PicoBrew Pico users

[Trevor Mack]

There has been talk about doing a group order of reusable filter "paks" that would unlock "brew your own ingredients" (BYOI) automation with a food grade high temp material. Well that time has come and pre-orders are available for the first run. These essentially act as a picopak when paired with an local server of your choosing unlocking the Pico C/S/Pro to be a mini Z/Zymatic machine.

Isn't my project, but have been involved in it so ask any questions you might have and I'll get you some answers.

A box costs $42 (all expenses included) if shipping costs more additional fees may be due later (ie. if you live over seas and need international shipping, etc).

https://www.pico-free.com/

 

[BrewforSport]

There has been talk about doing a group order of reusable filter "paks" that would unlock "brew your own ingredients" (BYOI) automation with a food grade high temp material. Well that time has come and pre-orders are available for the first run. These essentially act as a picopak when paired with an local server of your choosing unlocking the Pico C/S/Pro to be a mini Z/Zymatic machine.

Isn't my project, but have been involved in it so ask any questions you might have and I'll get you some answers.

A box costs $42 (all expenses included) if shipping costs more additional fees may be due later (ie. if you live over seas and need international shipping, etc).

https://www.pico-free.com/

Trevor: I live in the Seattle area can I pick up locally or do they need to be shipped?

 

[Trevor Mack]

The cost is based on the following: (Cost of the box) + (Shipping from Hong Kong to the USA) + (Shipping from port to my house) + (All required import taxes) +(Shipping cost within the Continental USA) + (A small margin for any incidentals along the way) = YOUR COST.

From the linked site, Pico Free - Brew the beer of your dreams, all your questions should be answered. This is not something from "Picobrew", but rather from a member of the Picobrew community on Facebook that is sourcing these filter inserts for the C/S/Pro series devices. Total cost landed at your door is at a prepaid price of $42 if we can get 250 units ordered (minimum quantity order for the factory run).

 

[RampantOctopus]

Trevor: I live in the Seattle area can I pick up locally or do they need to be shipped?

I think the guy who is sourcing them lives in the midwest. This is not an official Picobrew product.

 

[BrewforSport]

Thanks

From the linked site, Pico Free - Brew the beer of your dreams, all your questions should be answered. This is not something from "Picobrew", but rather from a member of the Picobrew community on Facebook that is sourcing these filter inserts for the C/S/Pro series devices. Total cost landed at your door is at a prepaid price of $42 if we can get 250 units ordered (minimum quantity order for the factory run).

Thanks!

 

[BrewforSport]

I think the guy who is sourcing them lives in the midwest. This is not an official Picobrew product.

Thanks!

 

[Trevor Mack]

For those that haven't been following along on Facebook.

Pico-free update. The last 150 boxes are packed. About 6 hours. So I guess I have the system down that I average 2 minutes and 24 seconds to inspect and pack each one (not done together)

Anyway. I have called ups and arranged a pick up. They will come on MONDAY so by Tuesday the last of you first round people should be able to track.

In addition, all international and over seas forces boxes, and domestic PO Boxes that needed to be shipped USPS have been dropped off.

Today has been great progress. But not done. I have to inspect what I have left so that I can sell them. Soon. But sitting down now.

Also if you missed the first run we have gotten word from the factory they are open for a second run and if we get orders in soon we could get them to do the run before Chinese New Year, but regardless this will be the last run they are willing to do.

PICO-FREE.COM is now open for PREORDERS for the next manufacturing run.

If we get 250 or more by JANUARY 23, I will be able to order before Chinese New Year, and we can get them Mid-March. Otherwise they will have to ship in April or later. If I don't get enough orders, I will refund orders received.

This will be the last time, as I am not going to continue this, and the factory doesn't want to supply after this order.

Cart is open at pico-free.com for the second and last product run.

 

[Trevor Mack]

Last 42hr to get in on the second and last PicoFree purchase. Shipping is still being worked out, but there is a chance to get out of China factory before CNY.

There have been folks posting about their new found "freedom" on the Facebook group. Reach out if you have questions, want additional pictures or anything else I'm here and available.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Mine was just delivered today, and it is sturdy not flimsy and should last a good long time. I recommend.

 

[Lbarouf]

Anyone has the recipe for the Mt. Baker Maibock? I found a pack when cleaning. I would want to brew it, but will change the hops. I don't see what is in there.
thanks!

 

[Lbarouf]

Last 42hr to get in on the second and last PicoFree purchase. Shipping is still being worked out, but there is a chance to get out of China factory before CNY.

