Choosing the right malt miller is a crucial step when designing or upgrading your Beer Factory Machine. As the first stage in the brewing process, your malt crusher determines how efficiently you extract sugars, how smoothly you lauter, and ultimately, how consistent your beer quality will be.
In commercial breweries, two main types of millers are used: the double roller miller and the four roller miller. But how do you decide which one is best for your production? The answer depends largely on the beer styles you brew and the level of control and efficiency you expect.
Double Roller Miller — The Basic and Economical Choice
A double roller miller is the simplest and most affordable option. It works well for basic malt crushing needs but has some limitations:
Smaller grains may slip through uncracked
Less control over the grind level
Harder to balance between fine grits and intact grain husks
This mill type is suitable for smaller breweries or beer styles that do not require highly precise grist composition.
Four Roller Miller — Greater Control and Consistency
A four roller miller offers advanced control over the crush parameters. With two independent crush points, you can achieve a more consistent particle size distribution:
First roller set wider to break the grain
Second roller set finer to capture and crush smaller particles
This two-stage process allows tighter control over the grist profile, which is essential for:
Improved lautering
Higher extract efficiency
More stable wort clarity
Better extract yield means you need less malt to reach your target ABV—resulting in more liters of beer and reduced ingredient cost.
Finding the Optimal Roller Gap
The ideal roller gap varies depending on malt type, moisture level, and beer recipe. The most accurate way to determine the correct crush is not by the mill gap itself but by analyzing the resulting particle size.
In practice, achieving the perfect grind requires experience—and often a few slow lauters to fine-tune the setting.
Tools for Testing the Roller Gap
Feeler gauge or precision calipers: These tools help you establish an initial gap setting.
Grist sieve set: This is the brewer’s best tool to dial in the exact coarseness needed.
How to Test Grist Coarseness
A proper grist analysis involves using a grist sieve—a stack of pans with different screen sizes designed to separate large grits, small grits, and fine flour.
Common sieve sizes include:
1.4 mm
0.6 mm
0.25 mm
You will also need:
A collection pan to catch fines
A cap to cover the sieve stack
The goal is to find a practical balance between mash efficiency and lautering ability. A crush that is too fine can cause stuck lauters, while a crush that is too coarse will reduce sugar extraction.
Whether you choose a double roller miller or a four roller miller, selecting the right malt crusher plays a pivotal role in your brewing efficiency and final beer quality. By analyzing grist coarseness and adjusting the roller gap with the proper tools, you ensure smoother operations and improved performance for your Beer Factory Machine.
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Emily Gong
