Cooling in a Buffalo boiler.

[Nigel1969]

I've just bought a Buffalo boiler, 40litres. Just wondering whats the best method of cooling the wort. Was thinking of running it straight to fv while its hot, then letting that cool overnight. Would this be ok?

[crafty john]

Yeah you can do that but an immersion cooler would do the job nicely.

[Nigel1969]

Yeh I think this seems the most popular method. I've only seen this copper coil cooler, and it wouldn't fit in the boiler.

[AdyG]

I use an immersion copper wort chiller that runs off a hose pipe. I got one off ebay for about £25, I did consider making my own but the only flexi copper pipe I could find was more expensive than the ebay job. It will cool your wort in about 30 minutes, but putting hot wort into a plastic FV might distort it.

[Nigel1969]

This sounds like the best option, I'll check ebay for one. Cheers, )

[50quidsoundboy]

i'm using a H&G copper coil and hose but it's routinely taking me 60 - 75 minutes to cool to a reasonable pitching temperature (i start running off into the FV at 22 - 24 C). even in the snow! wonder what i'm doing wrong

[Dave S]

I've just bought a Buffalo boiler, 40litres. Just wondering whats the best method of cooling the wort. Was thinking of running it straight to fv while its hot, then letting that cool overnight. Would this be ok?

I have one of these and I use a home made copper coil immersion cooler. It's about 20 cm diameter and fits easily. It cools a full 23 l batch in about 30 mins. I wouldn't recommend leaving wort over night to cool. Sooner or later you'll probably get caught out with an infection.

[subfaction]

+1 to the above, by a coil and DIY it, might end up a bit more pricy but you can ensure its a nice fit.

[Nigel1969]

Yep, this looks like the best way to go. I never actually liked the idea of a long cool down.

[Skittlebrau]

i'm using a H&G copper coil and hose but it's routinely taking me 60 - 75 minutes to cool to a reasonable pitching temperature (i start running off into the FV at 22 - 24 C). even in the snow! wonder what i'm doing wrong

Move the coil up and down during cooling. It's a bit of a pain but you will get it cool MUCH quicker.

[Dave S]

i'm using a H&G copper coil and hose but it's routinely taking me 60 - 75 minutes to cool to a reasonable pitching temperature (i start running off into the FV at 22 - 24 C). even in the snow! wonder what i'm doing wrong

Move the coil up and down during cooling. It's a bit of a pain but you will get it cool MUCH quicker.

I tried that once and didn't really notice a significant enough time saving to warrant the tedium.

[Skittlebrau]

i'm using a H&G copper coil and hose but it's routinely taking me 60 - 75 minutes to cool to a reasonable pitching temperature (i start running off into the FV at 22 - 24 C). even in the snow! wonder what i'm doing wrong

Move the coil up and down during cooling. It's a bit of a pain but you will get it cool MUCH quicker.

I tried that once and didn't really notice a significant enough time saving to warrant the tedium.

Really? I find it makes a massive difference. To me, you only have to feel the change in temperature of the water leaving the coil between stationary and moving to know that you're taking a lot more heat out when it's moving.

[Dave S]

Really? I find it makes a massive difference. To me, you only have to feel the change in temperature of the water leaving the coil between stationary and moving to know that you're taking a lot more heat out when it's moving.

Yeah, I've heard this. Don't know why it didn't make much difference for me, but it didn't. It would be nice to cut the time in half if I could.

[subfaction]

moving/swirling it every 5 mins or so makes a HUGE difference to me, left alone it maybe takes 30-40mins, agitated it takes under 20mins.

[Wezzel]

+1 for being agitated!