I've been hovering around 65% using a 10 gal Home Depot cooler with SS braid, batch sparging with equal amounts at 170. I use Beersmith to calculate everything, and usually a barley crusher set at .035. I use a hydrometer and refractometer to measure wort at 70 degrees.
Now, on the last batch I mistakenly ordered crushed grains from Brewmaster's Warehouse. Which gave me a nice way to see if my crush was a factor in low efficiency.
My target OG was 1.071, but I got 1.065 which worked out to 62%. I know Ed's crush gets rave reviews on here, so I can safely eliminate that from my equation. I hit my strike temp right on the nose and held it at 158 for 60 minutes, with only a 1 degree drop in the last half hour. I then batch sparged with 2.5 gallons and 170, stirred and let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeated. I also vorlaufed. I collected exactly 8 gallons, which is what Beersmith computed. But the OG was only 1.065, check with both a hydrometer and refractometer at 70 degrees.
Honestly, I'm out of ideas. Maybe mash Ph? That's the only thing I can figure that I haven't tested.
Now, on the last batch I mistakenly ordered crushed grains from Brewmaster's Warehouse. Which gave me a nice way to see if my crush was a factor in low efficiency.
My target OG was 1.071, but I got 1.065 which worked out to 62%. I know Ed's crush gets rave reviews on here, so I can safely eliminate that from my equation. I hit my strike temp right on the nose and held it at 158 for 60 minutes, with only a 1 degree drop in the last half hour. I then batch sparged with 2.5 gallons and 170, stirred and let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeated. I also vorlaufed. I collected exactly 8 gallons, which is what Beersmith computed. But the OG was only 1.065, check with both a hydrometer and refractometer at 70 degrees.
Honestly, I'm out of ideas. Maybe mash Ph? That's the only thing I can figure that I haven't tested.