Copper Kettle Finance

Spread the cost of a brew kettle from £8,000 to £130,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance

Can you finance a copper kettle?

Yes, copper kettles are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £8,000 to £130,000, and most deals are written over 12–72 months with a deposit of around 10–20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

What would a copper kettle cost per month?

Copper Kettle price (ex VAT) £32,000

Deposit 10%

Agreement term 60 months

Annual interest rate 9%

Balloon payment £0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical copper kettle price. Indicative only, not a quote.

Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate: From 5.4% APR
Term: 12–72 months
Deposit: 10–20%
Ownership: Yours at the end
Best for: Breweries wanting to own the vessel outright

Finance Lease

Rate: From 5.0% APR
Term: 12–72 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for: Tax-efficient, claim the lease payments against profit

Operating Lease

Rate: From 5.7% APR
Term: 24–60 months
Deposit: None required
Ownership: Return at end
Best for: Upgrade boil capacity without a large upfront outlay

Representative example

On a purchase price of £32,000: a 10% deposit of £3,200, then 48 monthly payments of £675 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £35,600, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification	Guide price	Type
5 Barrel Kettle	£9,000 – £17,000	Pilot / Nano System
10 Barrel Kettle	£17,000 – £30,000	Small Craft System
20HL Kettle/Whirlpool	£32,000 – £58,000	Mid-Scale System
50HL Kettle/Whirlpool	£70,000 – £120,000	Production System

Tax benefits

A copper kettle qualifies for capital allowances, so most of the purchase cost can be set against taxable profits well within the Annual Investment Allowance most brewing and distilling businesses have available in a given year. Hire purchase lets you claim allowances as the owner from day one. Finance lease and operating lease payments are typically deductible in full as a trading expense, which suits businesses that would rather smooth the deduction over the term than take it all upfront. Speak to your accountant about which structure suits your current tax position.

Market context

Most craft kettles today are stainless with a copper cladding for appearance rather than solid copper, and are bought as part of a first brewhouse or replaced when a brewery upsizes brew length to match bigger fermenters and mash tuns it has already committed to. Where an established brewery replaces a kettle on its own, it is usually chasing better boil efficiency, a vapour condenser to cut steam venting, or a heating method that suits a new energy setup, rather than the vessel having failed; a well-built kettle has a long working life. Stainless and copper-clad kettles from established brewhouse manufacturers hold their value, supporting a used market for start-ups building a first brewhouse on a tighter budget.

Frequently asked questions

Is a copper kettle actually made of copper?

Not usually at craft scale today. Most modern brew kettles are stainless steel, sometimes with a copper-effect cladding to keep the traditional look for taproom visibility, since solid copper is heavier, more expensive and harder to maintain to food-grade standards than stainless. The term "copper" has stuck as the generic name for the boil vessel from when kettles genuinely were made of copper, and lenders and suppliers still use it that way regardless of the actual material.

Can I finance a kettle separately from the rest of the brewhouse?

Yes, particularly if you are replacing just the kettle to increase boil capacity while keeping an existing mash tun, or pairing a new kettle with a mash tun sourced from a different supplier. Lenders assess a standalone kettle purchase the same way as any other stainless vessel, based on capacity, manufacturer and condition, so it does not need to be bought as part of a full brewhouse to qualify for finance.

Does a vapour condenser or heat recovery system need separate finance?

It can usually be included in the same facility if bought alongside the kettle from the same supplier, since it is normally quoted as part of the kettle package. If added later to an existing kettle, it is typically financed as a standalone item, and because it is a lower-cost addition next to the vessel itself, some breweries choose to pay for it in cash rather than open a separate small finance agreement.

What deposit do I need for a copper kettle?

Hire purchase typically asks for a 10 to 20% deposit, in line with other brewhouse vessels. Finance lease and operating lease usually require none. If the kettle is part of a wider brewhouse purchase, the deposit terms for the whole facility usually apply rather than being set separately for each vessel.

Can I finance a used kettle?

Yes, used kettles from established brewhouse manufacturers are financeable, typically up to around 10 years old, subject to an independent inspection covering the vessel, heating elements or steam jacket, and any control panel. A used kettle paired with a new mash tun, or vice versa, is one way start-ups reduce the cost of a first brewhouse while still getting reliable equipment.