How do I choose a cold press juicer?

Juicing has become an incredibly popular way to get more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients into your diet. Drinking fresh, raw juices made at home can provide a mega-dose of enzymes, phytonutrients, and antioxidants. Juicing also allows you to easily incorporate more vegetables into your diet.

Cold press (also known as slow press) juicers are one of the best options for at-home juicing. Unlike centrifugal juicers that use high speed to separate juice from produce, cold press juicers crush and press fruits and vegetables to extract juice. This preserves more nutrients and creates very little heat buildup which could destroy beneficial enzymes.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cold Press Juicer

There are a few key factors to keep in mind when choosing a cold press juicer:

• Juice yield – Look for a juicer that extracts a high percentage of juice from fruits and vegetables. This helps you get the most out of your produce.
• Speed – Cold press juicers operate at slow speeds (usually around 70-80 RPM) to minimalize heat and oxidation.
• Noise level – Due to their slow crushing/pressing operation, these juicers are generally quieter than centrifugal models.
• Feed chute size – A larger feed chute allows you to insert bigger pieces of produce for juicing without a lot of pre-chopping.
• Ease of use – Look for models with few parts that are intuitive to assemble and clean.
• Versatility – Some cold press juicers offer multiple functions like pureeing nut butters, baby food, etc.
• Price – Expect to pay $300 or more for a quality machine. The pricier models usually have larger chutes and better juice yields.

Top 5 Cold Press Juicer Reviews

Based on the above criteria, here are 5 of the best cold press juicers currently available:

1. Tribest Slowstar Vertical Slow Juicer

• Yield: 82%
• Speed: 47 RPM
• 3″ feed chute
• Duo-blade auger
• 10 year warranty

This Tribest juicer is a bit pricier but gets rave reviews for extreme juice yields. The vertical design means it has a smaller countertop footprint. It operates at a very slow 47 RPM to minimize oxidation. The dual-edged auger efficiently processes hard and soft produce. It comes with a handy juice cap to mix juices and a cleaning brush.

2. Omega NC900HDC Juicer Extractor

• Yield: 80%
• Speed: 80 RPM
• 2″ x 1.5″ feed chute
• GE Ultem auger
• 15 year warranty

This horizontal Omega masticating juicer provides consistent high-yield juice extractions. The GE Ultem auger is 8x stronger than most other plastics to ensure longevity. Juice can be stored for up to 72 hours without degradation. It operates quietly at 80 RPM. The auto pulp ejection allows continuous juicing. Great for leafy greens and wheatgrass.

3. Aicok Slow Masticating Juicer

• Yield: 80%
• Speed: 80 RPM
• 3″ feed chute
• Reverse function
• 3 year warranty

This Aicok model is one of the most affordable cold press juicers with decent performance. It offers minimal oxidation at 80 RPM and a high juice yield. The feed chute fits whole apples. The reverse function helps clear jams. Dishwasher safe parts make cleanup easy. Comes with a recipe guide.

4. Mueller Austria Juicer

• Yield: 70%
• Speed: 60 RPM
• 1.5” x 2” feed chute
• Ultra quiet motor
• 2 year warranty

This affordable Mueller juicer operates at a very slow 60 RPM to preserve enzymes and nutrients. The extra quiet motor makes it great for early morning juicing. It yields about 16 oz of juice per 3.3 lbs of produce. The feed chute fits small whole produce. Adjustable pulp ejection lets you control juice consistency. Easy to assemble, use, and clean.

5. Hurom H-AA Slow Juicer

• Yield: 75%
• Speed: 43 RPM
• 2” x 1.5” oval chute
• Ultem strainer & auger
• 10 year warranty

This innovative Hurom juicer uses a slow squeezing system rather than grinding. The auger gently squeezes produce against the chamber wall to yield juice. This results in minimal oxidation and high yields. The quiet motor operates at just 43 RPM. Easy to assemble and clean. Can juice nuts, soybeans, and rice.

Top Features to Look For

Based on our cold press juicer reviews, here are some key features to look for when comparing models:

• Type of Auger – The auger should be made from durable ULTEM or Tritan plastic to handle prolonged use.
• Large Feed Chute – Look for at least a 3″ chute to reduce cutting/chopping prep time.
• Slow RPM – Look for RPMs between 43-80 to preserve nutrients.
• High Juice Yield – A yield over 70% ensures you get the most out of your produce.
• Easy to Assemble/Clean – All parts should be dishwasher safe or quickly hand washable.
• Quiet Motor – You want a motor operating around 60 decibels or less.
• Warranty – Look for at least a 3-5 year warranty.

Shopping Tips for Cold Press Juicers

Follow these tips when shopping for a cold press juicer to end up with the right model for your needs and budget:

• Set a budget between $200-$400 for a quality juicer that will last.
• Look for at least a 3 year warranty to ensure it can handle years of use.
• Consider a vertical design to save counter space.
• Get a model with an reverse function to handle jammed produce.
• Choose a model with dishwasher safe parts for easy cleaning.
• Look for juice and pulp containers included or available separately.
• Find a model that fits your lifestyle – simple with minimal prep or more versatile.
• Read reviews and watch demonstration videos to see the juicer in action before deciding.
• Select a reputable brand that stands behind their product with a solid warranty.

Cold Press Juicer vs Centrifugal Juicer

Cold press and centrifugal juicers operate very differently. Here is a comparison:

	Cold Press Juicer	Centrifugal Juicer
Juicing Method	Crushing and pressing	Shredding and spinning
Speed	Slow – usually under 100 RPM	Very fast – over 10,000 RPM
Heat Generated	Low	High
Oxidation	Minimal	Moderate
Noise	Low	Loud
Juice Yield	High	Low to Moderate
Prep Time	More chopping	Less chopping
Price	$200-$400	$50-$150

As you can see, cold press juicers are generally superior when it comes to preserving nutrients and producing higher juice yields. However, centrifugal juicers require less prep time and are more affordable. Choose based on your priorities.

Cold Press Juicing Tips

Follow these tips to get the most out of your cold press juicer:

• Cut produce into smaller pieces to fit your feed chute to reduce prep time.
• Alternate hard, dense produce with softer produce to keep your juicer operating smoothly.
• Juice vegetables first, then fruits to avoid cross-contamination and flavor mixing.
• Rinse produce thoroughly to minimize dirt and contaminants going through the machine.
• Drink your juice as soon as possible. Cold press juice can be stored 24-72 hours max.
• Save the pulp to use for smoothies, soups, baked goods, etc.
• Combine produce to make flavorful juice blends like beet-carrot-apple-ginger.
• Clean your juicer parts thoroughly after each use for easiest cleanup.

Conclusion

When choosing a cold press juicer, key factors to consider are the juice yield, RPM speed, noise level, ease of use and cleanup, warranty, and price. Look for models with durable augers, larger feed chutes, slow speeds under 100 RPM, high juice yields over 70%, quiet motors under 60 dB, and at least a 3-5 year warranty.

Based on our cold press juicer reviews, some of the top models to consider are the Tribest Slowstar, Omega NC900HDC, Aicok Slow Masticating Juicer, Mueller Austria Juicer, and Hurom H-AA Slow Juicer. Compare features, capabilities and prices to select the best one for your lifestyle and budget.

Cold press juicers provide superior juice quality compared to centrifugal models. Follow the provided juicing tips to maximize nutrients and enzymes. Drinking fresh, cold pressed juices at home can greatly boost your daily intake of fruits and vegetables.