Compared to shell and tube heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers have grown in popularity over the past few decades. Generally speaking, plate heat exchangers have higher heat transfer efficiency and occupy less space. These factors have helped spark brewery interest in plate heat exchangers as an alternative to shell and tube heat exchangers. There are two methods of cleaning plate heat exchangers: cleaning in place (done by circulating chemicals through the channels of the plate heat exchanger) or manual cleaning (removing the plates from the frame and using a pressurized water jet to clean the plates individually).

Wort cooling has one-stage cooling mode and two-stage cooling mode. Generally, the two-stage cooling method is more common. In terms of energy saving and control, one-stage cooling is preferred.