Is the Champion Juicer a masticating juicer?

Juicing has become an increasingly popular way for health-conscious people to get more fruits and vegetables into their diets. With different types of juicers on the market, there can be some confusion around which juicers use which extraction methods. Two main types of juicers are centrifugal juicers and masticating juicers, which work very differently. So is the popular Champion Juicer a masticating model or something else? Let’s take a closer look.

How Masticating Juicers Work

Masticating juicers, also known as cold press or slow juicers, use a slow, grinding mechanism to crush and press produce to extract juice. They have an auger (a corkscrew-like part) that rotates at very low speeds, usually around 80 RPM. The auger crushes the produce against a screen to squeeze out the juice. This happens much more slowly than in centrifugal models. The slow speed allows the juice to remain cooler and prevents oxidation. That’s why masticating juicers are known as “cold press” juicers.

The masticating process mimics how you would manually squeeze juice from produce. It also allows these juicers to juice leafy greens like spinach and kale more efficiently than centrifugal models. The slower rotational speeds protect the nutrients and enzymes in the juice from being destroyed by heat and oxygen.

How Centrifugal Juicers Work

Centrifugal juicers have a quickly rotating disk with a grated or serrated surface. Produce is fed into a chute and then shredded by the high-speed grater disk spinning against a mesh filter basket. The centrifugal force from the disk separates the juice from the pulp by pushing the juice through the mesh filter while the pulp remains inside the basket. Centrifugal juicers operate at much higher speeds than masticating juicers, usually from 3,000 to 15,000 RPM.

The fast spinning action generates heat and incorporates air into the juice, which can degrade nutrients and enzymes. Centrifugal models also tend to produce a lower yield of juice from produce compared to masticating juicers. However, centrifugal juicers are generally more affordable and faster to juice with than masticating models.

Key Differences Between the Two Types

Here is a comparison of some key differences between masticating and centrifugal juicers:

Masticating Juicers	Centrifugal Juicers
Slow speed (80-100 RPM)	Very fast speed (3,000-15,000 RPM)
Use auger and screen	Use grater disk and basket
Generates little heat	Generates more heat
Minimal oxidation	More oxidation
Higher juice yield	Lower juice yield
Better for juicing leafy greens	Not as efficient for greens
Higher price	Lower price
Slower juicing process	Faster juicing

Now that we’ve compared the key attributes of masticating and centrifugal juicers, we can determine what category the Champion Juicer falls into.

What Type of Juicer is the Champion Juicer?

The Champion Juicer is a masticating juicer. Let’s look at some of its key features:

• Auger: It has a single auger that rotates at around 1,725 RPM.
• Slow speed: While not as slow as some masticating juicers, 1,725 RPM is still considered a slow speed.
• Cold press: The Champion Juicer is marketed as a cold press juicer.
• High juice yield: It efficiently squeezes juice from produce.
• Minimal oxidation: The slow speed results in very little oxidation.
• Leafy green juicing: The Champion performs very well juicing leafy greens.

The company that makes the Champion Juicer clearly positions it as a masticating-style single auger juicer. All of its attributes align with the defining features of a masticating juicer rather than a centrifugal model.

Champion Juicer Key Specs

Now that we’ve established that the Champion Juicer is a masticating juicer, let’s look at some of its key specifications and features:

• Motor: General Electric 1/3 horsepower motor
• RPM: 1,725 RPM
• Chute: 1.75 inch round chute
• Juicing Screens: Comes with a blank homogenizing screen and a fine screen for juicing
• Materials: GE Ultem auger, stainless steel shaft, polycarbonate housing
• Weight: 23 pounds
• Dimensions: 6.5 x 7 x 17 inches (width x depth x height)
• 10 year warranty on motor and parts

The Champion is a compact, horizontal masticating juicer. It has a slower speed than centrifugal juicers but faster than some other masticating models. The 1.75 inch round chute is relatively small, requiring most produce to be cut into smaller pieces before juicing.

What Produce Can it Juice?

