Review of PerfectDraft Pro by Philips/BeerHawk
Summary
PerfectDraft Pro offers the most affordable option for home users who want a beer maker. However, beer is more expensive than ever.
The pros
- This is the best beer machine in market
- Only one beer machine with adjustable temperatures
- Large range of beer options compared to other brands
Cons
- Price of beer/Regular price increases
- The machine’s running cost
- The machine may have minor problems
PerfectDraft’s beer machine proved to be a huge success during lockdowns. It was used by many people who were trying desperately for some calm during extremely difficult times.
While they have been a beloved gadget, interest has dropped in recent years. They are no longer used on a regular basis by most friends. Instead, they are only taken out to special events.
Philips/BeerHawk has refreshed the beer machine’s Pro model to re-invigorate interest in purchasing beer kegs.
PerfectDraft Pro, a smart upgrade that adds many of the same features as the original model. First and foremost is the ability to control the temperature, including taking it all the way down to 0°C.
PerfectDraft was the first home beer machine that offered variable temperatures.
Unfortunately, many current users have lost interest due to rising beer prices.
BeerHawk: Buy Now
Philips/BeerHawk PerfectDraft Pro Vs Original PerfectDraft
| PerfectDraft Pro | PerfectDraft | |
|---|---|---|
| Beer Keg Size | 6-litre kegs | 6-litre kegs |
| Is beer good for a long time? | Beer freshness for 30 days | Beer freshness for 30 days |
| Volume Indicator | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | H: 44.5cm, W: 29.4cm, D: 40.1cm | H: 37.6cm, W: 26cm, D: 34.6cm |
| Reducing the temperature | Temperature control (0°C – 12°C) | Servings are available at 3 degrees |
| The Cooling Time | Cooling off for 10 hours | 12-hour cooling |
| Temperature stability | Stable performance in temperatures up to 38°C | Stable performance in temperatures up to 31°C |
| Pouring | Smart Pour technology | Standard |
| Connectivity | Connected app experience | No |
PerfectDraft Pro vs Blade vs Unter
| PerfectDraft Pro | PerfectDraft | Blade | Sub | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6L | 6L | 8L | 2L |
| Temperature | Variable 0-12 degrees. |
3°C | 2°C | 2 °C |
| The speed of cooling | 10 hours | Twelve hours after room temperature | Faster than PerfectDraft* | 15 to 20 hours |
| Beer kept fresh for | 30 Days | 30 Days | 30 Days | 15 days |
| Carbon dioxide canisters | It is not required | It is not required | It is not required | It is not required |
| Dimensions | H: 44.5cm, W: 29.4cm, D: 40.1cm | H: 37.6cm, W: 26cm, D: 34.6cm | 590H x 289W x 471Dmm | 452.5x190x383.3mm |
| Weighing | 17.6 kg | 4.45 kg | ||
| Easy to use | Very easy With superior pouring |
Very easy | Very easy | It’s very simple |
| Beer selection | 75 Stock 32 |
75 Stock 32 |
24 | 41 |
| Cheapest Keg Beer/Larger that’s not low alcohol |
Becks £33.90 £28.90 |
Becks £31.99 £26 (with keg return) |
Amstel £31.99 |
Amstel £8.99 |
| Price per 500ml | £2.83 £2.40 |
£2.67 £2.17 when using beer tokens |
£1.94 | £2.25 |
| Machine price | £385 £300 with 1 keg & 2 glasses |
£250 RRP £280 starter bundle with 1 keg & 2 glasses £179 with discount (no beer included) |
£475 with 2x8L kegs | £125 £169 |
| Energy consumption | 70 Watt? Maximum draw: 117W Modes that are energy efficient |
70 Watt | 70 Watt | A+ |
Beer Prices on the Rise
Beer Hawk’s and PerfectDraft’s biggest problems is the ever-increasing cost of beer. Beer Hawk is increasing the prices of beer and decreasing the number of offers. Beer Hawk had always been expensive. The most recent price rise added around £2 to most kegs.
