The Best Electric Composters of 2025: Lomi, Mill, and Moreborn MB4 Deep Dive Review
The electric composter has become the new standard for modern households committed to sustainable living. However, the market is saturated with confusion—is it a simple "dehydrator" or a true "composter"? Lomi, Mill, and Moreborn MB4 are the current market leaders, but they differ fundamentally in technology and final output.
Our team conducted a rigorous, five-point test on all three machines. We looked past the initial price and processing speed to focus on the most important factor: whether the final output is safe, stable, and suitable for your garden. Our goal is to provide the most objective buying guide, ensuring you choose a truly effective kitchen partner.
Our Testing Methodology: 5 Core Metrics That Matter
To help you make an informed decision, our review focuses on the five criteria that truly define a top-tier electric composter.
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Output Quality and Garden Safety
This is the core standard of our evaluation. We tested whether the output is unstable, dehydrated waste (which leads to root burn) and whether it requires an additional external curing period.
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Crucial Note: We closely compared the output of the MB4's "Quick Mode" versus its "Compost Mode" to assess its flexibility and safety advantage.
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Speed and Capacity Ratio
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Speed: The total time required for the machine to complete a full batch (in both quick and compost modes).
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Capacity: Whether the device's volume (L) efficiently matches the daily food waste needs of a typical medium-to-large household.
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True Cost of Ownership (5-Year Estimate)
A machine's value extends beyond its sticker price. We calculated: Initial Purchase Price + 5 years of filter replacement costs + Consumables (e.g., microbial starter packs) + Total energy consumption. We paid special attention to the annual cost of filters, which significantly impacts long-term ownership value.
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Noise Level and Design
Since these machines live on kitchen countertops, noise is paramount. We measured the decibel (dB) reading during peak operation and assessed the overall footprint and design aesthetics.
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Handling of "Difficult" Scraps
We tested the machine's ability to safely and efficiently process meat, fish bones, and dairy—items that are traditionally "forbidden" in conventional composting—to determine the machine's versatility.
The Final Rankings: Who Is the Real Winner?
Based on our intensive testing and data analysis, here are the final rankings for 2025's best electric composters:
#1. Best Overall Value & Dual-Mode Flexibility: Moreborn MB4
Positioning: Ideal for users who prioritize the highest value, output safety assurance, and flexible processing modes.
Verdict: The Moreborn MB4 is the only machine we tested that offers a dual-mode option, immediately giving it an edge in safety and flexibility. Its starting price of just $299 is an overwhelming advantage. Crucially, the MB4's 24-hour Compost Mode (requires microbial packs) produces a stable Pre-Compost, effectively eliminating the "root burn" risk and "mold" dilemma common with competitors. Whether you need 4-6 hour quick volume reduction or 24-hour deep aerobic composting, the MB4 performs flawlessly.
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Key Strengths: Unbeatable $299 price; lowest annual consumable cost; flexible dual-mode choice.
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Drawbacks: 4L capacity, though sufficient for most, is smaller than the Mill.
#2. Best for High Capacity and System Integration: Mill.com
Positioning: Best for households with high-volume food waste willing to pay a premium for a highly integrated system.
Verdict: The Mill impresses with its massive 6.5L capacity. It offers a premium user experience and design, but the initial $999 price tag and high ongoing costs make its Total Cost of Ownership the highest. Like the Lomi, the Mill's output is dehydrated waste that requires external curing before being safe for garden use.
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Key Strengths: Large 6.5L capacity; sleek design and App connectivity.
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Key Weaknesses: Expensive initial cost; output requires external curing.
#3. Best for Brand Recognition and Small Spaces: Lomi.com
Positioning: Best for first-time users in small spaces who value brand recognition.
Verdict: Lomi is a market success due to its marketing and simplicity. Its compact 3L size is suitable for small apartments. However, it offers the smallest capacity, and the recurring cost of Lomi Pods and filters makes its annual consumable cost the highest in our test. While its Compost Mode offers some breakdown, its output is still highly concentrated and should be externally cured to ensure plant safety.
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Key Strengths: High brand recognition; compact size.
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Key Weaknesses: Smallest capacity; highest annual consumable cost; output requires curing.
Deep Dive: Why Dual Modes and Output Safety Are Non-Negotiable
This is the most critical technical difference you must understand when purchasing an electric composter.
Lomi and Mill’s primary output is "Dehydrated Food Grounds"—waste that has been sterilized and reduced by heat. While the volume is cut down, this residue is highly nutrient-concentrated and chemically unstable. Applying it directly to plant roots will inevitably lead to "Root Burn." This is why external curing is mandatory.
The Moreborn MB4's Dual-Mode Advantage Changes Everything:
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Mode 1 (Quick Reduction, 4-6h): Satisfies your need to quickly reduce kitchen volume.
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Mode 2 (Deep Composting, 24h): This is the MB4's competitive edge. Using moderate heat (60-65°C) and microbial starter packs (FPS), the machine initiates preliminary fermentation. This output is high-activity Pre-Compost—far more stable than pure dehydrated waste—which drastically shortens or eliminates the need for external curing, delivering true kitchen-to-garden convenience.
If you prioritize output quality, ease of use, and garden safety, the MB4's 24-hour Compost Mode is the most mature solution on the market.
Final Comparison Table (2025)
For quick decision-making, we summarize the key data points below:
| Model | Price (USD) | Capacity (L) | Fastest Time | Requires Curing? | Noise Level (dB) | Annual Consumable Cost | 5-Year Cost Est. |
| Moreborn MB4 | $299 | 4L | 4-6 Hours | Mode 2: No | 38 | $39.98 | $697 |
| Mill | $999 | 6.5L | ~6.5 Hours | Yes | 44 | $89.00 | $1,355 |
| Lomi | $649 | 3L | ~7 Hours | Yes | 45 | $119.96 | $1,848 |
Conclusion: Making Your Final Choice
In the competitive electric composter market, choosing the simplest, safest, and most valuable product is critical.
We believe the Moreborn MB4 is the undisputed Best Value Winner of 2025. It offers the safest, most flexible dual-mode solution for less than half the price of its competitors, and the lowest annual running cost. If your goal is safe, ready-to-use compost output, the MB4's 24-hour Compost Mode is the only choice.
