Anyone Can Be a Brew Master with the PicoU — Even You!

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If you read my review series on the PicoBrew S, then you probably thought that being able to brew beer on your kitchen counter was pretty cool — but that price tag, though! $799 is a lot to invest if you’re just a hobby brewer, but now Pico has come out with a sub-$200 solution for everyone, the Pico U.

What can you do with the Pico U? Well, obviously you can brew beer, but you can also use it as a single serving brewer for lots of your favorite drinks including coffee, tea and kombucha, milk-based drinks, yerba mate, horchata and dry sodas, and yes — tasty craft beer.

You can use the Pico U to brew everything from a single portion drink to small batch drinks and even 5-liter kegs. The Pico U is smaller and lighter than the previous Pico models, so it should be able to fit in every kitchen. You might remember that I had some issues getting the PicoBrew S under my kitchen cabinets (they hang a little low), so this is great news for anyone in the same boat.

Just as you could with the previous Pico models, you can use the Pico U with PicoPaks to make a 5-liter keg of beer, but the Pico U can do so much more.

The new pour-over basket allows you to brew a single, perfect cup of coffee with your own fresh grounds in just 90 seconds.

It’s okay if you aren’t a beer drinker, the Pico U can also make iced horchata, ginger lemon kombucha, citrus dry soda, yerba mate chai tea, vanilla cocoa cold brew, golden milk, and more.

With the 1-liter glass Bruet and Mini Step Filter, you can brew practically any drink with our new PicoPak Mini recipe kits. Load a PicoPak Mini, connect the Bruet, and the Pico U can smartly brew a wide array of unique beverages.

If you back the Pico U before Monday, you’ll receive a special gift:

We want all our backers to have the best. So, we’re offering all first-week Pico U backers a FREE Fusion Mug. Our specialty double-walled borosilicate glass mug is perfect for hot or cold beverages. Whether you’re sipping an ice cold black rice horchata or piping hot yerba mate.

Over a $20 value, we’re offering this mug for free to all backers who pledge for a Pico U reward tier by 9 AM PT on Wednesday, May 23.

(Those of you who already purchased a Pico U are all set to receive your Fusion Mug!)

If you already own a Pico S or C, you aren’t left out of all of this fresh-brewed goodness — you can pledge $39 and get the Fusion Kit which includes the Step Filter Adapter, Glass Bruet, and Keg Adapters.

And no, you don’t have to come up with your own recipes to make these things. PicoBrew has PicoPak Minis that will take the guesswork out of it all for you. Based on the detailed and easy to follow instructions that came with my PicoBrew S, I feel safe in saying that you’ll have no trouble at all making whatever you’d like to drink. With the exception of wine … the Pico U can’t do that. 😉

Designed to be compact, affordable and easy-to-use, the Pico U measures 13-inches x 9-inches x 10-inches and weighs just ten pounds. PicoBrew’s add-on accessories allow you to use just as much counterspace as you need for the beverage you’re crafting. Control and monitoring is enabled via a simple front panel display, as well as through a smartphone app.

Take a look at the new Pico U on Kickstarter. If you’ve ever wanted to brew your own beer without investing an arm and a leg and without a bit of brewing experience, this is the device for you. If you want a multi-talented appliance that can sit on your kitchen counter and actually be used every day, you’re going to love it. If you’re interested, be sure to get in on the early bird pricing (and get your free mug) by backing the Pico U this weekend.

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She started in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie is best known for her device-agnostic approach, deep-dive reviews, and enjoyment of exploring the latest tech, gadgets, and gear.