There have been folks posting about their new found "freedom" on the Facebook group. Reach out if you have questions, want additional pictures or anything else I'm here and available.

Oh.... I just noticed this. He doesn’t plan on making more? Anything else similar on the market?

 

[Lbarouf]

If anyone wants to sell one of their pico free, I’d be interested.

 

[Trevor Mack]

If anyone wants to sell one of their pico free, I’d be interested.

The cart is open again until February 24th. Has nothing to do with him not wanting to do more (though is a lot of work for no profits...) the factory printing these in China has said absolutely no more orders as they aren't in the business of printing plastic boxes.

 

[Lbarouf]

The cart is open again until February 24th. Has nothing to do with him not wanting to do more (though is a lot of work for no profits...) the factory printing these in China has said absolutely no more orders as they aren't in the business of printing plastic boxes.

Yeah, that sucks. I got mine in, luckily. I wonder how much they want for the intellectual property. Imagine restarting the production of the Z with aim for the homebrew market. No pack, just recipe sharing and reusable step filters. Community support and open source.
I still like the design of the machines, the best for all in ones that I know. I’ll keep dreaming.

 

[Trevor Mack]

To be clear PicoFree isn't from Picobrew and doesn't use or leverage any of Picobrew's IP and had nothing to do with the Zy or Z lines. Purely offering an automation feature for the smaller device line of C/S/Pro. For those that have these and didn't horde a 12+ month supply of PicoPaks haven't been able to do any brewing other than what is guess is a super annoying sous vide brew...

That all said I know Picobrew "owners" want to sell what they have in IP, but don't know how much they want as that isn't "public knowledge". Though from the information I do have there hasn't been any viable offers or interested parties come forth... Which I can only imagine as time goes on only drops the "assumed value" to those that lost millions here due to bad business decisions and mismanagement.

 

[Lbarouf]

To be clear PicoFree isn't from Picobrew and doesn't use or leverage any of Picobrew's IP and had nothing to do with the Zy or Z lines. Purely offering an automation feature for the smaller device line of C/S/Pro. For those that have these and didn't horde a 12+ month supply of PicoPaks haven't been able to do any brewing other than what is guess is a super annoying sous vide brew...

That all said I know Picobrew "owners" want to sell what they have in IP, but don't know how much they want as that isn't "public knowledge". Though from the information I do have there hasn't been any viable offers or interested parties come forth... Which I can only imagine as time goes on only drops the "assumed value" to those that lost millions here due to bad business decisions and mismanagement.

argh, sorry, I reread my post and was far from clear. First thought/phrase was about the fact the plant doesn’t want to make more. There must be a business case for it. And then that tied in with the second thought, where the owners of the pico brew intellectual property want to sell the IP. How much they are asking. My thought around that was perhaps a group buy. Could pico owners buy the IP to manufacture machines? And maybe create a community and support group? I would see a focus on the Z only.
Sorry again, I know he has nothing to do with the pico brew company or it’s owners.
Side note, any way to use the pico still without servers?

 

[Trevor Mack]

Pico Still yes is compatible and supported by the common python server known as chiefwigms/picobrew_pico. There is even an experimental feature to graph still temperature and pressure data which PB would never provide given legal battles or potential battles.

The factory in China given the pandemic can pick and choose business opportunities. So they want to focus on larger order quantity and higher profitable business than our "print plastic box in a very niche market".

Yes if we would be able to get "enough funding" to make the millions if not hundreds of millions lost to the financial owners of PB that *could work*. Though we already have unlocked the devices so the only thing that would give us is the patents (doubt they would sell them to the community), the server, and the manufacturer contacts and molds (if they weren't destroyed already given last order was placed well over a year ago).

 

[Lbarouf]

Yeah, if it's the multiple millions, chances are slim it could ever be raised. I don't know what they would do with the IP, sit on it?
Great to read on the pico still, now if only I can find one....

 

[Lbarouf]

Any idea when the step filters pick-free would ship?

 

[Trevor Mack]

The last round has cleared custom and awaiting delivery to the guy organizing the order. He received the pack boxes and labels the other day.

I'd expect delivery to his address this week and pack out to begin over the weekend.

 

[macgyuver]

I have received my shipping numbers and items are in transit, you should have received notification by now. If not he may not have gotten them all inspected and shipped this past weekend. His garage was packed tight with them all this time around.

 

[Trevor Mack]

I also noticed the cart was open again for any extras, not sure how long that will last this time around.

Cart just closed roughly 2 hours ago... there are a few extras so stay tuned to your emails over the coming week for the announcement to those that subscribed on pico-free.com for when that hits.

