Authors: Matt Del Fiacco & Marshall Schott

Since starting the xBmt series over 3 years ago, we’ve tested a multitude of brewing variables believed to have a major impact yet results have been inconclusive. One thing this has not been the case for is the variable of water chemistry with most xBmts returning statistically significant results, suggesting the water we use to make our beer does matter, perhaps more than many once presumed. That’s certainly true for most of us here at Brülosophy who used to view water as an issue of last focus yet now believe it is of primary importance!

There are a few major components when it comes to precisely dialing in one’s water to a desired profile, namely mineral content and acidity, the latter of which requires some form of measurement tool to ensure the proper pH has been reached. While pH strips are cheap and relatively easy to use, they aren’t necessarily known for being very accurate, forcing brewers to rely on a change in color on litmus paper to indicate a range within which the wort pH lies. A popular alternative for those preferring more accuracy is the digital pH meter, which allows brewers to quickly and easily measure wort acidity by dipping a probe into a small sample then reading a LCD display.

There exist numerous versions of pH meters on the market, ranging from cheap and unreliable to very expensive with pin-point accuracy. The focus of this review is on a couple relatively new pH meters by ThermoWorks, known for their super fast and accurate ThermaPen thermometers. Having messed around with various approaches to pH measurement, we were excited to see how the ThermoWorks pH meters stacked up.

The product/s reviewed for this article was provided by the manufacturer in exchange for an honest review; no other compensation was provided. The opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author/s and a concerted effort was made to approach the review from an unbiased perspective.

This review is a collaborative effort between Matt and Marshall who have been using ThermoWorks models 8000 and 8689 pH meters, respectively, for the last few months. Rather than splitting them up into separate reviews, we thought it’d be helpful to compare them side-by-side. For that reason, each meter is reviewed independently on the same criteria.

Build quality

8000 (Matt): I’ve gotta say, the build quality is one of my favorite things about this pH meter. The plastic it’s made from is sturdy and solid, and there is a weight to it that is comforting as someone who is regularly not trusted with fragile items. The four buttons that make up the actionable section of the interface drop down enough to reassure you that you did indeed make a selection, and the LCD display is clear and responsive. I don’t have the rubber case currently, but I plan on getting it soon. The probe is connected via a disconnect at the top of the unit, which is capable of quickly being attached/detached. The probe is made of strong plastic with the replaceable glass electrode protected by the shell. No need to worry about tipping over a small sample of the wort, I’m sure this relatively lightweight meter would hold up just fine.

8689 (Marshall): I was a little surprised after opening the box for the 8689 pH meter, for some reason I expected it to be a little heavier than it was, perhaps because I’d been using the relatively weighty Milwaukee MW-102 for the last couple years. Any concerns I had up front about build quality have since been quelled, as I’ve treated the meter no differently than any of my other gear, even dropped it fairly hard on my workbench once, and it is still in tip-top shape. The LCD screen is easy to read, the buttons do exactly what they’re supposed to, and the plastic is sturdy despite the lacking weight. The meter comes with a screw on electrode cover that I keep filled with storage solution in order to prolong its life.

Read Speed and Stability

8000 (Matt): The read time on my ThermoWorks 8000 is very quick, taking about 10 seconds to establish a stable pH reading, a far cry from my old Etekcity meter that would take 30+ seconds and never fully stabilize. In addition to being quick, the readings are consistent over multiple measurements, which is exactly what I want in a pH meter.

8686 (Marshall): My first pH meter was a yellow cheapy that worked for a few months before crapping out on me, and even before it broke, it was slow and inconsistent. When I upgraded to the MW-102, consistency definitely improved, but it still took a good 15-20 seconds for the pH reading to stabilize. Unexpectedly, the ThermoWorks 8689 meter produces a stable reading in about 8-12 seconds, which isn’t a huge time savings, but anything that hastens my brew day is convenient. Over multiple readings of various solutions, the 8689 was consistently within 0.01 pH, which is good enough for me.

