Burco MFCT1030 Stainless Steel Cygnet Manual Fill Water Boiler, Silver, 30L Capacity

This product is great. We bought the 30l version and even when full, can reach close to a boiling temp in around 30 to 45 minutes after turning it on. The urn comes with a 1 to 5 temperature dial, and after it reaches the temperature you want, it really does hold its heat well, and the heater hardly kicks in. To give you an idea how well it holds the heat, I turned it off at 8pm one night and by 6am the following day, the water was still hot. One little tip if you want to heat the water super quick, fill it close to the max line with cold water, then turn it on, and boil one kettle of water and tip it in. It reaches level 3 heat in around 15 minutes doing this method. The dial also has a off position, so you can leave it plugged in and basically have it in a standby mode, and it comes with a locking lid. So far, can't fault it, but will update the review after a few months use.

This review can be taken at two levels, for general hot water provision for catering, or as a boiler for home brewing purposes. The unit is of a sturdy stainless steel construction with good quality high density plastic fittings, the photo is old the design is updated with the side handles also acting as a lid securing closure. The element (2.5Kw not the 3Kw as quoted elsewhere) is fitted with the base and accessed underneath giving the heating vessel a flat internal base with a slight recess to capture mineral deposits making it very easy to clean. With a 25 ltr water volume it heats from 10'C to a rolling boil in 1hr 10 mins (key staging on this is: 10 to 70 = 45 mins; 70 to 90'C +15 mins & 90 to a boil +10 mins). The unit has a genuine 30ltr capacity which gives sufficient head space to safely accommodate a rolling boil with water. The lid fits well with two vents and has a `lug and twist' securing method which is very easy to engage. The tap is robust and positive. It is a sound well-made unit and would be a good catering asset . In comparing the Burco Cygnet to commonly available plastic `bucket and element' brewing boilers I am very pleased. It is eminently cleanable compared to a plastic bucket and the construction will give a much longer useable life. You only get a 1-5 & High thermostat control compared to some of the digital read-outs on other kit but it can be `calibrated' by immersion thermometer and appears very reproducible (example on mine the point of the trailing edge of the 3 = 72, my mash addition temperature & 4 = 80'C, my preferred sparging temperature). I have had no boil over, to the extent I have modified my boil so that for a std 23 ltr batch I now over fill to 25 ltr and boil back. It is a strong rolling boil and is safely accommodated in the cygnet. If there is a minor (buy obvious) negative it is that all that metal probably conducts some heat away slowing things down but then how much insulation does a thin plastic bucket really give anyway? The ease of cleaning and robust construction more than compensates.The one change I have made is to replace the standard tap with a 25mm, threaded in & out, dairy ball joint, also allowing a bazooka internal filter to be fitted, a very easy job. That black stripe up the front looks like a calibrated vision panel, it isn't, but no problem. The walls are uniform and vertical, perfect for a volume indicator, but there isn't one (just the 30ltr max mark), I have got round this by putting calibrated markings on my brewing paddle, which when stood against the inside of the side wall works well.I am pleased with the unit and would buy again.UPDATE: Have now completed four brews with the Cygnet. Boil is rolling and predictable to the extent I have upped my batch to 25ltr from 23 (but boiling down and making back rather than initially over charging). Cleaning is very easy and quick. No issues with the dairy valve I added or leaking. I remain very pleased with the purchase.

We bought this for use during training days. it worked brilliantly for 3 days solid, took about 90 minutes to heat a full 30 litres, and stayed nearly boiled all day on the No. 5 setting. Waited until it was about a third empty to re-fill it and it took about 10-15 minutes to get back on the boil.I read the other reviews but have to admit it is a really simple, easy to use water boiler, the only query I have is why is the re-set button on bottom underneath the unit? It does hold 30 litres and yes the tap is about an inch above the bottom of the boiler, does that matter? Not to me it didn't, just means that when the lads can't get any more water out of the tap I still have an inch of water in it so it does not boil dry.

Bought specifically for Homebrew. I had read a few reviews on Amazon regarding this product and how it performs as a boiler and the most recent reviews were a bit mixed so I feel I must write this review after my first brew with it. This is an excellent, well made quality tool for the Homebrewer, it has a number of settings on the thermostat which are excellent, 3 for strike and maybe sparge or 4 for sparge depending how hot you like your sparge water to be. The boil set on "high" is an excellent rolling boil and comes up to the boil in under 15 mins from mash temperature, quick competed to my gas flame. The only criticism I could add, is when you are making a smallish batch of under 20 litres the boil maybe a little vigorous but a simmer stat should cure this. Also a point worth noting don't do a 30litre brew in it.....it won't hold it!A note about the seller, it was estimated as being delivered on the 4/2/16 - 8/2/16 and it arrived 2 days early. Top seller with rapid postage. Excellent work.