 

[msav]

Hey all.

I just picked up the last Pico-free from the latest batch, should be here tomorrow. I already build a grain bin out of stainless steel and a crude but functional stainless steel hops bin for my pico pro.
I just picked up a pico s off ebay for $80 shipped. looking forward to being able to brew simultaneously.

I swapped out the fittings with ball lock fittings and started a deep clean cycle to make sure everything worked. The step filter just kept filling up and no water was going into the keg. I thought that was weird. Then I looked up the deep clean instructions for the pico-c.

I was under the impression that the pico c was the same as the pico pro except for cosmetics and the ball lock fittings. I could not be more wrong. It may have the same hardware but the software is totally different.

It seems to do a deep clean in a pico- C you need to connected the in and the out hoses, fill up the step filter and put a pico-c cleaning bucket in the step filter.

I was not havening any part of that. I logged into my home pIco server and created a beer recipe named it deep clean and adjusted the boil temps and hops cycles and sent it off its way to cleaning. just like the pico pro. There is still a few other nuances with the machine but I think I c an get around it.

I love this forum. They have a awesome recipe clone forum and i have made many clone beers with great results using beer smith and running the beer. xml through picobrew's recipe converter to adjust it to the pico sized batch.

I have noticed though I have to up the hops. in the recipe's I think it has something to do with the way the picobrew extracts the flavor from the hops as opposed to boiling the hops in a pot. But I have been able to adjust.

one think I have learned with my Pico pro. do a deep clean after every bacth of beer and do a deep clean after you machine sits for 3 or more months without use. I had a scare with my pro that cause it to not heat, and it took about 5 deep clean cycles to clean out whatever was clogging the heating steam injector tubing.

 

[tarwin]

Hi Pico users

I'm researching the differences between the Pico and the Z. I'm especially interested in the PCB behind the display.
Could someone please take and post a picture of it? Just loosen the four screws in the front and fold it down. No need to remove the cables.

That would be awesome and really helpful! Thanks a lot!

 

[msav]

I actually have to pull the display board out of my Pico Pro. I have an issue that causes steam to get behind the board and causes the machine to crap out mid brew. Last time it happened I removed the screws and pulled the board away from the machine and hit it with some canned air to dry it out. the machine then powered back on and I was able to continue my brew.

I am thinking of sealing the plastic plate to the stainless with some RTV silicone.

I will get some pics while I have it out and post them here for you

 

[VagueSkunk]

Couple questions:
- How can I remove my Picobrew from my account? I used to see that option when I logged in at the site, but I can't find it any longer. Does it even matter at this point?
- Anybody interested in purchasing my Picobrew? It's one of the stainless models from the kickstarter campaign, I forget what the model designation is for those. It's got about 10-12 brews through it, is in great condition and works well. I'll let it go for $100 plus actual shipping costs.
Thanks!

 

[RampantOctopus]

@VagueSkunk According to PBfundingllc.com (picobrew's owner) you can deregister by sending an email to [email protected]
... I did this once, only took six months. literally six months.
The ownership doesn't matter if someone is going to use the offline server solution, or if you just want to hand over your login and password (just make it generic?)... Anyhow, these machines have some value but not much. The C/S/Pros were going NIB for $100 shipped after the auction. You might be able to sell it, but maybe consider just giving it away? I suppose it matters which model do you have..?

 

[msav]

I may be interested in it. Sounds like you have the pico S (later named Pico Pro)

do you have all of the accessories with it? I may be interested if the shipping is not too much

If you know how to setup the pico server These systems have great Value. But only to someone who knows how to set it up. And they will have to buy a pico-free or build a grain and hops brew vessel.

with the shutdown of the picbrew servers being slated to happen at any time. there is not much value to the average user

 

[VagueSkunk]

I do have all the accessories, but I need to keep the kegs as I still use those for other purposes. As far as shipping costs, I just want to take the thing to a UPS store and have them box it up and ship it so I don't know the actual cost yet. If I can find a buyer, I'll investigate the shipping costs and disclose that to the buyer pre-sale. I'm in the Los Angeles area so if there's somebody local that wants it, that's a possibility as well.

 

[msav]

I don't need the kegs. I have 7 of them and recently upgraded to 3 gal kegs to make double batches. I actually will be trying to get rid of some of my original Picobrew kegs. I only need to keep 3 of them

if you itemize what accessories you have I can tell you what I would need and not need and then you could get a estimate on shipping for me. let me know I am in Southern Oregon