↠ Apera PH60F pH Pocket Tester for brewing beer and wine

Review Apera Instruments AI312 PH60F Premium pH Pocket Tester

If you are looking for a quality, yet reasonably priced, ph Meter for testing your beer's water and wort, you might want to consider the Apera Instruments PC60 Multi-parameter Tester.

The PC60 meter tests for pH, EC, TDS, salinity and temperature in an accurate, quick and reliable manner for most regular water solutions so much so that it's used across a range of commercial and hobby ventures such as hydroponics, aquaculture, pools and spas, water treatment, cooling towers and of course beer making.

The multi-parameter probe is replaceable and equipped with Apera's 'Brush-Resistant Platinum Black' sensor, which ensures an accurate and reliable EC measurement in a wide range. 

As for all pH meters, probes must be properly cleaned and maintained or else they can dry out, won't work, or perhaps even worse, give incorrect readings, and how will that be good for your beer?

This handy unit boasts the following features:

1. Easy-to-install and replaceable flat sensor 
2. Triple-Junction structure prevents clogging, works great for regular pH measurement 
3. Easy Auto Calibration with auto buffer recognition 
4. Auto Temperature Compensation 
5. Unique High/Low Value HEADS-UP function, instantly reminding you of any results that need your attention with a red backlight; 
6. Auto recognition of stable values (with optional AUTO HOLD function) 
7. Large, clear Liquid Crystal Display with 3 backlit color (indicating 3 different modes) 
8. Display both temp and pH simultaneously 
9. Also comes with calibration buffer solutions, calibration bottles, storage solutions 

The instrument has an easy menu setting, which means you can customize your tester’s functions according to your needs. 

It's waterproof and dustproof and it floats on water so you don’t have to worry if it falls into water or your beer by accident. 

If you purchase the tester from Amazon, you'll find a complete kit of premixed calibration solutions (4.00 and 7.00), soaking solutions (3M KCL), calibration bottles and of course enough AAA batteries to give you approximately 2000 hours of use.

A handy lanyard is included and everything mentioned fits in the portable carrying case which protects your gear when traveling or simply storing.


Here are some reviews from real users who have real experiences with Apera's tester.

"Having previous experience with scientific research grade pH meters, I've maintained this pen in electrode storage solution between uses, and always rinsed the electrode with deionized water between measurement and before storage. With those precautions, both the pH and EC readings have remained on-point without recalibrating for more than a month at this point. When I do check the calibration, the instrument is never more than 0.05pH off-target."

"The back-lit display is excellent for working under low-light (tap the power button once while the unit is on to activate), and the instrument fits perfectly into the top of 1-gallon water jugs.

A note of warning, make sure the EC electrodes are not submerged in the electrode storage solution while not in use, only the glass pH bulb should be in the solution."

"The Apera PC60 instrument is super easy to use. It comes with everything needed to calibrate and feel confident in your readings. I even tested it against a 1000 TDS calibration solution I had and it read great! The display is easy to use and the backlight is very handy. I love that the "cap" is built in a way to put your liquid in, with a fill line, and closes securely around the pen.

It then is able to calculate the different levels in the liquid. I no longer have to bend over and hold my pen in the nutrient reservoirs. One of the best features is the ability to set the TDS factor. This is important because PPM is calculated differently in different parts of the world. It gets very confusing."

Finally, here's a testimonial that seems pretty fair:

"After having gone through 3 different cheap meters last year I decided to spend a little extra on this one. I am not disappointed. It's well worth the money. It's fast, accurate and covers a range of tests. I read the previous reviews and was somewhat sceptical. However, after using this product for a few weeks on a daily basis, I would recommend it to anyone.

The LCD screen is a little small but I can read it without glasses. I found the instructions to be thorough and fairly well written. I think they must have updated their manual after previous reviews. I have backups just in case but after the first week, it became obvious I wasn't going to need them. By far the best meter I have used without spending a couple of hundred dollars."

If you think those reviews sound fair, check out the price on Amazon.

