Essencia Carbon filters Q.

[JimmyPage]

(UK based)

Not quite sure where the best place to post this is ?

Big long-time user of the Essencia 2-part filter assembly, with the ceramic dome filter and the separate carbon filter. I put the output of the 4L still spirits pot still through it.

Have been told that they will probably be hard/impossible to get in future (apparently the distributor isn't very good).

I was told that the carbon filter should be changed every 5 washes. However following a previous availability squeeze, I have carried on using my current one for at least 10 more washes.

The quality of the finished alcohol doesn't seem to have suffered. No off smells or tastes of any description.

I'm using the proper turbo-48 yeast, so starting with the cleanest possible wash ????

Just wondered if anyone else uses the essencia system, and what the deal is with changing the carbon filter.

If they really do become impossible to source, I have a stash of old ones that I could refill with activated charcoal, if needs be.

[Yummyrum]

Sorry , but we don't condone the use of those filters here because they contain plastic items which are in direct contact with your spirit . Perhaps its time to upgrade to a fully stainless steal carbon filtering setup if you still feel the need to carbon filter

[JimmyPage]

Fair enough ... is there a supplier for such ?

[Yummyrum]

Thnking this type of thing ... not neccessarily this one from these guys ..... but you’ll get the idea
https://brewerschoice.com.au/shop/disti ... ess-steel/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[JimmyPage]

Ah, many thanks ... does anyone here use these things (or similar) ?

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

To be honest, you are not starting with the cleanest possible wash, but you probably already know this. Most here don't have to carbon filter, becuase we use better yeast, and no need for filter or clearing agent.

[JimmyPage]

Not quite sure what you mean ? I make my wash using 6Kg sugar, plus a 48 hour Turbo yeast. which I thought was specifically designed to produce as neutral a wash as possible. (It was why I thought the carbon filter seemed to last so long).

As I said, my filtered 40% ABV has no discernable smell, or taste.

What yeast should I be using ?

[still_stirrin]

...What yeast should I be using ?

Baker’s yeast will work just fine...provided you don’t push the OG above 10% potential. It likes the temperatures a little warmer than wine or champagne yeasts do. But it will produce a clean ferment very quickly, even in a sugar wash. But you will need to add some nutrients for the yeast, as a pure sugar wash won’t have any.

Refer to one of the Tried & True sugar wash recipes for recommendations and brewing processes.
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[PeeGee]

The essencia ceramic filter cartridges are sourced from a water filter company in Australia.
Waterco
Dome D95

The carbon cartridge may need to be repacked with activated carbon.

I have used the above filter for many years but because of the demise of the Essencia filter I have moved to an all Stainless filter.

[JustChillin]

I use the Essencia Carbon filter system, I think it's brilliant! However takes about 3 days to process 9ltrs of 40abv on free flow... Has anyone else found a faster way to do this?
I'm in NZ so can get replacement filters & domes fairly easily here.

[bilgriss]

Some of the replies are hinting at, but not directly stating that the primary reason you would need to use a carbon filter would be to eliminate undesirable byproducts of an unhealthy fermentation. If you do some searches around the forum, you fill find literally hundreds of threads discussing pros and cons of turbo yeast. Mostly cons.

The short of it is that it's a yeast concoction with a ton of nutrients designed to allow fermentation with a very high percentage of alcohol. That's super efficient for fuel production, but it results in stressed yeast and leaves stuff in your finished ferment that needs to be removed, including excess nutrients. Carbon filters do well for that.

If you start with a proper recipe for a neutral which includes the right amount of nutrients and fermentables for a healthy ferment and make good cuts, you will no longer have a need a need for carbon filtering, as the product will be inherently clean to begin with.

As has been suggested, go to the "Tried and True" recipe section of the forum, and you'll find a number of good sugar wash recipes which give very consistent and clean results.

Good luck, be safe, have fun.