Calibration & Accuracy

8000 (Matt): Relying on the provided instructions, I calibrated the 8000 prior to first use using calibration solutions, it was incredibly simple and only took a couple minutes. The ability to calibrate without the use of a small screwdriver is definitely a welcome benefit of this meter, and I appreciate that the 8000 can be manually adjusted for solution temperature as well (the 8100 includes a temperature probe for auto-adjustment). While ThermoWorks recommends calibrating the meter before each use, I haven’t really needed to do so since it has consistently read within 0.01 of my intended pH as calculated by the Bru’n Water Spreadsheet over 12 batches.

8689 (Marshall): Calibrating a pH meter is an annoying though necessary step for those who prefer accurate readings. My MW-102 required calibration prior to every brew day, often reading around 0.5 pH off of calibration solutions after a week or 2 of no use. A surprisingly pleasant experience with the 8689 is how it seems to maintain calibration. I check accuracy using calibration solutions prior to every batch I make to determine whether calibration is necessary and without fail, the 8689 has yet to fall outside of a 0.01 pH range of 4.0 and 7.0 pH calibration solutions. Additionally, my mash pH readings are always within 0.1 of what the Bru’n Water Spreadsheet predicts given my starting water profile. Finally, the 8689 has built-in automatic temperature compensation, which is a nice feature in such an affordable meter.

Ease Of Use

8000 (Matt): Once calibrated, use is the easiest thing in the world. Turn it on, place the probe into a small sample of wort (or whatever other solution), and give it 10-15 seconds before making note of the pH. The only challenging thing about the unit is the interface, which is not incredibly intuitive. There are a fair degree of acronyms used in the settings, long button presses that perform certain functions, and unclear directional commands. The instructions are incredibly valuable here and it’s pretty easy to gain a solid understanding of how to use the system, but there is a slight initial learning curve.

8689 (Marshall): My favorite thing about the 8689 has to be how easy it is to use. After using a meter that had 2 probes with long wires connected to a larger base unit for the last couple years, being able to simply remove a cover, press a button, and plop the entire meter in a sample was incredibly appealing to me. Like with any electronic device, there is some learning involved in order to use it correctly, but it’s nothing that can’t be easily accomplished by reading the relatively short instruction manual. After using the pen-shaped 8689, I can’t ever see myself going back to clunkier meters.

Storage

8000 (Matt): The 8000 comes with an electrode cap that holds storage solution as well as a nice case to keep the unit safe between brews. The case has a pocket for those who prefer to disconnect and safely tuck away the probe. The unit itself isn’t too big, but it does have a larger footprint than other other pH meters I’ve seen, so storage space should be considered when looking to purchase this unit.

8689 (Marshall): The simple and sleek design of the 8689 makes it super easy to store, taking up a tiny amount of space with no cords to get tangled. I really appreciate this!

Probe Replacement

Unfortunately, electrodes don’t last forever, though their life can certainly be prolonged with proper storage. Thankfully, ThermoWorks offers replacement electrodes for both the 8000 and 8689 pH meters so that users don’t have to buy a brand new unit when things go south.

Seriously though, use storage solution, it’s there for a reason.

| THE VERDICT |

The ThermoWorks 8000 pH meter is a quality piece of equipment that does everything it is expected to do quite well– it’s durable, fast, consistent, and accurate. Curiously, the specs of the 8000 are remarkably similar to those of the 8689, and based on our combined experiences with both, they seem to share a similar performance. With this in mind, and since the 8689 is regularly priced $44 lower than the 8000, it’s difficult to strongly recommend the 8000 over the 8689. That said, for those who prefer a larger base unit with a corded probe, the 8000 will undoubtedly fit the bill, and either meter will help you precisely dial in your water profile to make your beer better!

For a limited time, the ThermoWorks 8689 is on sale for only $69,

get yours now before the price goes back up!

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