How to calibrate the Apera pocket tester

Check out this video guide from Apera which shows how to calibrate Apera devices:

• If it is the first time use or the tester hasn't been used for a long time, soak the probe in the 3M KCl solution for 15 to 60 minutes (the longer the better) to restore the probe's sensitivity and accuracy. In order to achieve maximum performance, soak it for around twelve hours. That means do it the day before you need to use it!
• When not in use, soaking in the storage solution is recommended, but not necessary. 
• For pH calibration, 1st point calibration must be 7.00 pH
• For EC/TDS/Salinity calibration, just dip the probes into accordant standard calibration solutions and follow the same steps in pH calibration. 
• 10.01 pH buffer solution is not included in the kit, this needs to be purchased individually.
• Try to avoid these common calibration mistakes
• Download the instruction manual here.

What's the warranty for the Apera? 

If purchased by the manufacturer, the meter is CE certified and comes with a 2-year Warranty period and 6 months for the probe. 

The company has designed and manufactured scientific analytical instruments like meters and sensors for pH, conductivity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen for over 25 years, and meets ISO 9001:2008 Standards so they know how to make these units work, and work well.

Check out the price on Amazon!

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↠ Guide to replacement electrodes for your pH meter - for home brew

How to select a replacement pH Tester electrode

Many keen beer brewers like to know the pH of their brews so they can ensure the kind of beer they want to make, is the one they are making!

A good pH meter will go a long way to ensuring the water and wort are what the brewer needs.

A pH meter that is well-used will eventually need its probe or electrode replaced.

If you're here to simply find a recommendation for a good replacement probe electrode, here are your best buys for some common testers:

• Apera-Instruments-AI1203-PH60F-Replacement
• Bluelab pH Replacement Electrode for Combo & pH Meter
• Milwaukee MW102 PH and Temperature Meter
• Hach Pocket Pro + Ph meter
• Hanna Instruments HI 98128
• Oakton WD-35624-38 Oakton Replacement Sensor
• General probe replacement options

Why do pH probes wear out?

There seems to a little bit of misunderstanding on a couple of brewing forums about the use and usefulness of pH meters.

You can often find commentary and reviews that they are 'inaccurate or don’t work at all' "I can't get this thing to work properly, I shouldn't have cheaped out!"

I suspect that the vast majority of ‘incorrect’ readings and measurements are quite possibly due to poor management and maintenance of the electrode and this is mostly directly due to incorrect storage of the probe.

How to clean your pH electrode

It's a very wise practice to regularly clean your pH electrode. This is because a coating will otherwise develop on the glass bulb. This layer is known as the hydrated layer and it will quite likely cause inaccurate measurements and drifting or erratic readings.

It does this by generating a different voltage in a pH buffer than a pH electrode without a hydrated layer.

You can imagine how frustrating that will be for brewers trying to get accurate results!

The standard manner in which to clean the electrodes s by simply placing them in a cleaning solution for 15 minutes.

It's the same concept as contact lens soaker! The cleaning solution dissolves the build-up.

After the cleaning solution has done its business,  the probe must be rinsed with very clean or purified water and then placed in probe storage solution for at least 2-3 hours before using.

Our recommended manufacturer Bluelab, who makes the fantastic Combo Meter has a pretty handy probe cleaning kit.

The Bluelab Probe Care Kit contains everything you need to clean, hydrate and calibrate your unit's pH probes

Each cleaning kit contains:

• Pack contains 2 x 20ml sachets each of pH 7.0, pH 4.0, EC 2.77 and KCl storage solutions
• Probe cleaners 
• Probe cleaning tools 
• Plastic cups 
• User instructions

How to store and protect your probe to maintain its life

Your probe is the consumable and probably the most expensive component of your pH meter.

There are two key things that you can do to help ensure that you get a long and useful life out of the probe.

Number one - keep your electrode in a fresh storage solution.

We mention this elsewhere in this article because it is so important! We wonder how many dudes are buying replacements because they dried their meters out!

