If you’ve been researching different types of juicers, you’ve probably seen the terms “masticating”, “centrifugal” and “cold-press”.
In this article, we’ll cover the pros and cons of these juicers. By the end, you’ll know exactly which one best fits your needs.
Maybe you want to start juicing at home, open a juice business, or upgrade your equipment, but you aren’t sure what the differences are between masticating, centrifugal and cold press juicers.
Whatever your intention is, understanding the best juicers on the market is critical to your juicing success. Keep reading to help determine which juicer type is right for you!
Table of Contents:
- Quick Juicer Comparison
- Centrifugal Juicers
- Masticating Juicers
- Juice Presses (and why they’re the best)
Quick Juicer Comparison
Masticating and Centrifugal
Because of their relatively low price points and accessibility, masticating and centrifugal juicers have been the most common types of juicers used in homes over the years.
Here’s how these common types of juicers work:
Both of these juicers extract juice from produce by forcing it against a sharp screen. A centrifugal juicer uses centrifugal force (by spinning very fast). Masticating juicers use a slow turning screw to force the produce against the screen.
Juice Press
A much better alternative, and becoming more and more accessible to juice businesses and consumers, is the juice press. These juicers produce cold-pressed juice, done in a two-step grinding and pressing process. This method produces the highest quality, most nutrient dense juice.
Only an actual juice press produces “cold-pressed juice”, even if the term is often used to describe other types of juice.
Note: Are you researching juicers in preparation for starting a juice business? Get 3 free juice business design guides that will help you get started on laying out your juice business, regardless of how big of an operation you’re planning.
Centrifugal Force Juicer
The centrifugal force juicer, which is also known as the “fast juicer”, is one of the most popular juicers on the market. This machine is typically used in households because it provides the user with juice instantly and is cheap to buy.
So, how does it work? This juicer takes fruits and veggies through a feeding tube and forces them against a fast spinning metal blade where they will be cut and spun against a sharp screen at a high speed of 6,000-14,000 RPM.
This juicer is great for people who are just getting into juice at home, don’t need large batches of fresh juice, are not really concerned about getting all the juice extracted from the produce, and want to drink their juice as soon as it’s made. This option is typically the cheapest on the market and provides consumers with the great benefits of juice, without the extra cost of higher quality methods.
Note: 7 tasty and healthy juice recipes are yours when you get the free How to do a Juice Cleanse ebook! If you're interested in doing a juice cleanse, this book is a valuable resource for you. But even if you're not planning a cleanse anytime soon, the recipes alone make it worth grabbing.
Masticating Juicer
These juicers are also known as slow juicers, gear, or auger juicers, and the produce is crushed at a slow speed. When using this juicer, the produce is crushed at around 80-100 RPM, then pushed through a sharp screen.
Since the juicing process is much slower and does not introduce as much heat and oxygen as with a centrifugal juicer, it provides you with a more nutritious juice. Masticating juicers typically have a pretty decent juice yield which is great for the pocketbook (get more out the produce you are purchasing) as well as the planet (reduces waste).
Although these juicers are a step above centrifugal, they aren’t the best solution for those who are trying to make very high quality juice. Similar to a centrifugal juicer, the juice made from a slow juicer contains a lot of “solids” and separates quickly. It should be consumed soon after making it.
Additionally, the overall taste and mouthfeel of the juices made on a slow juicer leave a lot to be desired. The action of crushing the produce between two hard surfaces and then pushed through a very small space through a screen results in much of the produce getting broken down so small that it makes it way into the juice as part of the juice, resulting in a thicker, pulpier juice than produced on a real cold press juicer (one with an acutal press).
This forcing through a screen action also has a lot to do with the flavor of the juice not being the same or as good as when I make the same recipe on a cold press juicer.
If you’re looking for a piece of equipment that will create great tasting, nutrient dense, longer-lasting juice that can be sold over time or stored in your fridge for several days, the cold press juicer is what you’re looking for.
Juice Press
A hydraulic (or sometimes pneumatic) cold press juicer is the best type of juicer on the market that you can buy. These are commonly referred to as two-stage juicers since there are two stages in the juicing process:
- The produce chopped (also referred to as grinding) into the consistency of chunky salsa. This is just cutting the produce into small pieces, and is not where the juice extraction occurs.
- The juice is slowly extracted by pressing the pulp under thousands of pounds of pressure.
You may see the term, “cold-pressed juice” thrown around in the juicing industry. A traditional juice press is where the term “cold-pressed” came from. A juice press is the only type of juicer that actually contains a press, therefore, it’s the only true cold-press juicer. A real juice press makes the smoothest, best tasting juice you can make with the least amount of separation.
Juice presses are able to extract the most nutrients possible from your fruits and vegetables. It also provides the longest shelf life (around 3-5 days, depending largely on the recipe ingredients) with minimal separation or breakdown of nutrients and taste. It creates the purest juice with around 99% liquid and less than 0.3% pulp. Our commercial machines at Goodnature require a lot less produce prep time and have a much faster and easier clean up compared to other consumer-focused juicers.
It is the most expensive type of juicers on the market, but if you’re looking for the best juicer that produces the highest quality, best tasting juice, this is the one for you. To learn more about how to choose the right juicer for your business, read our blog here. If you’re interested in learning more about our industry-leading juice presses, view the Goodnature juicers here!
It’s important to understand the different types of juicers on the market before making a decision for your household or business. Regardless of what you’re looking for, juicing is a great way to cleanse your body and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Got Any Questions About Juicers?
Comment below and our team of juicing experts will get back to you.
By the way, our blog is packed full with great juicing resources for you to use. View our juicing recipes here!
