Re: Heads up, all you newbies

[Guest guest]

What a lot of hassle to go through! I am sorry you had to deal with all that. I

got my 2.5 crock on walmart.com

 

 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Primo-Ceramic-Crock-Water-Cooler-with-Stand/14904250

It came with a stand even....and it looks exactly like those pricey specialty

kombucha ones. It has a plastic spigot.  I didn't pay shipping since I did

sitetostore and picked it up there when I got some groceries.

If anyone has a wm in their area it is one way to go.

Modiste

________________________________

To: Kombucha Forum <original_kombucha >

Sent: Monday, August 6, 2012 2:09 PM

Subject: Heads up, all you newbies

 

If you thought that you would spend a few hours to convert to the continuous

brewing method, think again, unless you are rich, but even then, maybe not just

a few hours.

First, you have to find the right jar with the right spigot. If you buy off of

the internet, you double your price because of shipping. Only one place I saw

specialized in continuous Kombucha brewing jars, and if you include the

shipping, then it is very pricy. Otherwise, when your jar gets to you in a week

or so, you have to inspect the spigot careful, perhaps even remove the spigot

from the jar, to make sure that it has no metal touching the drink. You could go

to ACE hardware, where I got my jar, and buy a jar that you know has a spigot

that is metallic, knowing that you are going to replace it anyway. My jar from

ACE is 2 gallons, so I am happy with that, and it was less than $22.00 and zero

dollars shipping. Now I will be buying a spigot from US Plastic Corp.:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=83329 The lady at US Plastics

assured me that this 3/4 " spigot will fit into a 3/4 " hole. Whatever jar you

eventually get, that is not already

declared to be Kombucha continuous brewing friendly, will have to have the

spigot removed (easy) and the hole measured, assuming that you did not get lucky

with the spigot. Once you have the measurement for the spigot hole, then you can

go to US Plastic Corp. and find the correct plastic spigot.

In this email I have saved you a great deal of grieve, time, gasoline, and

money.

(1) Look for a local source for a glass jar. At least 2 gallons or more would be

best. Buy the cheapest jar. Don't pay for fancy unless you are rich.

(2) Remove the spigot from the jar. If it is really non-metallic, then you are

home free. If it is metallic, then go to http://www.usplastic.com/ and find one

that will fit your jar. The inch designation for the part should match the size

of your hole. Slightly less is OK, like 1/32 " or even perhaps 1/16 " less is OK.

Right on is right on, according to the lady at US Plastic Corporation.

In my opinion, the continuous brewing method should be taught from the get-go.

The other method, which for purposes of brevity I shall call " the shitty

method " , should never be taught. The shitty method is costly, dangerous,

wasteful, time-consuming, and inefficient. I have a son to raise, a wife to

support, two absurdly adorable dogs who need almost constant love and affection,

a kefir operation, a house to keep, and a fermented veggie operation, all of

which need my attention. I don't need an inefficient kombucha operation that

costs me a lot of time and money and space.

, you devoted servant.

[Guest guest]

As much as it pains me, because I try to avoid Wal Mart, I have to

admit I did exactly the same thing. As far as I can tell, and I

looked closely, it is exactly the same crock as I could have bought at

my local co-op or online for about half the price (since no shipping

and the stand came with it). I have been using it for around a year

now and it has been working like a charm. I personally keep both the

top covered - breathable - and the spigot covered with a towel rubber

banded on. I just like to be sure no little creepy crawlies are going

into the spigot.

Jaxi

> What a lot of hassle to go through! I am sorry you had to deal with all

> that. I got my 2.5 crock on walmart.com

>

>

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Primo-Ceramic-Crock-Water-Cooler-with-Stand/14904250

>

> It came with a stand even....and it looks exactly like those pricey

> specialty kombucha ones. It has a plastic spigot. I didn't pay shipping

> since I did sitetostore and picked it up there when I got some groceries.

> If anyone has a wm in their area it is one way to go.

>

> Modiste

[Guest guest]

I had a hard time with a rubber band and cloth...but I am successfully using the

plastic ring that came with the crock (I assume its use is a barrier between a

water jug and the crock) I just put the plastic ring over the cloth. Barring any

strong winds it keeps the cloth in place. :-)

Yeah...I am not a big Walmart fan either...but I searched the internet quite a

bit and this was the best deal. Finally figuring out what keywords to search for

helped....

Modiste

________________________________

To: original_kombucha

Sent: Monday, August 6, 2012 3:36 PM

Subject: Re: Heads up, all you newbies

 

As much as it pains me, because I try to avoid Wal Mart, I have to

admit I did exactly the same thing. As far as I can tell, and I

looked closely, it is exactly the same crock as I could have bought at

my local co-op or online for about half the price (since no shipping

and the stand came with it). I have been using it for around a year

now and it has been working like a charm. I personally keep both the

top covered - breathable - and the spigot covered with a towel rubber

banded on. I just like to be sure no little creepy crawlies are going

into the spigot.

Jaxi

On 8/6/12, Miss Modiste <mailto:modiste1800%40yahoo.com> wrote:

> What a lot of hassle to go through! I am sorry you had to deal with all

> that. I got my 2.5 crock on walmart.com

>

> http://www.walmart.com/ip/Primo-Ceramic-Crock-Water-Cooler-with-Stand/14904250

>

> It came with a stand even....and it looks exactly like those pricey

> specialty kombucha ones. It has a plastic spigot. I didn't pay shipping

> since I did sitetostore and picked it up there when I got some groceries.

> If anyone has a wm in their area it is one way to go.