If you're an 'every so often' brewer and you don’t use your meter for an extended period of time, bear in mind that you will need to change the storage solution around every 6 weeks or so.

Fresh is best!

A word or seventeen of warning. You should never ever ever consider storing your electrode in water!

Why would you do this crazy thing?

How it all works is that the reference cell has a high salt solution. By placing the probe in purified water, it will cause the salt to diffuse out and the water to go in. You do not want this to happen!

Storage solutions are designed to maintain the reference salt concentration but they also have handy chemicals present to keep bacteria and fungus from growing in the solution.

So, if you do use it for some unfathomable reason and decide to use water, electrolyte solution will leach out of the meter and shorten its lifespan. At a real pinch, when a storage solution is not available, then you may be able to get away with using pH 4 buffer - I'd suggest you only do this for a short term while you are getting some genuine storage solution for the unit.

Remember, these parts are expensive so it's on you to take care of your brewing equipment.

Secondly, for goodness sake - be damn careful with your probe!

These things are bloody fragile. Take good care not to allow it to physically bang into the wall or rim of your testing vials, as this could damage the membrane.

And you know, don't drop the damn thing!

What is a buffer solution?

A buffer solution is one which resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or alkali are mixed with the buffer.

Acidic buffer solutions are commonly made from a weak acid and one of its salts*  - often a sodium salt.

Why you need to use fresh calibration solution

One should always use fresh calibration solution when calibrating one's pH electrode. All pH measurements are based on the pH calibration solution as a reference point so the solution needs to be pure and not contaminated.

The pH calibration buffer is a water-based solution that will change over time. This is especially true for the pH 10.01 buffer that actually decreases in pH as atmospheric carbon dioxide enters the solution.

Natural product evaporation will change the pH level of the solution too.

Opened bottles of buffer solution should be dispensed with after they have been opened for 6 months. 

Once you have calibrated your beer wort, dispose of the reference calibration solution as it can contaminate the remaining fluid if you add it back!

Fresh is the best!

How do pH probes work?

The principle idea of the pH meter is that it measures the difference in electrical potential between a pH electrode and a reference electrode. The difference in electrical potential relates to the acidity or pH of the tested solution

Why does my new pH probe have a kind of salt like residue on it?

A deliberate salt residue is often placed around the probe as a protective shipping solution so what you may be seeing is normal. Before calibration,  rinse the salt off and let the probe soak for an hour in 4.01 calibration solution, storage solution or bottled water and then follow the calibration procedure instructions of your meter.

Do you know who invented the pH meter?

The concept of pH was first mooted by S. P. L. Sørensen in 1909. Following this discovery, electrodes were developed and used. The first commercial application of a pH meter was by Arnold Orville Beckman who in 1934 was granted the first patent for a meter. 

His company sold 444 units 2 years later and then when on to sell millions of units, making his name and fortune in the process.

Here's what an original Beckman pH meter unit looked like. Can you spy any replaceable probes?

Image credit found on Wikipedia and attributed under a Creative Commons license by the Science History Institute.

How often should I calibrate the meter?

To obtain the most accurate results, you should calibrate before each use or set of uses. However, most units will hold calibration very well. If you get a reading that is above or below what you would have expected, then check the calibration at that point and retest your beer solution!

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Buyer's Guide for the Milwaukee MW102 pH Meter || 2020 Review

Review of the Milwaukee MW102 pH tester

If you've ever gone on to a beer brewing forum and seen the question "What's the best ph meter to use?" you are going to get 75 dudes all banging on about how great the Milwaukee MW102 pH meter is.

Truly you will if you do some google-fu. 

A few others might mention the Apera or the Hanna offerings but the MW102 is a killer instrument.

We're not kidding, brewers love it because it's reliable, durable and doesn't break the bank cost-wise. Indeed, it's at the cheaper end of the mid-range pricing scale.

Marijuana growers in California love it too! And just recently growers in Canada too! My, how the world has changed. Kombucha brewers can even use it!

