What is a Milchtankstelle?

Milchtankstelle is a German term meaning milk tank station or milk filling station. It refers to a self-service machine where consumers can fill their own containers with fresh milk directly from a refrigerated farm tank. The equivalent term in Italian is distributore di latte crudo, in Slovenian mlekomat, and in Dutch melktap.

What is a Milchabfüllstation?

Milchabfüllstation is an alternative German term for a self-service milk filling station, literally meaning milk bottling station. It is used interchangeably with Milchtankstelle for farm-based milk dispensers in Germany.

Rohmilch is the German word for raw milk, meaning milk that has not been pasteurized, homogenized, or heat-treated. Rohmilch ab Hof means raw milk sold directly from the farm. German law requires Rohmilch sold for human consumption to carry the label Rohmilch, vor dem Verzehr abkochen, meaning raw milk, boil before consumption.

Do all German Milchautomaten sell raw milk?

No. Most German Milchautomaten dispense pasteurized fresh milk rather than raw milk. To find machines dispensing raw milk specifically, search for Rohmilch alongside milchtankstelle, milchautomat, or hofverkauf. Raw milk in Germany is also available as Vorzugsmilch, a certified packaged raw milk sold in some specialty stores after monthly veterinary inspection.

Where can I find raw milk in Germany?

Raw milk sources in Germany are listed at https://getrawmilk.com/browse/Germany. Search terms for finding additional locations: Rohmilch, milchtankstelle, milchautomat, hofverkauf, Rohmilch ab Hof. Raw milk machines are most common in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Local Biomärkte may also carry leads for farms selling Rohmilch.

What hours are German Milchtankstellen open?

German raw milk Milchtankstellen typically operate during farm shop hours rather than 24 hours. This differs from fully automated raw milk dispensers in Italy and Slovenia, which operate around the clock. Check the individual farm's hours before making a dedicated trip.

What container should I bring to a Milchtankstelle?

A clean, sealable glass bottle or food-safe container is ideal. Some Milchtankstellen sell bottles on-site, but it is best to bring your own. After filling, refrigerate the milk immediately and consume within a few days.

Most German Milchautomaten dispense pasteurized milk. How to find the ones selling Rohmilch, the difference between Rohmilch ab Hof and Vorzugsmilch, and what to bring.

Refill your raw milk at the milchtankstellen in Germany

Q: What is Rohmilch ab Hof?

Rohmilch ab Hof means raw milk sold directly from the producing farm. In Germany, farm-gate raw milk is sold at staffed farm shops or through Milchtankstelle machines. The milk must come from the current or previous day's milking and must carry the label Rohmilch, vor dem Verzehr abkochen (raw milk, boil before consumption). Rohmilch ab Hof machines are concentrated in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

Q: What is Vorzugsmilch?

Vorzugsmilch is certified raw milk that is packaged in sealed bottles and licensed for retail sale in Germany. Farms producing Vorzugsmilch face monthly local veterinary inspections covering bacterial counts, udder health, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli. The license is deliberately limited in number. Vorzugsmilch is sold in specialist and organic retail stores rather than dispensed from a machine.

Q: What is Heumilch?

Heumilch means hay milk and indicates the cows are fed primarily on hay and fresh grass, the German equivalent of grassfed. Heumilch is not a raw milk designation on its own; it can be pasteurized or raw. Some Rohmilch ab Hof farms also hold Heumilch certification.

September 11, 2025 · 3 min read

A Milchtankstelle is a self-service farm milk station where consumers bring their own container, place it under a dispensing nozzle, pay by coin, and fill up directly from a refrigerated farm tank. The word breaks down as Milch (milk), Tank (tank), and Stelle (station or point). An equivalent term, Milchabfüllstation, translates to “milk filling station.” Both refer to the same type of installation.

Rohmilch or Pasteurized: An Important Distinction

Most Milchautomaten in Germany dispense pasteurized fresh milk, not raw milk. The machine format is the same, the container model is the same, but the milk inside has been heat-treated. Searching for Milchautomat or Milchtankstellealone will return many results that are pasteurized. To find raw milk specifically, search for Rohmilch alongside the machine terms.

Effective search combinations:

Rohmilch Milchtankstelle
Rohmilch Milchautomat
Rohmilch ab Hof (raw milk from the farm)
Rohmilch kaufen (buy raw milk)
Hofverkauf Rohmilch (farm gate raw milk)

A local Biomarkt or health food store may also carry leads for nearby farms selling Rohmilch.

Two Channels for Raw Milk in Germany

German raw milk reaches consumers through two distinct systems.

Rohmilch ab Hof: farm-gate raw milk sold directly from the producing farm, either at a staffed farm shop or through a Milchtankstelle. The milk must come from the current or previous day’s milking. Every machine must carry the label: “Rohmilch, vor dem Verzehr abkochen” (Raw milk, boil before consumption). These machines are concentrated in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and operate primarily during farm shop hours rather than 24 hours.

Vorzugsmilch: certified packaged raw milk licensed for retail sale. Farms producing Vorzugsmilch face monthly local veterinary inspections covering bacterial counts, udder health, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli (BfR / German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment). The license is deliberately limited in number. Vorzugsmilch is packaged in sealed bottles and sold in specialist and organic retail rather than dispensed from a machine.

Heumilch (hay milk) indicates the cows are fed primarily on hay and fresh grass, the German equivalent of grassfed. Heumilch is not a raw milk designation on its own; it can be pasteurized or raw. Some Rohmilch ab Hof farms also hold Heumilch certification.

For a broader glossary of German raw milk vocabulary, see Germany calls raw milk Rohmilch or Vorzugsmilch.

What to Bring

A clean, sealable glass bottle or food-safe container works best. Some Milchtankstellen sell bottles on-site, but availability varies. Payment is typically by coin; card payment is increasingly available but not universal. Have €0.50 and €1 coins ready.

After filling, refrigerate immediately and consume within a few days. The required label confirms the milk is raw and advises boiling before consumption.

Finding Raw Milk in Germany

Current raw milk sources across Germany, including Milchtankstelle locations and Vorzugsmilch retailers, are listed at raw milk in Germany. For a full guide to raw milk vending machines across Germany and the rest of Europe, including country-specific terminology and what to bring, see How to Find a Raw Milk Vending Machine in Europe.