Grainfather grain mill

[guypettigrew]

Has anyone bought one of these yet?

It's very tempting. Not so much for the base malt. I buy 25 Kg of crushed Marris Otter at a time. It always has a best before date of about a year after purchase. Barely lasts me half that long!

It would be more for the other malts I use; black, chocolate, various crystals etc. They can sometimes hang around for quite a while.

The MM video makes it look really easy to use.

Guy

[McMullan]

For that price you could get a pretty decent mill with a hopper big enough to hold your whole grain bill. That incy-wincy hopper does look like it’s sized for speciality malts. Probably struggle with a decent porter. Unless you’re happy standing there pouring it in gradually. I also think Rob’s over complicating the process. The idea is the focus on milling your base malt optimally, not fanny about with each different malt. It’s a new myth to me. I do mill rye and wheat in a separate Corona mill, personally, as they tend to escape the crush setting on my primary mill. To be honest, for another 100 quid I’d snap up Jer’s Monster mill.

[MashBag]

Just for additional malts, I get that. But it does look a bit more kitchen appliance than beefy tool. A 1kg hopper would be a pita for me.

I am still undecided about mills, because it is so
easy in the UK to buy crushed, so will I be able to TASTE the benefit?

It is a very expensive test. Have you got a problem that needs fixing? ... Or just fancy a MILL? (Think that's where I am TBH)

[guypettigrew]

It is a very expensive test. Have you got a problem that needs fixing? ... Or just fancy a MILL? (Think that's where I am TBH)

Have I got a problem which needs fixing? Won't know until I try to fix it! My black and chocolate malts hang around for ages and I always think the beer is better when I get a new, freshly crushed batch from MM. That may be due to expectation bias, or it may not.

Or do I just fancy a mill? Definitely! It's been a long time since any new brewing equipment has come my way.

As to the 1 Kg hopper, doesn't really bother me. Even if I used the mill for 4-5 Kg of base malt it doesn't seem too onerous to keep pouring it in as the mill grinds it.

Guy

[McMullan]

I forgot to note above that I wasn't too impressed with the sound of the motor and the fact it cuts out to save itself from burning out. Doesn't sound like a quality motor. Not something I'd want integrated in what looks like an expensive coffee grinder. If my trusty Dewalt drill ever fails I can still use my top notch Monster mill manually Again, for less than 250 quid you can get a decent grain mill that lasts you years. I expect to hear lots of complaints about this electric mill from GF. We'll see.

[Kingfisher4]

I would be really interested to hear if people have noticed a dramatic improvement moving from the top quality freshly milled grain, sealed in thick gauge plastic bags by Rob and his team at MM, when they moved to a malt mill.
A couple of the more unusual malts I thought I might use or I’ve got my stock control wrong, have become duck food, but otherwise it is one of the few bits of brewing kit I have so far decided not to consider making even more room in the garage for!
Also seems a lot cheaper to give the ducks a couple of pounds worth of malt once in a while!

[MashBag]

I feel new thread coming on to answer that ............

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=83442

[vacant]

My black and chocolate malts hang around for ages and I always think the beer is better when I get a new, freshly crushed batch from MM. That may be due to expectation bias, or it may not.

I don't expect anything extracted for my black malt apart from colour ... the remainder of my 500g bag is well old.

[MashBag]

I don't expect anything extracted for my black malt apart from colour ... the remainder of my 500g bag is well old.

That is a very good point. Backed up by - I steep mine and don't add them in the mash.

[guypettigrew]

Hmmm, the arguments in favour of getting a mill are slowly slipping away!

Guy

[McMullan]

The argument for or against owning your own malt mill depends on how you brew. I'm biased by years of grinding fresh spices from whole seeds and I really do want to QC what I'm using, whether it's malts, hops, spices or even meat. I try to avoid processed shite as much as possible.

[vacant]

Hmmm, the arguments in favour of getting a mill are slowly slipping away!

Is it shiny? That counts.

[vacant]

double post somehow

[guypettigrew]

Is it shiny? That counts.

Sort of shiny. It's got a shiny bit on it. At the moment that is the most compelling argument for getting one! Plus I haven't bought any brewing gear for ages.

Guy

[MashBag]

Guy,

I think it's the only thing it has going for it.
.. Unless you cannot buy crushed.

I cannot find a positive benefit. Why give yourself a messy, time consuming, expensive job that you can get done for free??

From a freshness point of view, bakers know, the best bread is made from mature flour not the freshest.

I do understand the avoiding proceeded shite, but for me there has a be a line, else I will be growing the barley and malting it myself.

I am not rushing to order one.