The Best Bottles For Homebrewing Kombucha (Complete Buying Guide)
Originally published on April 17, 2020. Last updated on July 31, 2023
If you are getting started with brewing kombucha, you might be wondering the same as I did. Which bottles are the best for homebrewing kombucha?
I wanted to find out which bottle types were best for kombucha. Following is all my research and learnings about finding the best bottles for the second fermentation of kombucha.
What are the Best Bottles for Making Kombucha?
Choosing a bottle type for your homebrewed kombucha is up to personal preference. If you plan to make a ton of kombucha, you may want to use reusable bottles like swing-top-type bottles.
Continue reading to learn what types of bottles you can use to make kombucha and which one may best suit you.
What to Look for in Kombucha Bottles and Caps
Always choose high-quality, food-grade glass that can handle the carbonation pressure during the second fermentation.
The bottle cap is equally important. It should be strong enough to create an airtight seal, trapping carbonation as your brew kombucha in the bottle.
If you have tried brewing kombucha before, you know that the second fermentation (F2) is where the magic happens.
This guide will review the best bottles for brewing kombucha during the second fermentation. Using the right bottles will give you the delightful effervescence we all love with kombucha.
The best bottles for kombucha are:
YEBODA Amber Glass Beer Bottles 12 oz
Last update on 2023-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Out of all the bottles for kombucha that I put to the test, the YEBODA 12 oz Amber Glass Beer Bottles easily came out on top.
These particular bottles have a range of great features that make them an excellent choice for making kombucha! They are made from glass, are easy to clean, and give you a secure flip top.
A feature that I really liked about these bottles is that they feature darkened glass. This helps to give the bacteria and yeast inside your kombucha even more protection against harmful UV rays. So you won’t have to worry about exposing these bottles to the light!
Pros
Darkened glass - no need to worry about harmful UV rays
12 ounces - the perfect capacity for bottling single-serve kombucha
Cons
Case of 9 - might need to buy two cases
Ilyapa Clear Swing Top Glass Beer Bottles 12 oz
Last update on 2023-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Lastly are the wonderful Ilyapa 12 oz. Clear Swing Top Glass Beer Bottles. These particular bottles for kombucha feature heavy-duty glass, so you can rest assured that they will last you for many years.
A feature I liked about these beer bottles is that you can choose between different sizes. There are 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 32-ounce bottles to select from.
So this gives you plenty of options for choosing how much kombucha you want to craft in one go and how much kombucha you want to drink at any one time.
These glass bottles have flip caps, so you will know they can handle the pressure of the carbonation process. These flip caps give the bottle a strong seal, so you won’t have to worry about exploding kombucha bottles.
Pros
12 pack - you’ll get 12 glass bottles for making kombucha
Flips caps - give you the high-pressure seal that you need
Glass bottles - no need to worry about the bottle adding unwanted flavor to your kombucha
Cons
Clear glass
Grolsch Glass Beer Bottles 16 oz
Last update on 2023-09-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Next up are 16 oz. Grolsch Glass Beer Bottles. These particular bottles are another excellent choice for making kombucha because they give you a much larger capacity than 12-ounce bottles.
What I liked about these bottles is that they come with the essential flip cap you need. To handle the pressure inside the bottle that can occur during fermentation.
They feature darkened glass to lock out harmful UV rays, 12 bottles in a pack, and dishwasher safe for easier cleaning.
Pros
16 ounces - gives you a larger capacity for making kombucha
12 pack - gives you lots of bottles to use
Amber glass - keeps out harmful UV rays which can kill yeast and bacteria.
Cons
Expensive - one of the pricier options on this list
Otis Classic Swing Top Glass Bottles 16 oz
Last update on 2023-09-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you want larger bottles of kombucha but don’t want a larger amount of bottles to go with it, then the Otis Classic Swing Top Glass Bottles are just the thing you need.
These particular bottles feature a larger 16-ounce capacity, but you’ll only get 6 bottles in a pack.
A feature I really liked about these bottles is that they are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Pop them in your dishwasher and put them on a standard wash cycle to clean them and prepare them for making more kombucha.
Pros
Swing top - makes it easier to get the airtight seal you need
Darkened glass - locks out harmful UV rays from your bottle
16 ounces - gives you a larger capacity for making kombucha
Cons
Pricey - a little pricey for a pack of 6 bottles
Factors to Consider when Choosing Kombucha Bottles
Searching for the right bottles to make kombucha can be a real challenge, particularly if you’ve never made kombucha before! How can you ensure you’ve found the right bottles for your needs?
