Unibräu vs Grainfather: G30, G40 and G70 Compared
The Grainfather G30 costs less and has an app; the Unibräu has a thicker kettle, tri-clamp fittings and sizes up to 30 gallons. Side by side, with sources (October 2026).
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Short answer: the Grainfather G30 costs less (US$898 with a chiller) and its app runs step mashes for you. The Unibräu costs more, but the kettle wall is twice as thick or more (1.0–1.2 mm against the G30’s 0.5 mm), every fitting is a standard 1.5" tri-clamp, and it comes in 10, 20 and 30 gallons. Grainfather facts were checked on October 7, 2026, with sources at the bottom.
We started the Unibräu small, with a 3 gallon "mini", and it went through three versions before the one we sell today. The goal never changed: make all-grain brewing simple enough to do in an apartment kitchen, and enjoyable. People ask us which is better, the Grainfather or the Unibräu, so here is how they compare.
Quality or price?
As the business grew, my mentor David asked me a question that stuck: "Do you want to compete on quality or on price?" Making something cheaper is as hard as making something better, and we chose better. Buy once, cry once. The Unibräu isn't the cheapest all-in-one, but it's built to last, so we put the money into the steel and the fittings instead of Bluetooth.
Unibräu 10 gal vs Grainfather G30
These are the two 5 gallon batch systems, and both run on a standard 120V outlet.
| Bräu SupplyUnibräu 10 gal | GrainfatherGrainfather G30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ||
| Price | $1,825 (120V), pump included | US$898 with counterflow chiller, 120V |
| Wort chiller | Add-on: stainless coil-in-coil counterflow, $330 with water kit | Included: counterflow, copper inner coil |
| Size | ||
| Kettle | 10 US gal (38 L) | 30 L (about 8 gal) pre-boil |
| Batch size | About 5–6 gal (19–23 L) into the fermenter | 10–25 L (about 2.5–6.5 gal) |
| Bigger sizes | 20 and 30 gal (see below) | G40 and G70 (see below) |
| Power | ||
| 120V | 1,650 W on a standard 15 A outlet. Add a second 1,650 W element on another 15 A circuit for 3,300 W | 1,600 W |
| 240V | Same kettle with a 5,500 W element and the SV2 controller | Not sold in the US for the G30; the G40 and G70 are 240V |
| Build | ||
| Kettle wall | 1.0 mm 304 stainless, flat sandwich (Tri-Clad) bottom | 0.5 mm 304 stainless |
| Grain basket | Stainless, slotted walls, perforated bottom plate | Perforated stainless, 0.6 mm |
| Element | 1,650 W ultra-low watt density, mounts in a 1.5" tri-clamp port and comes out for cleaning or replacement | Built into the base, under the kettle floor |
| Fittings | 1.5" tri-clamp throughout | Grainfather's own hose fittings and connectors |
| Draining | Flat-bottom kettle; the DrainPro version adds a sloped bottom drain | No gravity drain; the pump moves the wort out through the recirculation arm |
| Brewing | ||
| Pump | Magnetic-drive brew pump, 1.5" tri-clamp, included | Built-in magnetic-drive pump |
| Controller | SV1 PID: you set each temperature. Step mashes by hand; no app | Bluetooth app (Wi-Fi with an add-on bridge): programmed step mashes and recipe import |
| Sparging | Full-volume mash with no sparge for most 5 gal recipes (up to about 14 lb of grain); sparge for bigger grain bills, up to 20 lb | Grainfather's brew process includes a sparge with separately heated water |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 2 years, plus lifetime parts support | 3 years |
| Made | Designed and assembled in Vancouver, BC | Not stated on the US listing |
Grainfather prices in US dollars on October 7, 2026. Bräu Supply prices show in your currency.
Bigger batches: Unibräu 20 and 30 gal vs Grainfather G40 and G70
| System | Batch size | Power | Kettle wall | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unibräu 20 gal | About 10–12 gal | 240V, 5,500 W, 30 A circuit | 1.2 mm | $2,699 |
| Unibräu 30 gal | About 15–18 gal | 240V, 5,500 W, 30 A circuit | 1.2 mm | $2,899 |
| Grainfather G40 | 10–40 L (about 2.5–10.5 gal) | 240V, 3,300 W, NEMA 6-15 plug | 0.8 mm | US$1,499 |
| Grainfather G70 | 30–60 L (about 8–16 gal) | 240V, 3,300 W | 0.8 mm | US$2,199 |
The G40 runs on a 15 A 240V outlet; the Unibräu needs a 30 A circuit, but its 5,500 W element heats a full kettle faster. Our electrical calculator works out the breaker and wire for either.
Built to be added to
The Unibräu kettle works on its own as a tri-clamp brew kettle, and because every port is a standard 1.5" tri-clamp, you can add parts as your brewing changes:
- Sparge arm for when you want to sparge. The kettle is big enough to brew with or without one.
- HopBlock filter plate and pickup tube for big hop additions in the boil.
- 120V element upgrade kit: a second 1,650 W element for 3,300 W on 120V.
- Whirlpool arm and steam condenser, to cut the steam when you boil indoors.
Want to see what owners do with theirs? Join the Unibräu Brewers Group on Facebook, or read one owner's first impressions on Reddit from 2018.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Grainfather G30 if you want the lowest price with a chiller in the box, and an app that runs your step mash from a recipe.
- Choose the Unibräu if you want heavier steel, standard tri-clamp parts you can buy anywhere, an element you can pull out and replace, and room to grow to 20 or 30 gallons, or to a bottom-drain DrainPro.
Comparing more than two? See all-in-one electric brewing systems compared (Grainfather, BrewZilla, Anvil, Spike, Clawhammer and Unibräu), or the Spike Solo and Clawhammer comparisons.
FAQ
Can the Unibräu do a step mash?
Yes, by hand: set the SV1 to each rest temperature as you go. It doesn't store a mash program. The Grainfather app can run the steps for you.
Do both run on a regular 120V outlet?
Yes. The Unibräu 120V uses 1,650 W and the G30 uses 1,600 W, both on a standard 15 A outlet. The Unibräu can add a second element on another circuit for 3,300 W.
Which one is easier to clean?
The G30's element sits under the kettle floor, so there's no element to wipe down. The Unibräu's element comes out through its tri-clamp port, so the kettle and element clean separately, and every fitting is a sanitary tri-clamp you can take apart.
Do I need to buy a chiller with the Unibräu?
The Grainfather G30 includes one. With the Unibräu, the counterflow chiller is an add-on, all stainless with tri-clamp fittings. If you already own a chiller, you can use it.
Sources, checked October 7, 2026: Grainfather G30, G40, G70, Grainfather app recipe import. Grainfather is a trademark of its owner. Bräu Supply is not affiliated with Grainfather.