Everyone loves your homebrew Kombucha and are encouraging you to start your own business, but are you ready to start brewing Kombucha commercially? Through our consultation services, Kombucha Kamp assists new entrepreneurs and current ones in starting up or improving their business.
Commercial Kombucha Brewing Consultation:
Hi – I’m Hannah Crum (The Kombucha Mamma) Author, Master Brewer, KKamp Founder, Community Educator, Commercial Consultant, Trade Association President, and Kombucha Ambassador to the world. I started Kombucha Kamp in 2004 as a workshop in my Los Angeles home. When blogging became popular, I took my educational information online to KombuchaKamp.com and in 2010 launched our ecommerce store with my husband, Alex LaGory.
When I was first blogging, I made lists of the Kombucha brands I’d find online. I love meeting other people who had that same thought process and ultimately, that list and my passion to “change the world, one gut at a time” is what led to founding Kombucha Brewers International (KBI) with Alex in 2014. I serve as president and Alex is chairman of the board.
We’ve also helped numerous commercial Kombucha breweries through our consultation and “bacteria farming” services providing solid advice and quality, organic cultures and starter liquid in bulk for Kombucha, JUN, water kefir and milk kefir. We also consult fermentation businesses, write HACCP plans and even help navigate the complexities of distribution, sourcing equipment and locating co-packers.
In this “Ask Mamma Anything” I answer questions related to the commercial brewing of Kombucha. With a projected $1.2B in sales for 2020, there is good evidence that the category will remain popular for a long time.
We are best at helping you work through problems and to achieve your goals, which means that people who have a very clear idea of what they want from the consultation will gain the most from it. Alternatively, many people have used the consultation as a brainstorming session and, while we are not permitted to discuss specific techniques of any one company, our general knowledge of the Kombucha industry can also help clarify one’s own vision. All consultations are 100% confidential.
Timestamp
- :30 Brief history of the commercial Kombucha industry
- 4:50 Tension between homebrew vs commercial brewing
- 7:30 Key KBI Initiatives – sign the “Protect Craft Kombucha” petition
- 11:45 How to create a clearer Kombucha in the bottle? How to prevent SCOBYs from growing in the bottles?
- 16:10 What type of equipment or tanks are best for fermenting commercial Kombucha?
- 19:14 Stainless steel or food grade plastic?
- 20:36 When to filter the brew – before flavoring or before bottling?
- 21:30 Why do some commercial brands not grow a SCOBY?
- 23:46 Can I get a license to brew Kombucha at home to sell at the Farmers Market?
- 25:00 How to get consistent carbonation in my bottles?
- 26:30 How to bottle small batch Kombucha?
- 28:55 Best way to use a refractometer for Kombucha & the 3 metrics for Quality Control
- 31:00 Cleaning protocols for commercial brewing vessels
- 33:24 How to prevent over carbonation after bottling
- 35:19 What does a consultation from the Kombucha Mamma entail?
- 37:30 Great advice from Greg Koch formerly of Stone Brewing
- 38:10 Wholesale culture, starter liquid & tea from Kombucha Kamp
- 40:40 How to determine shelf life of commercial Kombucha
Additional Resources
- Join KBI and take advantage of our Resources Library & Regulatory Assistance
- How to Choose a Cloth Cover for Kombucha and JUN with Kombucha Kamp
- Continuous Brew Kombucha On Tap – Lisa Hainsworth Loves Kombucha Kamp!
- Ask Anything on How to Brew Kombucha || Beginners guide to kombucha making
Everlyn
September 29, 2023 at 12:08 amThanks so much for the informative video. I have learned a lot and clearly, there is so much to think about and consider as I try to set up a brewery.I am from Kenya Africa I noticed you did not mention anything about brewing Kombucha in Africa. Some of the equipment you mentioned that can help with brewing is not easily accessible financially for someone who is starting small here. However, this will really help in the future as I grow my brewery. We do not have a lot of kombucha brewers in my country. Therefore getting standardization licenses (KEBS) which allow one to sell the product in stores is not easy, due to little knowledge about ferments. I long for the day when the whole process is easier cause many will be able to understand the importance of ferments in our diet. Please continue with the amazing job because you are helping more than you can imagine.
Hannah Crum
October 4, 2023 at 6:35 amThere are a few brands popping up in Africa and Kenya specifically. We support brewers all over the world through our trade association – Kombucha Brewers International.
Kailash
February 2, 2023 at 7:46 pmHi, thanks for very informative video, I am trying to setup a Kombucha brewery! I need help to set it up, do you help with setting it up for new brewery?
Thanks
Anthea Tayag
February 3, 2023 at 10:18 amExciting! We are happy to offer our Commercial Consultation Services and Commercial Safety Plan. Feel free to reach out to us for any further questions. Happy Brewing!