What Size Copper Still Should You Buy? Most First-Time Owners Pick the 5-Litre.
Three sizes, three honest answers. The 5-litre alembic ($399) is the most-purchased — about 1 L of hydrosol per 2–3 hour run, lives on a stovetop, the right call for hobby distillation and skincare-scale essential oils. The 5-gallon ($499) is for serious hobbyists, herbal businesses, and craft distillers — 4–6 L per run on a residential gas burner. The 10-gallon ($1,299) is for distilleries, restaurants, and botanical studios — commercial yields, commercial prep time.
A simpler rule. If you are asking the question, you almost certainly want the 5-litre. The most common regret we hear is from people who jumped to the 5-gallon expecting to “grow into it” and discovered they only ever wanted occasional weekend hydrosol runs. The opposite regret comes from working herbalists who bought the 5-litre and outgrew it inside a season. The 5-gallon is the right size for the use case “I’m building inventory, not just experimenting.” The 10-gallon makes sense only if you already have lab space, a commercial plan, and a heat source rated for it.
- Plant material1–2 kg
- Oil yield5–10 ml
- Run time1–2 hrs
- SpaceCountertop
- Plant material3–5 kg
- Oil yield15–25 ml
- Run time2–3 hrs
- SpaceCounter / bench
- Plant material6+ kg
- Oil yield30+ ml
- Run time3–4 hrs
- SpaceDedicated setup
5 Litre Copper Alembic Still
Compact, affordable, and fully functional. The 5 litre gives you a real handcrafted copper distillation experience without a big commitment. Handles 1–2 kg of botanicals per batch with a 1–2 hour session time.
- First-time buyers who want to learn before going bigger
- Hobbyists working with small batches of herbs or flowers
- Compact kitchens or limited workspace
- Gift buyers looking for a premium, display-worthy piece
This is a real working still, not a toy. But if you already know you want to distill regularly, you'll likely outgrow this size within a few months. Many buyers who start here end up wishing they'd chosen the 5 gallon.
5 Gallon Copper Alembic Still
The sweet spot for most buyers. Significantly more capacity than the 5 litre without being oversized for home use. Handles essential oils, hydrosols, distilled water, floral waters, and botanical experimentation — 3–5 kg per batch.
- Most buyers — strongest all-around value in the range
- Buyers who want room to grow without upgrading later
- Regular users who plan to distill more than a few times
- Anyone choosing between the 5L and 5 gallon who isn't sure
- Buyers who want a serious, long-term setup from day one
The most common mistake buyers make is starting too small. The 5 gallon solves that. Large enough to feel like real equipment, practical enough for a kitchen counter, and flexible enough to handle whatever you want to make.
10 Gallon Copper Alembic Still
The most capable still in the CopperHolic range. Handles 6+ kg of botanicals per run, delivers higher output per session, and works well for experienced makers or small-scale production. Sessions run 3–4 hours.
- Experienced distillers who've outgrown smaller setups
- Producing essential oils or hydrosols for sale or gifting at volume
- Dedicated workspace, garage, or outdoor setup available
- Small business owners or serious hobbyists needing production capacity
Requires more space, more plant material per batch to run efficiently, and longer sessions. If you're unsure whether you need this much capacity, the 5 gallon is almost always the better starting point.
Buyers almost never regret having more capacity.
For occasional small batches, the 5 litre is enough. For regular home production with better yields, the 5 gallon is the best choice. For higher-volume or small business production, choose the 10 gallon.
It depends on how often you plan to use it. The 5 litre is a capable working still for small experiments and occasional use. But if you expect to distill regularly, most buyers find the 5 gallon is a better long-term investment.
Yes. Many customers start with a smaller size and add a larger one as their needs grow. But if you already suspect you'll want more capacity, starting with the 5 gallon saves you money in the long run.
There is no difference. All CopperHolic stills use the same 1.1mm hand-hammered copper, lead-free silver solder, and serpentine condenser design. The only difference is capacity.
The 5 litre is the easiest starting point if you want to keep things simple and affordable. The 5 gallon is better for beginners who want to start with a serious setup they won't outgrow. Most first-time buyers who choose the 5 gallon are glad they did.
Yes. All CopperHolic stills include free 2–3 day shipping within the United States.