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Copper vs. Stainless Immersion Chillers

Choosing one over the other is largely a matter of personal preference. Here are 4 characteristics to consider.

Dave Carpenter May 23, 2017 - 4 min read

Copper vs. Stainless Immersion Chillers Primary Image

It used to be the case that immersion wort chillers were almost universally made of copper. Aside from having excellent heat transfer properties, copper is a relatively soft material, and building your own DIY immersion chiller can be almost as simple as wrapping some refrigeration tubing around a coffee can or corny keg. Copper also used to be inexpensive.

But when the price of copper began its steep climb in the mid-2000s, manufacturers of wort chillers started looking to stainless as a comparatively affordable option. While copper prices may never return to pre-2005 levels, the metal is currently about 40 percent less expensive than it was 5 years ago. Nonetheless, the stainless steel immersion chiller has stuck around, and now choosing one over the other is largely a matter of personal preference.

Appearance

There will always be a part of me that prefers the look of the old-fashioned copper kettles that used to be synonymous with brewing beer. But with time, copper can develop verdigris, that greenish Statue-of-Liberty colored patina. It’s readily cleaned with a good dunk in vinegar and perhaps a bit of elbow grease, but copper does take just a bit more effort to maintain than stainless. So, if you prefer a classic look, go with copper. If you don’t want to think about it, stainless steel may be a better option.

Durability

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