Home LivingAppliancesKitchenPhilips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: the key to pub-quality pints?We brought the pub to the front door with this machine, but is it worth the hype?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg’s temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would’ve been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine’s higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it’s not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.Reasons to buy+Easy set up+Over 50 kegs to choose from+Free empty keg return schemeReasons to avoid-Long cooling time-Simple features-ExpensiveWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Home LivingAppliancesKitchenPhilips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: the key to pub-quality pints?We brought the pub to the front door with this machine, but is it worth the hype?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg’s temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would’ve been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine’s higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it’s not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.Reasons to buy+Easy set up+Over 50 kegs to choose from+Free empty keg return schemeReasons to avoid-Long cooling time-Simple features-ExpensiveWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
We brought the pub to the front door with this machine, but is it worth the hype?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg’s temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would’ve been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine’s higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it’s not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.Reasons to buy+Easy set up+Over 50 kegs to choose from+Free empty keg return schemeReasons to avoid-Long cooling time-Simple features-Expensive
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg’s temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would’ve been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine’s higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it’s not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.Reasons to buy+Easy set up+Over 50 kegs to choose from+Free empty keg return schemeReasons to avoid-Long cooling time-Simple features-Expensive
T3 VerdictIf you’re looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg’s temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would’ve been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine’s higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it’s not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.
T3 Verdict
If you’re looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg’s temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would’ve been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine’s higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it’s not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.
Reasons to buy+Easy set up+Over 50 kegs to choose from+Free empty keg return schemeReasons to avoid-Long cooling time-Simple features-Expensive
Reasons to buy+Easy set up+Over 50 kegs to choose from+Free empty keg return scheme
Easy set up
Over 50 kegs to choose from
Free empty keg return scheme
Reasons to avoid-Long cooling time-Simple features-Expensive
Long cooling time
Simple features
Expensive
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Now that summer has arrived, more and more of us are getting our hosting hats on. From thebest barbecuesto thebest pizzas ovens, there are lots of appliances out there that help us do this, especially if you like a bit of al fresco dining. However, what happens when it comes to the beverages?
The Philips PerfectDraft Beer Keg Machine is designed to pour a beautifully cold draught beer from tap. It chills to 3°C and keeps the beer fresh and carbonated for 30 days, making it the perfect hosting gadget when family and friends are over. For this reason, we knew we had to try it out.
Keep reading to find out our thoughts, and whether the machine deserves the hype.
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: price and availability
The Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine has an RRP of £299.99 and is available atPerfectDraft,Philipsand other selected retailers, such asAmazon. There’s also a PerfectDraft Pro machine that boasts a number of smart features, including app connectivity and variable temperature control.
The PerfectDraft kegs cost anywhere between £20 and £50, depending on the brand and type of beer you purchase. I’ve personally been reviewing thePerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundlewhich is currently on offer. Take a look:
PerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundle:was £294, now £199 at PerfectDraft (save £95)With this exclusive keg bundle, you can enjoy fresh, draught Stella Artois at the perfect temperature. The bundle contains the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, a 6L Stella Artois beer keg, and two beer glasses.View Deal
PerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundle:was £294, now £199 at PerfectDraft (save £95)With this exclusive keg bundle, you can enjoy fresh, draught Stella Artois at the perfect temperature. The bundle contains the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, a 6L Stella Artois beer keg, and two beer glasses.View Deal
PerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundle:was £294, now £199 at PerfectDraft (save £95)With this exclusive keg bundle, you can enjoy fresh, draught Stella Artois at the perfect temperature. The bundle contains the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, a 6L Stella Artois beer keg, and two beer glasses.View Deal
PerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundle:was £294, now £199 at PerfectDraft (save £95)With this exclusive keg bundle, you can enjoy fresh, draught Stella Artois at the perfect temperature. The bundle contains the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, a 6L Stella Artois beer keg, and two beer glasses.
PerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundle:was £294, now £199 at PerfectDraft (save £95)With this exclusive keg bundle, you can enjoy fresh, draught Stella Artois at the perfect temperature. The bundle contains the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, a 6L Stella Artois beer keg, and two beer glasses.
