iGulu F1: The Ultimate Home Brewing Experience

iGulu has a long history, with the original model dating back to 2016. It made its debut in the UK with the F1 in 2024.

The F1 is an all-in-one machine that covers fermentation, temperature control, carbonation, and dispensing all in one countertop unit. To use it, you simply add water, a brew kit, yeast, scan an RFID card, and let the machine handle the fermentation schedule automatically. After about ten days, you can pour chilled, carbonated beer directly from the tap on the front. It’s like a bread maker, but for beer, cider, kombucha, and other fermented drinks.

Having reviewed all three generations of the Pinter and the PerfectDraft Pro keg dispenser, as well as going through a traditional home brewing phase with 20-liter buckets, I have a good understanding of the process and its pain points.

The iGulu F1 sits at the premium end of the market with an RRP of £700, which raises questions about its value. After using it for several weeks with the supplied brew kits, this review covers the design, brewing process, results, and the cost per pint compared to the Pinter, PerfectDraft, and buying beer from the supermarket.

iGulu vs Pinter

The Pinter is the main point of comparison for most people in the UK. The two products differ significantly, with the Pinter being a well-designed plastic pressure vessel that requires manual monitoring of temperature and fermentation stages. On the other hand, the iGulu F1 offers compressor-based cooling, heating, pressure control, and automation of the entire fermentation process, resulting in consistent and convenient brewing.