>

> Modiste

[Guest guest]

I use a rubber band (large one) and the plastic ring. The rubber band

is tricksy to get on and stay on, so I figure I have covered my bets

by using both. LOL

Jaxi

> I had a hard time with a rubber band and cloth...but I am successfully using

> the plastic ring that came with the crock (I assume its use is a barrier

> between a water jug and the crock) I just put the plastic ring over the

> cloth. Barring any strong winds it keeps the cloth in place. :-)

> Yeah...I am not a big Walmart fan either...but I searched the internet quite

> a bit and this was the best deal. Finally figuring out what keywords to

> search for helped....

>

> Modiste

[Guest guest]

Fruit flies can still get under that plastic ring that holds the cloth. I have

added a big rubber band to that, too, and it stays fine.

Lyn

----- Original Message -----

I had a hard time with a rubber band and cloth...but I am successfully using the

plastic ring that came with the crock (I assume its use is a barrier between a

water jug and the crock) I just put the plastic ring over the cloth. Barring any

strong winds it keeps the cloth.

[Guest guest]

I haven't had any fruit fly problems... but I will keep that in mind. My problem

is fungus gnats in my houseplants...but they haven't got in my Kombucha either.

Modiste

________________________________

To: original kombucha <original_kombucha >

Sent: Monday, August 6, 2012 3:58 PM

Subject: Re: Heads up, all you newbies

 

Fruit flies can still get under that plastic ring that holds the cloth. I have

added a big rubber band to that, too, and it stays fine.

Lyn

----- Original Message -----

I had a hard time with a rubber band and cloth...but I am successfully using the

plastic ring that came with the crock (I assume its use is a barrier between a

water jug and the crock) I just put the plastic ring over the cloth. Barring any

strong winds it keeps the cloth.

[Guest guest]

Hello, and yes! it pains me, too! I thought Wally World was " it " for the ceramic

jug, but wound up at a different store that didn't have stock. But what they did

have was a Del Sol 1.5 gal glass dispenser with a plastic spigot and metal stand

for just under $20, so I grabbed it for starting my first CB batch.

It worked great, but after dispensing the first gallon, I was ready for another

(bigger) container.

Quite by accident I discovered that my local Garden Ridge Pottery store (you can

use their online store finder) carried a huge collection of Del Sol glass

dispensers, as well a few other brands in various sizes (I like being able to

view the SCOBY & activity through the opaque textured glass).

So I upped the size to 2.5 gal for $40 (Splash brand), then went back and bought

a 2.375 gal for $20. All that occurred between late Dec. 2011 and early February

2012. I've been extremely happy with all my purchases and CB systems!

> > What a lot of hassle to go through! I am sorry you had to deal with all

> > that. I got my 2.5 crock on walmart.com

> >

> >

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Primo-Ceramic-Crock-Water-Cooler-with-Stand/14904250

> >

> > It came with a stand even....and it looks exactly like those pricey

> > specialty kombucha ones. It has a plastic spigot. I didn't pay shipping

> > since I did sitetostore and picked it up there when I got some groceries.

> > If anyone has a wm in their area it is one way to go.

> >

> > Modiste

>

[Guest guest]

Fantastic post, ! Now you know why I always have been and always will

be a devoted batch brewer! ;-)

Plenty of bubbles without any troubles! :-)

Margret in the cold UK ;-)

In message you wrote:

>

> If you thought that you would spend a few hours to convert to the continuous

brewing method, think again, unless you are rich, but even then, maybe not just

a few hours.

>

> First, you have to find the right jar with the right spigot. If you buy off

of the internet, you double your price because of shipping. Only one place I

saw specialized in continuous Kombucha brewing jars, and if you include the

shipping, then it is very pricy. Otherwise, when your jar gets to you in a week

or so, you have to inspect the spigot careful, perhaps even remove the spigot

from the jar, to make sure that it has no metal touching the drink. You could

go to ACE hardware, where I got my jar, and buy a jar that you know has a spigot

that is metallic, knowing that you are going to replace it anyway. My jar from

ACE is 2 gallons, so I am happy with that, and it was less than $22.00 and zero

dollars shipping. Now I will be buying a spigot from US Plastic Corp.:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=83329 The lady at US

Plastics assured me that this 3/4 " spigot will fit into a 3/4 " hole. Whatever

jar you eventually get, that is not already declared to be Kombucha continuous

brewin> g friendly, will have to have the spigot removed (easy) and the hole

measured, assuming that you did not get lucky with the spigot. Once you have

the measurement for the spigot hole, then you can go to US Plastic Corp. and

find the correct plastic spigot.

>

> In this email I have saved you a great deal of grieve, time, gasoline, and

money.

>

> (1) Look for a local source for a glass jar. At least 2 gallons or more

would be best. Buy the cheapest jar. Don't pay for fancy unless you are rich.

>

> (2) Remove the spigot from the jar. If it is really non-metallic, then you

are home free. If it is metallic, then go to http://www.usplastic.com/ and

find one that will fit your jar. The inch designation for the part should match

the size of your hole. Slightly less is OK, like 1/32 " or even perhaps 1/16 "

less is OK. Right on is right on, according to the lady at US Plastic

Corporation.

>

> In my opinion, the continuous brewing method should be taught from the get-go.

The other method, which for purposes of brevity I shall call " the shitty

method " , should never be taught. The shitty method is costly, dangerous,

wasteful, time-consuming, and inefficient. I have a son to raise, a wife to

support, two absurdly adorable dogs who need almost constant love and affection,

a kefir operation, a house to keep, and a fermented veggie operation, all of

which need my attention. I don't need an inefficient kombucha operation that

costs me a lot of time and money and space.

>

> , you devoted servant.

>

>

>