Does it matter if you opt for a certain material or not? And what kind of closure should you look for on your chosen kombucha bottles?
That’s why I’ve compiled this handy buyer’s guide to give you all the info you need to make a fully informed choice!
I’ve included all of the key features I used to select the best bottles for kombucha that I reviewed in more detail above. So as long as you bear these in mind, you can rest assured that you’ve found the best bottles for kombucha for your needs.
Let’s look at everything you need to know about choosing the right bottles for making kombucha below or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.
Flip Top
First, you must select a set of bottles with a flip top. This will help you to give your kombucha the airtight seal needed for making tasty kombucha.
This airtight seal will ensure the lid stays on the bottle and doesn’t come flying off when the pressure builds up from the carbonation.
You can also opt for a screw top if you prefer, but a switch top or flip-top bottle is best. It gives you the secure seal you need, so you won’t have to worry about opening your pantry door and finding kombucha everywhere.
Related Topic: How to avoid bottles exploding during fermentation
Glass Bottle
There are lots of different materials that you can opt for when it comes to choosing the best bottles for kombucha.
However, the very best bottles to opt for are ones made from glass. You won’t have to worry about the material adding an unpleasant flavor to your kombucha or any harmful chemicals as plastic bottles can do.
Ceramics is another popular choice. However, check that the glaze of the ceramic bottles doesn’t contain any lead. So that’s why I personally prefer to opt for glass bottles.
These are easy to use, allow you to make a large batch of kombucha, and you won’t have to worry about them ruining the flavor of your kombucha.
Number Of Bottles
Next, consider how many bottles you need to make kombucha. It will depend on the size of the batch that you plan on making and the capacity of the bottles you choose, which we will cover next.
Make sure that you buy a good selection of bottles so you don't have to run out and buy more.
Capacity
At an absolute minimum, you should select 12-ounce bottles. This will give you enough kombucha to enjoy in a single sitting. If it is a larger bottle, you might not want to drink it all in one sitting, and it can go flat.
Darkened Glass
Another factor to consider is whether you want to opt for darkened glass bottles.
Many people who make their own kombucha prefer to opt for darkened bottles because this gives their yeast and bacteria a little extra protection from those harmful UV rays.
Opt for clear bottles if you prefer to see the stages of fermentation in action.
But you must be aware that every time you take the bottles out of your darkened storage area to examine them, you expose them to harmful UV rays. This can kill off bacteria and yeast and slow the fermentation process.
Easy To Clean
Last but not least, it will be worth ensuring that you opt for bottles that are easy to clean. Once you have enjoyed your kombucha, the last thing you’ll want to do is spend a lot of time cleaning them.
Choose dishwasher-safe bottles. This will make them super easy to clean, and you won’t have to worry about buying a special brush to fit inside the glass bottles to clean away any stubborn grime.
Bottles to Avoid
- Poor quality or thin glass: These bottles can be dangerous during F2, as excess pressure may cause them to shatter.
- Square-shaped bottles: Square bottles are more prone to explosions due to their design, making them unsuitable for F2.
- Decorative, colored glass: Avoid bottles not intended for holding liquids during F2, as they may not withstand the pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind Of Bottles Should I Use For Kombucha?
When choosing the best bottles for making kombucha, go for bottles with a swing or flip top.
This gives you the proper seal needed to maintain the pressure within the bottle itself. This is because as the yeast and bacteria get to work, it starts to create carbon dioxide.
This carbonation will blow the lid off anything that doesn’t have a proper seal in place.
Is Glass Or Ceramic Better For Kombucha?
If you were to choose between a glass bottle or a ceramic bottle for brewing kombucha, you should always opt for glass.
This is because it is a non-reactive material, so you won’t have to worry about it reacting with your kombucha mixture.
You also won’t have to worry about checking whether the glaze of a ceramic dish contains lead, which you would have to do if you were to opt for a ceramic container.
Should Kombucha Be In A Dark Bottle?
Some brewers choose to ferment their kombucha in a dark bottle because this gives your fermented drink extra protection against sunlight. This is because the UV rays from direct sunlight can be very harmful to the fermentation process.
Whether you want to brew your kombucha in a darkened bottle is completely up to you. You can also store your kombucha bottles in a cool, dark place for added protection from UV rays.
Choosing the best kombucha bottles is essential for preserving the quality and taste of your homemade brew. So let your imagination run wild with flavors and experimentation while enjoying this delightful journey of fermenting kombucha.
