Hands On Review: Cereal Killer Grain Mill!

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The Cereal Killer Grain Mill from Adventures in Homebrewing is homebrew grain mill that features two adjustable rollers.  It has a 7 lb capacity hopper and a wood base.  The current version of the Cereal Killer sports a ball bearing design for the rollers, marked settings for the adjustable rollers and a new improved handle.

Note: Since this review was published the base of the Cereal Killer has been upgraded.


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Features:

  • Includes a handle, but you can also easily use a drill.
  • Hardened steel roller size is 5″ long and 1.25″ diameter
  • The crank shaft has a 10mm diameter
  • It is suggested to run @ 300 RPM if motorized
  • Body is anodized aluminum for a lifetime worth of use
  • Two adjustable rollers
  • The roller gap can be set as low as around .02″
  • Rollers will adjust up to .100″
  • Rollers have a ball bearing design
  • Marked adjustable roller for easy adjustment
  • 7 lb capacity hopper
  • Wood base designed to fit snugly on the top of a 5 or 6 gallon bucket

A Case for Milling Your Own Grain

Crush is a pretty big deal when it comes to efficiency.  Homebrew shops have a tendency to under mill grain.  I think the reason for that is ease of use, with the thinking that a more coarse crush equals few stuck mashes and more happy customers.  I guess it’s possible that a shop mill could over mill grain too.  The point is, when you’re using someone else’s mill, it’s up to them how you mill your grain.

Milling your own grain… 1.  Gives you control over the crush of your grain.  That’s a big factor in efficiency.  2.  A mill allows you to fine tune for your equipment and process.  You know what the crush is going to be since you set it.  3.  A mill allows you to save money by buying whole bags of grain at a discount, and 3.  The shelf life of unmilled grain is longer than pre-milled grain.  Freshly milled grain = better tasting beer.

A Look at the Cereal Killer Grain Mill

cln_img_2904The Cereal Killer comes in it’s own branded box.  It generally includes free shipping to addresses in the contiguous 48 US Statescln_img_2905How it comes out of the boxcln_img_2906A look at the handle and base.  Handles used to be an additional purchase.  With this version of the mill, the handle has been upgraded and is now included with every mill.  The sticker on the base reads… “Base is flipped for shipping.  Flip base over to operate mill”.  The base is shipped upside down, presumably, to protect the bucket pegs during shipping.  Flipping this over is easy.  Two bolts and you’re done.  Note that there is a right way and wrong way to install the base.  The shaft should be on the short side of the base to allow you to install the handle or use a drill.cln_img_2929The top of the hopper features a rubber guard.cln_img_2928A look inside the 7 lb hoppercln_img_2909A look at the two rollers.  The mill assembly feels very solid.  The ball bearing design allows the rollers to roll nice and smoothly.cln_img_2910Loosening the set screw frees up the rollers to be adjusted.cln_img_2925Another improvement is the marked roller adjustments.  It’s hard to see in this picture (click to zoom), but there are three markings – .1″, .05″ and .025″cln_img_2927Again, it may be hard to see, but there is a line on the adjustment knob.  You line that up with your selected setting (.1″, .05″ or .025″) and tighten the set screw to lock it in.  These markings and knobs are on both sides of the mill.  That’s great because it’s important that the mill is set evenly.  If it isn’t even, grain will have a tendency to go to one side of the rollers and come out under-crushed.cln_img_2912I picked up this feeler gauge tool [Lisle 68100 Deluxe Feeler Gauge] with the thought that I would need a feeler gauge to adjust the mill.  I should have read the full and updated feature set because I really didn’t need it because of the handy dandy markings on the roller adjustment knobs.  It was handy to confirm the uniformity of the markings and settings.cln_img_2920The rollers are set to .025″ in this photo.  The .025″ feeler gauge slides evenly along the entire length of the rollers.  It’s not loose but it’s not overly tight.  It felt even.cln_img_2922I also attempt to insert the next largest gauge between the rollers, .026″.  That did not easily insert at any point along the rollers.  I slide it down the length and it didn’t go between the rollers.  I probably could have forced it, but moderate pressure didn’t get it to go in.  That’s pretty great.cln_img_2924A look at the mill shaft.  This can accept either a manual handle (included) or work with a drillcln_img_2935Handle installedcln_img_2930Installed on an Emergency Essentials 6 Gallon Bucket.  The pegs and base fit nice only top of this bucket.  It should fit well on any standard 5 or 6 gallon bucket.cln_img_2933The Cereal Killer Grain Millimg_img_2945Hopper filled with about 7 lbs of malt.img_img_2947Grind on .025″ setting.  Note that this particular grain bill is rice malt, so volumes and appearance may be a bit different vs barley

As of this update, I’ve used this mill for just over 2 years.  I now understand the praise that this mill has been getting.  This is a great mill.  It’s every bit the quality of the other brand two roller mill I’ve owned and it has more features.  It’s generally available for around $99 and includes free shipping to many US addresses.  At that price it’s an amazing value.

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Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application.  Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application.  Always read and follow manufacturer directions review:cerealkillermill tag:tpr

7 thoughts on “Hands On Review: Cereal Killer Grain Mill!

  1. Jeremy

    I have the original version, which has bushings and no markings for gap setting. It’s been a great mill, I got it on sale for $70 in the first few months after release. Still works great.

    Reply

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