PerfectDraft Stella Artois starter bundle:was £294, now £199 at PerfectDraft (save £95)With this exclusive keg bundle, you can enjoy fresh, draught Stella Artois at the perfect temperature. The bundle contains the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, a 6L Stella Artois beer keg, and two beer glasses.
View Deal
View Deal
View Deal
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: unboxing and set up
Setting up the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine took a little bit of thought, but was overall a simple process. The machine’s body came assembled which was a relief, and there were only a few parts needed to finish it off.
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Before inserting the keg, I had to install the tap handle, attach the medallion and slot in the drip tray. Luckily, the instructions are printed into the inside of the machine, making them easy to follow.
Image1of3Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Image1of3Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Image1of3
Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap handle, medallions and cleaning brush(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Drip tray(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Tap unit(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Once finished, I just closed the doors, plugged in the machine, and voilà!
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: design and features
There isn’t much the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine does apart from chilling beer, but it’s a pretty impressive machine all the same. Once the keg is inserted, it gets to work at taking the beer down to the ideal drinking temperature of 3°C.
Now, I won’t lie, this is a lengthy process. It takes about 12-15 hours and there’s no exaggeration on that. This means the machine isn’t designed for parties, unless you have the space to cool multiple kegs beforehand. The kegs also aren’t big enough for more than 10-12 pints, so it would run out pretty quickly if you have a substantial amount of guests. PerfectDraft do say that users can pre-chill the keg in the fridge if they want to speed up the process, but this would only take a few hours off it.
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
The LCD screen displays the temperature of the beer, the beer level inside the keg and the freshness of the beer. This is all you need to know really, so it’s handy that everything is in the same place. It also shows a red light if the beer temperature is not yet ideal for consumption, or a green light if it’s ready to pour.
The yellow-orange level indication on the display shows the amount of beer left in the keg in eight steps, which is useful to keep a track of. When 30 days have passed, the display also shows that the keg needs to be replaced with a dash and exclamation mark.
One factor I really liked was PerfectDraft’s free empty keg return scheme. This allows buyers s to get £5 of credit for each empty keg returned, something that could add up after a few purchases. I’ve been through about three so far, so I’ll certainly be redeeming that credit sooner rather than later.
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: performance
I enjoyed using the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine, especially when it came to hosting. It’s a reliable machine that delivered exactly what it promised, and the beers it produced were exactly the same as you’d have at the pub. I guess that’s the whole idea, isn’t it?
I first used the machine with about four guests, but wouldn’t have got it out for any more. We only had around two pints each, but everyone loved pouring their own and it was a fun addition to my repertoire of hosting activities (if I don’t say so myself). Yes, I’m including the giant Jenga in that.
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
(Image credit: Lizzie Wilmot / T3)
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: verdict
If you’re looking for a fun appliance to whack out during a barbecue or dinner party, the Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine is the perfect one. It delivers exactly what it promises, and the useful LCD screen makes it easy to keep track of the keg’s temperature, freshness level and how much is left. That being said, its features are on the simpler side, and it would’ve been nice to see a little more in accordance with the machine’s higher price tag. The kegs also take a significant amount of time to cool, so it’s not suitable for parties unless you have room to chill them before.
Philips PerfectDraft beer keg machine review: alternatives to consider
One alternative to consider has to be theiGuli F1, a fully automated countertop home brewer. It obviously brings a lot more to the table than just a beer keg machine, so if you like the idea of making your own beverages, it’s an ideal choice. The iGulu can produce beer, cider, kombucha and even wine, and keeps your newly brewed beverages fresh for up to 30 days.
Another alternative would be the Beerwulf BLADE machine. It works in a pretty similar way to the PerfectDraft, but it’s a little pricier and has a more edgy look. Check out ourBeerwulf discount codesto get yourself a bargain.
Today’s best Philips PerfectDraft Beer Machine dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Philips PerfectDraft Beer Machine dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Philips PerfectDraft Beer Machine deals
No price informationCheck Amazon
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