The MW102 is portable and gives fast, accurate and reliable measurements whether you're in the classroom, laboratory or for general field use.

And by 'general field use', we mean brewers on the grass in their backyard, brewing up a storm on brew day!

The manufacturer's specifications:

• MW102 is a microprocessor based pH/Temperature meter with extended range (-2.00 to 16.00 pH)
• Automatic Temperature Compensation
• Automatic calibration in 2 points and ±0.02 pH accuracy. 
• The meter is supplied with pH electrode and calibration solutions. 
• MW102 is supplied complete with a SE220 pH electrode, MA830R stainless steel temperature probe, pH 4.01 and pH 7.01 20 mL sachet of calibration solution
• 9V battery which should give approx 750 hours
• The user instructions manual

Actual user reviews from Amazon

Real humans, real beer makers have purchased the Milwaukee MW102 and left some pretty genuine feedback as to how this good unit is:

"So far I am very happy with this unit. I have more faith in the calibration & readings of this unit. During calibration, this meter requires you to calibrate to 7.01 & then do a slope calibration to 4.01. I have not seen this with other meters, but once calibrated the unit is very accurate & holds calibration without issues. I may have made it sound complicated, but it is pretty easy to calibrate."

"I've owned this meter for 6 months now and it has been very accurate and dependable. I use it for wine making. It's really nice that it has a separate temperature probe because sometimes I use it for just that. A word of advice, buy the Milwaukee probe storage solution. It will decrease the number of times you need to calibrate the probe."

Sounds like sensible advice!

"This is in every way a professional laboratory-grade instrument of the highest quality! It is easy to calibrate and the calibration is very stable and long-lasting. It reads the PH almost instantly and is a joy to use. The tip should be stored in Milwaukee's special storage solution as recommended for longest probe life."

"I elected to give this one a shot because I wanted confidence the readings were correct. And they are. No more dipping a pen wand in the water to find a 8pH then immediately redipping the meter and getting a reading of 3.8 in the same water! So far a great product for the price. Exceeded what I had grown to expect from ph meters."

The unit is rated quite highly on Amazon and you can see why it's reviewers are hugely positive about it!

Maintenance tips for the Milwaukee MW102

As you'd imagine, Milwaukee offers a wide range of calibration, maintenance & cleaning solutions.

The use of calibration and cleaning solutions is fundamental for the correct use of electrodes and for obtaining the most accurate and reproducible readings. If you do not store probes properly, they will dry out and give incorrect readings and then you will need to spend some of your hard-earned Earth dollars on a replacement (which Milwaukee will happily sell you!)

It's a very smart custom to clean your pH electrode fairly often. This is because a coating known as the 'hydrated layer' can develop on the glass bulb. This layer will cause your unit to display inaccurate readings. Which just defeats the whole point of using a meter!

The common method of cleaning the electrode is by submerging it in a cleaning solution for a whole 15 minutes. The solution will break down the hydrated layer.

After the cleaning solution has done its business, the probe must be rinsed with very clean or purified water and then placed in probe storage solution for at least 2-3 hours before calibration is begun.

Can  I get a replacement probe?

You sure can get a new probe - it's known as the 'Milwaukee SE220 '. You'll need one if you haven't looked after your main one by properly storing it - or you broke it by dropping it!

Replacing the electrode probes is as easy as changing a light bulb - just follow the instructions.

Milwaukee probes are given a warranty of 6 months - which is pretty standard.

When should I clean the Milwaukee ph Meter?

For accurate pH readings the Milwaukee's probe should be properly cleaned and then re-calibrated when:

• when the on-screen measurement is not close to the reading you were hoping to read. 
• when the batteries have gone flat, been removed or changed. This is because the unit will not remember
• when the pH probe is replaced with a new one

If the Milwaukee is not for you, then you might find something that meets your needs in our pH meter buyer's guide -  which features the popular Bluelab Combo Meter.

Bonus fact: Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin, USA. We're not worthy...

Leave a Comment calibration, calibration probe, milwaukee MW102, ph meter, ph tester