The Champion Juicer can juice all common fruits and vegetables. Here are some of the top produce items it can juice well:

• Apples
• Carrots
• Celery
• Spinach
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Ginger
• Beets
• Oranges
• Grapefruit

The Champion does an especially good job with leafy greens because of the masticating extraction. It also juices fruits like oranges efficiently. Produce with a high water content like watermelon can be juiced as well. The manual states that bananas, avocados, coconut meat, and mangos generally do not juice well in the Champion.

Benefits of the Champion Juicer

Here are some of the benefits and advantages of using the Champion Juicer:

• Cold press masticating extraction: Protects nutrients and enzymes better than centrifugal juicers.
• Powerful motor: The 1/3 horsepower GE motor provides reliability and performance.
• Minimal oxidation: Results in juice that can be stored for longer.
• High juice yield: Produces more juice and drier pulp than centrifugal models.
• Versatile: Can make nut butters, baby food, sorbets and other food with attachment accessories.
• Compact size: Smaller footprint than some masticating juicers.
• Durable: Made of GE Ultem auger and stainless steel shaft.

For those wanting the nutritional benefits of cold pressed juice, the Champion Juicer is a compact, durable and effective masticating juicer. It may not be quite as slow and thorough as twin gear triturating juicers, but is significantly less expensive.

Downsides of the Champion Juicer

There are a few downsides to consider with the Champion Juicer:

• Small chute: Produce needs to be pre-cut into small pieces to fit.
• Can clog: Not self-feeding, so needs to be ‘pushed’ when juicing.
• Pulp can be wet: Does not get pulp as dry as some other masticating models.
• Noise: Louder than twin gear juicers.
• Not the slowest: At 1,725 RPM, it’s faster than the slowest masticating juicers.

The small chute and push-style juicing takes more prep work and active juicing time. You’ll need to monitor the juicer and press or push down on produce as you juice. The Champion also does not get pulp as dry as hydraulic press juicers.

Is the Champion Juicer Easy to Clean?

How easy a juicer is to clean and assemble is an important factor for most people. Here’s a look at cleaning the Champion Juicer:

• Dishwasher safe parts: All detachable plastic parts are top rack dishwasher safe.
• 4 parts to clean: Juicer screen, auger, juicing screen cover, and pulp container.
• Easy to scrub: The smooth surfaces and materials allow for easy cleaning with a brush.
• Quick assembly: Only has a few parts that snap together.

The manual recommends soaking the screen for 10 minutes after juicing leafy greens to soften any remaining fiber. The Champion is easy to clean with just 4 detachable parts and dishwasher safe convenience. Make sure to fully disassemble and clean it right after juicing for best results.

Where is the Champion Juicer Made?

The Champion Juicer has been made in the United States since 1955. The company Plastaket Manufacturing first designed and patented the Champion Juicer. They continue to manufacture the juicer at their factory in Lodi, California today.

Plastaket is still a family owned company run by the descendants of the original founders. The Champion Juicer remains one of the few juicers still made in the USA.

Cost of the Champion Juicer

The Champion Juicer 3000 model retails for $259 on the manufacturer’s website. That includes the juicer, blank screen, juicing screen, user manual and recipe guide. Replacement parts are also available on the site. The 10 year warranty provides long-term value and peace of mind.

On Amazon, the Champion Juicer 3000 currently sells for $199 to $229. So you can often find it under $200, especially during sales.

For a made-in-USA cold press masticating juicer, this is an excellent value. It’s more affordable than twin gear models that can cost over $500. The Champion hits a sweet spot between price and performance.

Conclusion

The Champion Juicer is clearly a masticating juicer and not a centrifugal model. Key evidence includes the single auger, slower 1,725 RPM speed, cold press extraction method, and outstanding performance with leafy greens. As one of the few juicers still made in America, the Champion combines quality manufacturing and materials with affordable pricing. For those looking for the benefits of masticating juicing without the high price tag, the durable Champion Juicer is a great choice.