Reddit users are discontented. I’ve also seen negative comments regarding HotUKDeals.
Stella beer has been very popular due to the PerfectDraft’s use of Belgia-brewed beer instead of the UK-brewed varieties. I certainly wouldn’t drink Stella out of a can, but it is nice on the PerfectDraft. You can get a greater selection at the supermarket and the beer is less expensive. However, it will cost you more to buy a machine, or run it.
A quick look at Tesco shows I can get Krombacher Pils or Paulaner Munich Hell at £2.20 a bottle or 3 for £5. That’s £1.67 per 500ml vs £2.40 for Becks, the cheapest full-strength beer for the PerfectDraft (and that’s factoring in the refund from a keg).
App Control
PerfectDraft Pro has WiFi now and can be controlled using an app. Two buttons are located on the front to control the temperature. Since I realized this, the app is rarely used.
It has some benefits, however. You can use the app to get advice about the ideal temperature for each beer. I have Spaten at the moment, and this is supposed to be 3°C. If I switch it to Leffe, it recommends 7°C.
You can change the mode of this machine from regular to power-saving or cooling schedule if you are using it regularly. It will save electricity by not being in use. Although it isn’t something I use, I do not think I need to.
If you prefer to drink beer casually and enjoy a slow-paced drinking experience, it’s possible to set the date when you place the keg. The beer will then last until it runs out.
Glitchy Behaviour – No volume, incorrect temperature etc
The machine is quite slow, which I found disappointing. First keg that I tried to install refused to give me the volume of my beer. Also, it seemed confused by temperature. The machine would not settle down unless I turned it off several times.
It failed to connect after being turned off for a time. This again required me to restart it.
None of these are major problems, but it isn’t the experience I expected for a premium device.
Consumption of Power
The app has the power-saving mode, which is a good thing as it uses a lot of electricity. With my beer machine set to 1°C it was pulling 117W consistently when I watched it, but during a 5-hour period, it pulled 0.3kW. This consumes more electricity than my refrigerator. It is probably due to the Peltier cooling not being as efficient as a compressor, and because the insulation is less than that of a regular fridge.
After switching to power saving mode it dropped immediately to 4.7W. It will probably remain this way until the temperature reaches its target.
You can call me a heathen but I prefer my beer chilled, no matter what the brand. I find that 1°C or 2°C is significantly better than the standard 3°C, and this is the main selling point of the PerfectDraft Pro.
Even though you get warned that the head may be reduced at below 3°C, I haven’t had too much of an issue with it and have enjoyed all the beer that has come out of it so far.
Of course, it also works the other way too, you should drink things like IPA a bit warmer than the standard 3°C and you now have an option to adjust this.
Smart Pour, a new design for the beer taps has also been implemented. While I’m not certain how big of an impact this has on my experience, the beer tap now features Smart Pour. Although it usually produces a foamy head after I pour, all is well once that happens. My beer will naturally have a smaller head if it has been chilled. It does seem marginally better than the original, though, I only had limited experience with it, but I’d often pour a beer with a big head when using my friends.
All in all
Personally, my feelings about PerfectDraft Pro are mixed.
The original view that beer was too expensive hasn’t changed. I find it hard to justify buying it often. PerfectDraft is becoming less attractive due to rising beer costs.
Also, the machine’s operation is somewhat erratic. While this hasn’t been a huge problem for me, it is not what I expect from a premium piece of equipment.
It has been a great tool for special events and parties. This machine is now much easier to use than its predecessor because it has lower temperatures. This machine is by far the most popular beer-making device. While the Blade may be a more affordable option, it costs much more. This makes it difficult to recommend the Blade for home-buyers (unless you are a heavy drinker). Overall, if you are going to get a beer machine, then this is the only option I’d choose.
