Your wort is most vulnerable to bacterial contamination between boiling and fermentation. You must pitch your yeast and seal your fermentation vessel immediately after boiling. But it’s hard to do this when you must wait for the wort to cool.
One device that helps save time during cooling is the wort chiller. This device brings down wort temperatures to your desired levels, 68-72°F.
There are four types of wort chillers, including:
- Immersion chillers
- Counterflow chillers
- Recirculating chillers
- Plate chillers
You can choose to buy a wort chiller, but where is the fun in that? We found 16 DIY wort chiller plans that can help you save money while having fun. We’ve awarded each plan points based on ease of construction, functionality, and cost.
From the highest scorer to the lowest, below are 16 DIY wort chiller plans:
1. 15-Minute Immersion Wort Chiller by HyoBrew
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
On the HypoBrew YouTube channel, an instructor demonstrates how to make an immersion chiller. He uses only a coil of copper tubing, a silicone hose, and some pipe fittings. He makes his setup for outdoor usage with a garden faucet.
2. Wort Chiller by James Berry
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
James Berry explains how to make an immersion wort chiller using only copper tubing, a garden hose, and some clamps. What sets this method apart is it does not require complex metal fitting. Just slip the garden hose over the copper tube and secure it with a clamp.
3. Larry’s New Immersion Wort Chiller
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
We join Larry again as he attempts to replace his old immersion wort chiller. Bending copper tubes is challenging due to the risk of kinking. Larry has a creative solution for this problem. He uses a spring to prevent kinking.
Larry’s process is simple. The hardest part is weaving a wire through the copper coils.
4. Chris’ Immersion Wort Chiller
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
On BeerMaverick.com, Chris explains his approach to the DIY immersion wort chiller. This plan does not need a water pump. The wort chiller depends on the pressure of your kitchen faucet.
The instructions feature high-quality pictures, which help you track your process.
5. Dual Immersion Wort Chiller by Greedy Dragon Brewing
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
In a seven-minute video, Greedy Dragon Brewing demonstrates how to make a double immersion chiller. This version features intense copper coiling, making it an effective chiller. According to the YouTuber, the total cost of this build is $28.95. The chiller does not feature complex fittings. So it should be easier to assemble.
6. DIY Counterflow Wort Chiller by Jester Goldman
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
In an article posted on BeerandBrewing.com, Jester Goldman explains how to make a counterflow chiller. The setup involves running a copper tube through a garden hose. The wort runs through the copper tube in one direction. The water runs over the copper tube and through the garden hose in the opposite direction.
This wort chiller does not require a pump.
7. DIY Copper Wort Chiller by Get Er Brewed
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Get Er Brewed has a 10-minute video on their channel demonstrating how to make an immersion chiller. Coiling the copper tubes is one of the biggest challenges of creating a wort chiller. Get Er Brewed has a tool to help with coil consistency.
The process is straightforward unless you have trouble understanding the Irish accent.
8. Immersion Chiller by All About Beer
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This DIY wort chiller plan comes from the editor of All About Beer Magazine. While the instructions are clear, the article lacks high-quality images. But if you don’t mind flying blind, these instructions can make you a decent immersion chiller.
9. Recirculating Wort Chiller by Larry
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
To cut down on water wastage, Larry tries his hand at the recirculating wort chiller. He explains that he loses about 30 gallons of water when using immersion chillers. Larry demonstrates his entire process on his YouTube channel, BEER-N-BBQ.
Larry’s wort chiller is effective and water-efficient. It works better with ice or icy water.
10. DIY Counterflow Wort Chiller by Brew Your Own
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
On its website, Brew Your Own demonstrates how to make a counterflow wort chiller. Construction involves running a ½-inch copper tubing through a 1½-inch garden hose. The materials used are easy to source. You can buy them with a $40 budget.
This plan requires some fabrication. You need some metalwork skills, at least to some degree.
11. Twin Coil Immersion Chiller by Dudes Brews
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Dudes Brews YouTuber sets out to make a twin immersion wort chiller to improve his old immersion chiller. He makes two copper coils with different diameters before attaching them with a brass fitting.
The twin coil chiller is more effective than single coil alternatives. It is also well-suited for larger brewing kettles.
12. MoreBeers DIY Wort Chiller
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
MoreBeer’s plan is for an immersion chiller, which goes into the wort. MoreBeer’s DIY wort chiller uses water as a refrigerant and a pump for recirculation. Excluding the pump, this project costs $50 and takes one hour to complete.
MoreBeer does a good job explaining its process. However, it would help if they provided some images.
13. Counterflow Wort Chiller by Time4Another1
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Time4Another1 demonstrates how to make a counterflow chiller with a twist. The YouTube coils a copper wire around the copper tubing before inserting it in his silicone hose. This DIY wort chiller plan features a lot of soldering. You need the right equipment and skills to pull off this project.
14. Homebrewing DIY Wort Chillers by Ron
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐
Ron shares four DIY wort chiller plans in an article posted on BeverageCraft.com. The instructions include plans for an immersion-style wort chiller, a counterflow alternative, and a recirculating wort chiller. As a bonus, he also reveals how to make a DIY glycol chiller.
15. Mike’s DIY Immersion Wort Chiller
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Mike shares his DIY immersion wort chiller on his YouTube channel, Mikes Inventions. Mike places a lot of emphasis on aesthetics. He even involves math and design software to help him find the right dimensions. The effort pays off, and the final product is spectacular.
16. Homebrewing Wort Chiller by iPodGuy
- Construction: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Functionality: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Cost: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Autodesk Instructables is not one to shy away from a good DIY project. The website tries its hand at the wort chiller, this time presented by iPodGuy. This plan requires a lot of cutting, fabrication, and fitting. You must be handy with your tools to take on this project.
But if a wrench and pipe cutters don’t intimidate you, this plan is an excellent project for you.
Final Thoughts
A wort chiller is an essential piece of equipment. It helps you cool your wort in readiness for fermentation. A wort chiller can save you a lot of time while improving the consistency of your brewing.
You can make your own cooling device with the DIY wort chiller plans above. Which DIY wort chiller plan are you going to try first?
As a homebrewer, Michael would get frustrated about the lack of brewing information on the internet. After hundreds of gallons of spoilt batches, Micheal had enough. And he founded Unknown Brewing as a resource for homebrewers.