Thanks for checking back on us and I hope we didn't rip part your product too much

I just have watched the video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6rraC-xY2A
Looks really nice an easy. The german price is 1390 € with tax - where is it mentioned 2400$?
The $2400 were posted earlier in this thread and I don't know where they came for. I looked for a price but with 1400 euro, which incudes 17% tax that you wouldn't have to pay in the US, It's price would be more like $2000. This will still be considered pretty steep. I'm not saying that the price is excessive for this system but it will be met with considerable skepticism.
I have known about the Braumeister for a while and described the system to other home brewers before. Here is what I like and don't like:
Pros:
- While the system is based on what many here in the US know as RMS (Recirculated Mash System) it pumps the wort into the mash from the bottom which allows for greater recirculation speeds and more even agitation and extraction of the grain bed. Typical RMS systems perform a continuous lauter and are therefore limited by the amount of flow a settled grain bed will support. By going the other way you are able to heat the mash more efficiently
- ease of use
Cons:
- clarity of sweet wort: Since you don't have a means of clarifying the sweet wort through the grain bed ( recirculate or Truebwuerzepumpen) you'll end up with a turbid wort in the brew kettle. I have seen data saying that it makes a difference and data showing the opposite. But most brewers prefer to get clear sweet wort. At least free of grain husks and grits.
- brewhouse efficiency: Since this is a no-sparge system the efficiency is limited to about 80% (~65% if you calculate it to the total grain weight which is common in German brewing). But I think you will reach all of that since your conversion is likely very good due to the thin mash and recirculation. Those 80% would be an improvement for some but I suspect that they would expect more from an actual brew system that they pay a lot of money for.
I wouldn't mind one for mashing but then I still have to transfer the mash to a lauter tun to lauter. Right now I mash in a kettle on the stove and scoop the mash into a cooler for lautering.
In the video I saw people drink only cloudy beer. Is it not possible to brew clear beer with the Braumeister?
Ettan, I assume based on your e-mail address you are Stefan Speidel himself

Kai