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Masticating vs. Centrifugal Juicer – Cold Press vs. Masticating

Your Beginner’s Guide to Buying Your First Juicer

So it’s time to buy your first juicer – congratulations! This is about to become your new BFF. Just imagine, fresh juice in the mornings while sitting out on your veranda or just your apartment floor. There are many brands, but there are two main categories in the market: Masticating vs. Centrifugal. Before we get into the details, let’s start with the basics.

Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber

Fruits and vegetables are made up of soluble and insoluble fiber. Both are good for you, but work very differently. When you imagine insoluble fiber think of roughage, the part of the plant that can’t be broken down by your digestive system. Soluble fiber, however, is absorbed into the bloodstream. Insoluble fiber keeps your trips to the throne regular, while soluble fiber delivers all those good nutrients to your body’s cells and keeps you full longer. (Want to know more about the awesome benefits and differences? Check out this article by our friends at Health.com)

Smoothie vs Juice new

This is where juicing comes in.

If you have a problem with textures like me, juicing is a saving-grace alternative to the smoothie (slurping stringy spinach and getting it caught in my teeth is not my style).

Juicing separates the insoluble and soluble fiber, extracting the nutrients in a water-like consistency of delicious soluble fiber, aka the juice. The best part is that one 16-oz juice can pack in POUNDS of fruits and veggies, more than double any old salad.

Masticating vs. Centrifugal Juicer

The two categories of juicers are centrifugal and masticating. At a basic level, think of centrifugal like a blender, and masticating as a churn (often referred to as a cold-press juicer).

Centrifugals are traditionally cheaper and faster. Centrifugals have a larger chute to quickly juice items whole, even whole apples. They are a cheaper buy but typically have a limited warranty.

Masticating juicers are just the opposite. They are slower, due to the speed and diameter of the shoot, as most items need to be cut or quartered to fit. They are also more expensive due to the design, but, they typically come with a pretty intense 10-15 year warranty.

The biggest difference though is in the juice. You know when you cut an apple in half and it will begin to turn brown? That cut allows oxygen in, affecting the injured plant tissue where it begins to oxidize. Nutrients are affected, resulting in a sour taste. With centrifugal at an average of 14,000 RPM, it’s sucking in tons of oxygen into your juice, where it immediately begins the oxidizing process, aka turning your juice brown. Whereas the masticating juicer is only 80 RPM, resulting in very little oxygen and no substantial loss of nutrients.

masticating vs centrifugal juicer
If you opt for the centrifugal juicer you must plan on drinking your juices immediately, otherwise in less than 30 minutes you’ll be left with a sour, brown liquid. With masticating juicers however, you can store them for DAYS and they are still green! Not to mention that with a centrifugal juicer, the heat from the process causes a loss of nutrients, where masticating juicers produce the most nutrient-rich juices.

Masticating vs Centrifugal Juicer

Still can’t decide? Check out this quick comparison chart with Masticating vs. Centrifugal among brands in each category:

FeaturesCentrifugalMasticating
Speed1,650 to 15,000 RPM (very fast)Low speed usually around 70-80 RPM (cold press)
Nutrient Efficiency5/10 - You’ll get a juice, but it will not have the highest yield or with the most nutrients.10/10 - Highest yield, being the most efficient juicer and most nutritious.
Functions & CapabilitiesBasic fruit and vegetable juice. Not good for wheatgrass and has no other functions.Fruit and vegetable juice, and great for wheatgrass shots. Will also make nut butter, grind coffee beans, and even make pasta.
Leafy GreensLess efficient. Quite efficient. Good choice for lovers of green juice.
WheatgrassBetter don't do thatYes, very good
NoiseVery loud - like a blender.Quiet - can hardly hear it.
Pulp/TextureSome pulpZero pulp
Warranty1 year10 or 15 years
PriceCheck Centrifugal Juicer PriceCheck Masticating Juicer Price

Here’s both of them at work:


If you want a versatile juicer that can do everything from juicing to making nut butter and even pasta, your best choice is a masticating juicer, like the Omega J8006. You will have more uses, and a warranty to protect you using it for at least a decade. With this type of an investment, you want a good warranty like Omega offers.

However, if you are just looking for a basic juicer that is quick and easy, that will give you your basic juice that you make when you want to drink it, then you’ll want to purchase a centrifugal juicer. It’s a cheaper, quick alternative that does the basic functions you are looking for, ultimately being a better fit for your juicing needs.

What would I buy?

I bought a masticating juicer! My first juicer was a centrifugal juicer, and I learned a ton of ways to combine fruits and vegetables in those early months. My first foray into juicing was setting off on a 30-day juice cleanse. (Yes, you read that right and no, I’m not insane.)

It was not long after that, that I wanted to continue to expand and develop my skills and improve the taste and quality of my juices. That led me down the route to learning about masticating juicers and finally onto purchasing my first one.

I selected the Omega J8006 to be my partner on that journey. It came highly recommended and checked all of my boxes: high yield on my produce resulting in a high-nutritious beverage and most importantly to keep it good and green for hours.

To put it to the ultimate test, I had an out-of-town wedding. (I know, what a nightmare – and no you can’t juice cake.) I made juices for the whole weekend on a Friday evening before leaving. I was still drinking those juices on Monday morning! I couldn’t believe how fresh they still tasted! P.S. I only use mason jars for my juices because the double seal keeps out oxygen the best, keeping it super fresh!

It’s a personal choice, so check out the other brands and compare the different types of juicers, but if you’re asking me, what I personally use and recommend after three years is my Omega J8006.

Stay tuned for recipes and other tips on how to best use your juicer.
Happy Juicing!
super fresh!