gallon large batch to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 10 minutes! So, you can rapidly cool even larger batches efficiently within hours.

Pros

  • Pure copper soldered stainless steel plates provide fast cooling
  • Leak-proof and corrosion-free
  • Compact size
  • Quick and easy to clean
  • Comes with handy indicators or instructions on the chiller

Cons

  • Pricier than traditional chillers
  • Requires a time-consuming proper setup

Buying Guide: What to Consider When SelectWort Chillers

There are certain things you want to look out for before making a decision when it comes to wort chillers. Down below, we have discussed the most important features that, depending on your needs, will help you make that decision.

The Types

If you have searched the market, then you might have noticed there are technically three different types of wort chillers. These are immersion, plate, and counterflow.

  • Immersion Chillers

These are the most common among home brewers and commercial users alike due to their simple and straightforward setup. It uses either copper or stainless steel coil or tubings and uses it to cool the brew by passing cold water through the tubes.

Depending on the total uncoiled length of the tube, you can cool it faster or in larger batches. Generally, for a 5-gallon batch brew, you will require around 20 to 40 feet long tubing.

  • Plate Chillers

The plate chillers are the fastest and most efficient in cooling due to their larger surface area. As the name suggests, it has numerous plates running through the unit, which pass the cold water.

As this is happening, it also simultaneously runs the boiling brew through the opposite side of the unit, cooling it alongside. This does require you to have a setup of two kettles, one for boiling and the other for the fermentation stage and storing.

  • Counterflow Chillers

These chillers are kind of similar to plate chillers in the way they both run the water and the brew simultaneously but opposite to the way the immersion chiller works.

What it does is that it runs water and the brew in the opposite direction, which causes a simultaneous and fast cooling of the brew. The wort runs through the tubing while the water flows from the other direction from the hose, chilling the brew as it flows into the kettle for fermentation.

Size and Length

For immersion and plate chillers, the length and size play a big factor in the cooling speed. You can say that about counterflow chillers as well, to an extent, but it is not that important.

As we previously said in this wort chillers review, the tubing’s length is responsible for what size batch you can cool. The larger the batch is, the more time it takes, so you need to go with longer-length tubings to make the process faster.

Likewise, if the plate chiller’s size is small, it also means it has fewer plates. So, it slows the process of chilling. It is ideal for smaller batches, but for larger ones, the more the number of plates, the faster the cooling speed.

Cleaning and Sanitization

A big part of using these wort chillers is to clean and sanitize your chillers every time after using them to avoid infections and contaminations. But depending on the type of chiller, the process is different.

Among the three, immersion chillers are the easiest to maintain sanitization. The best way is to place it inside the kettle before the brew goes down from the boiling point. Next comes the counter-flow; you need to run clear hot water through the tube a couple of times to clean and sanitize it.

That makes the plate chillers the hardest to clean. Since it has many compact plates around, it is easy for water or the brew to still stay inside. So, you need to make sure it is completely dry before using it the next time.

Quality Inspection

This aspect is very important if you want a good and safe product in the end. If the chiller has low-quality materials, at worst, the metals or other harmful materials can leak into the mixture and contaminate it. Or it may not work properly.

So, make sure to inspect the quality and consider spending a bit more if you are going to be using it pretty often for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wort Chillers

1. What is the best wort chiller?

It entirely depends on what you prefer. But generally, if it comes to cooling only, a plate chiller like the one on our list is the best for the job.

2. What chemicals should I avoid while cleaning it?

It is okay to use most chemicals on copper ones. However, for stainless steel, you should strictly stay away from ones containing chlorine as it will corrode the metal and make it not safe to use anymore.

3. What do I do if my tap or groundwater passing through is warm for cooling?

A great way to ensure consistent cooling is to submerge the unit in ice water as you pass water from the tap or ground hose. This is especially a great process for immersion chillers.

4. Is having a garden hose connector really necessary?

It is not necessary, generally. But it does give you the advantage and option to set it up in your garden or outside, so you don’t need to use your kitchen for the entire process.

5. What size plate chiller do I need?

It depends on the amount of brew you want to chill. The more the number of plates, the faster is the cooling. So, if you are cooling smaller batches, you don’t need that many plates and vice versa.

6. Do you really need a wort chiller?

If you are boiling and cooling smaller batches like a 2 or 3-gallon, then you can always take the kettle and place it on an ice bath or bathtub for cooling.

However, for larger batches, since it becomes difficult and dangerous to carry them, a wort chiller becomes necessary.

Final Words

For the best wort chillers, it entirely depends on you and your requirements. And with the help of our guide and recommendations, we hope you have found one that interests you.

Leave a Comment