Kombu

Kombu is an American brand behind The Fermenstation, a countertop appliance for brewing kombucha at home. Its patented design, registered to Kombu LLC, structures the process in two stages: a first fermentation for plain kombucha in a 3.5-litre jar, then a second fermentation in 750-millilitre bottles for flavour and carbonation, with a tap that stops at the twenty per cent of starter liquid the next batch needs.

The object is meant to sit in a kitchen the way a kettle does, and the brand’s argument is that consistency, not improvisation, is what keeps the ritual going: the continuous method keeps the brew acidic enough to protect itself, the bottles are sized against supermarket equivalents, and the process is documented in guides, recipes and a journal. Kombu sells direct from its site and is certified for the United States and Canada.