BrewPi-ESP Controller Comparison

With the release of Fermentrack 2 and the new All-in-One ESP32 PCB, I’ve been getting more questions from folks trying to decide which controller to use for their build—or whether it’s worth upgrading from an older Arduino- or ESP8266-based setup. To help clear things up, here’s a quick breakdown of the current controller options and how they compare.

TL;DR: If you already have a controller that works for you, keep it. Change hardware only if there is a new feature you want. For new builds, go ESP32.

ESP8266

BrewPi-ESP started life as BrewPi-ESP8266, targeting the ESP8266 controller. It supports common Arduino-compatible hardware like DS18b20 temperature sensors and LCD2004 displays. For ESP8266-based builds, I recommend LoLin’s D1 Mini.

Due to ongoing issues with Espressif’s ESP8266 framework, I no longer recommend this controller for new builds as these bugs may eventually prevent me from releasing future firmware updates for the ESP8266. If you already have a working setup, there's no need to upgrade yet—but it’s something to consider if future features appeal to you.

ESP32-S2

The ESP32-S2 was designed as a direct upgrade path from the ESP8266. LoLin’s S2 Mini is pin-compatible with the D1 Mini, so if you're using one of my PCBs, you can just swap out the controller—no other hardware changes needed.

The S2 is a modern chip with better performance and long-term firmware support. However, it lacks Bluetooth, so some features available on the ESP32 (like Bluetooth temperature sensors) aren’t supported. That said, plenty of new non-Bluetooth features—like TP-Link Kasa WiFi switch support—are actively being added.

ESP32

The original ESP32 remains the most capable choice overall. It offers a dual-core processor and both WiFi and Bluetooth, enabling support for advanced features like using a Tilt Hydrometer’s temperature sensor for beer temp, or connecting to Inkbird Bluetooth sensors.

It also has enough GPIO and processing power to drive a 320x240 TFT display, offering a crisp and colorful alternative to the LCD2004.

For all new builds, I recommend starting with the ESP32—specifically the LoLin D32 or D32 Pro.

Note - Espressif's naming scheme can be confusing. The ESP32 is now a family of chips (e.g., ESP32-S2), but the original ESP32 chip is still available and supported. If you're shopping for alternatives to the D32, look for modules labeled ESP32-WROOM, ESP32-D0WD, or ESP32-WROVER—these are the base ESP32 and are compatible with the BrewPi-ESP firmware.

What about Arduino? What about Serial?

The original BrewPi firmware was built for the Arduino, and many current builds still use it as the core controller. However, Arduinos only communicate over Serial, which means they need to be physically connected to a computer (like a Raspberry Pi) to function.

To support legacy setups, there are special versions of the BrewPi-ESP firmware (for both ESP8266 and ESP32-S2) that mimic the Arduino’s serial communication over a USB cable. These versions don’t include modern features like Kasa WiFi switch support, but they are compatible with Fermentrack 2 via the Serial-to-Fermentrack app.