The Brewer

Conical Fermenters vs. Buckets: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Conical Fermenters vs. Buckets: The Great Debate

Every homebrewer starts with a plastic bucket. It is cheap, light, and gets the job done. But eventually, you scroll through Instagram and see those shiny, stainless steel conical fermenters that look like they belong in a NASA lab.

The price jump is massive ($15 bucket vs. $500+ conical). So, is it actually worth it?

The Plastic Bucket

Pros

  • Cost: You can buy 20 buckets for the price of one conical.
  • Weight: Easy to carry, even when full.
  • Simplicity: No valves to clog, no gaskets to leak.

Cons

  • Permeability: Plastic is not oxygen-proof. Over months, oxygen seeps in, staling the beer.
  • Scratching: Even a soft sponge can create micro-scratches where bacteria hide. Once a bucket is scratched, it’s a ticking time bomb for infection.
  • No Bottom Drain: To get the beer out, you have to stick a siphon in (risk of infection/oxidation).

The Stainless Steel Conical

1. Geometry (The Cone)

The conical shape isn’t just for looks. It allows yeast and trub (hop debris) to settle at the very bottom point.

  • Benefit: You can open a valve at the bottom and “dump” the trub during fermentation. This removes the “yeasty” bite from sitting on dead cells.

2. Yeast Harvesting

Because the yeast settles in the cone, you can easily harvest clean, white creamy yeast from the bottom valve and reuse it for your next batch.

  • Benefit: Saves money on yeast packs ($10-$15 per batch).

3. Cleaning and Sanitation

Stainless steel is impervious. You can scrub it, hit it with boiling water, or use strong chemicals (Caustic). It lasts a lifetime.

4. Pressure Transfer

This is the killer feature. Most conicals can hold pressure.

  • Benefit: You can use CO2 to push the beer out of the fermenter and into your keg in a completely “Closed Loop.” No oxygen ever touches the beer. This is essential for modern NEIPAs.

The Verdict

Stick to Buckets If…

  • You brew primarily Saisons, Stouts, or Porters (styles less sensitive to oxygen).
  • You are on a tight budget.
  • You don’t keg your beer yet.

Upgrade to a Conical If…

  • You brew IPAs (especially Hazy IPAs) and need oxygen-free transfers.
  • You want to harvest and reuse yeast.
  • You are tired of replacing scratched plastic buckets.
  • You want equipment that will last forever.

The Middle Ground: FermZilla / Fermentasaurus

There is a hybrid option: Pressure-capable Plastic Conicals. Brands like KegLand make transparent PET plastic conicals that can hold pressure and dump yeast, for a fraction of the price ($150ish). They are a fantastic stepping stone before dropping big money on stainless steel.