Note: If you're planning to start a juice business, let us help you with these 3 free juice business design & equipment guides.
About The Author
Robin Frey
Marketing Manager at Goodnature
As marketing manager for Goodnature, Robin gets to work around her favorite thing—juice. Growing up, Robin's parents introduced her to fresh juice made at home and the health benefits juicing provides. She continues to be passionate about health and wellness—juicing at home is still part of her daily routine. Robin is a certified holistic health coach and earned her certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City.
Comments
Thank You so much Robin Frey for sharing this wonderful article, I learnt a lot, now I can easy different a cold pressed juice from masticated juice or centrifugal juice. Will love to go into Juicing business till then, let me keep saving my money. Once again Thank you.
Great post. This article has immensely great information regarding juicers and juicing, which is really impressive. If you're looking to upgrade your juicing experience, don't miss the opportunity to buy a Cold Press Juicer online.
Which juicer is better to make almond milk that’s not to expensive? Thank you
For a non-expensive solution you can choose either a masticating juicer or a specialty one like the “almond cow”. A real juice press is best, but it’s more expensive.
Hi Francesca, the most inexpensive way to make nut milk is to blend the pre soaked nuts and filtered water with a blender, then hand squeeze the slurry using a nut milk bag (you can find these on Amazon). I know a lot of people are using the Almond Cow machine to make all kinds of plant based milks at home. If you’re looking to make nut milk in a commercial setting, our M-1 juice press works great and is certified to meet your health department’s requirements for food service business. Hope this helps! 😊
After juicing can you add the pulp to the juice in a blender to get a more nutritious drink ?
Hi Richard,
Blending introduces heat and oxygen to juice and degrades the nutrients, so I would advise against doing this. Also, the pulp left behind when juicing on a juice press does not have much nutritional value, and is made up of insoluble fiber (the stuff your body cannot digest). If you need more insoluble fiber in your diet (most of us get plenty of this type of fiber elsewhere), theoretically it might make sense to add pulp back in...
Can someone tell me if the Sifene Slow Juicer Mini is also a good juicer machine?
Hi Selina,
I have not had any experience using that juicer. We recommend true cold press juicers as they produce the best quality juice. You can learn more about that here: https://www.goodnature.com/difference/
i have a kuvings, and i love it. it's never foamy, bitter, does not separate, gives a high yield and is not one of the things mentioned above as 'not a press'. i understand, you have a brand to protect and nurture. but does that mean that other juicers are not qualified? kuvings holds a great market, to be fair I had not heard of your brand until I came across a local vendor here in my city. Kuvings sells it's brand saying that it is indeed a cold press juicer. Is that wrong?
A "slow juicer" or "masticating" juicer doesn't actually contain a press, so it's not a cold press. If you make juice on a masticating juicer and compare the same recipe to a real juice press, you will see the difference.
Hi Robin,
I used a new message to respond to you regarding my Kuvings C7000 because the “reply” link did not work on my end. Thank you for your feedback. You are right. The C7000 is referred to by some vendors as a machine that cold presses ingredients while others refer to it as triturating and not masticating. I have since contacted the company and it seems to me that it is a machine with some limitations. It does take some time to learn it’s idiosyncrasies. The taste, especially that of juices containing celery is much stronger than the juices produced by my old Moulinex Centrigal juicer which I purchased in Europe years ago. I’ll probably need to experiment with quantities. Time will tell. Thanks again.
I’ve purchased a Kuvings C7000 which I believe is considered a cold press juicer. First attempt at juicing went without a problem. The machine worked smoothly and results were great. The second time I used it, the machine jammed and jumped considerably when pressing the reverse button. The third time was not what I’d call a success. The pulp dispensed was soaking wet and the juice had considerable foam which I would have expected from a centrifugal juicer and not this one. Neither of these two problems were evidenced in the video reviews that I watched prior to my purchase. What are your thoughts about this juicer? I’m starting to get concerned about this model. Thank you!
Hi Maria,
Sorry to hear that! I would recommend talking to the manufacturer of the machine to see if this is typical of that model. The Kuvings C7000 is actually a masticating/slow juicer and not a cold press (there is no press), even though it may be marketed as a cold press. You can learn more about that here: https://www.goodnature.com/blog/types-of-juicers/ I used to use a masticating juicer at home and my juice was foamy and pulpy. Now I use a Goodnature juice press and the juice is clean, tastes much better and lasts longer!
Can a juicer be cold press AND masticating? I am considering a juicer attachment for my KitchenAid mixer. It is referred to as both.
Hi Deanna,
Congrats on getting into juicing 😄
A true cold press will actually contain a press. Cold pressing is a two-step process of chopping the produce then pressing (squeezing). During the squeezing process the fruit is not forced against a sharp screen like other methods, it is entirely stationary—a gentle, natural process. All of the indigestible fiber including skin, seeds, and stems are left behind, resulting in a smooth, clean juice that stays fresh for days. You can learn more about it here: https://www.goodnature.com/difference/
I really appreciate your article - if you are willing to discuss alternative/cheaper juicers to us who just are looking for home use, then clearly this is just not one big "Goodnature" ad. However, of course I now am saving for one.
I would like to mention to anyone reading this that any type of juicer is going to give you juice that will improve your health - with some pulp in it, sure - get the one you can afford, and just start.
A $5000 juicer is for the rich, for a business, or for someone needing to treat a life-threatening disease. As I said, I am glad you gave some alternate options, as terminal illness is big business that robs desperate people of their money very quickly
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Thank you Alli, yes we agree with you 100%, the most important thing is to get a juicer you will use and make juicing a part of your health care and self care routine!
Me and my frends want o star a juice business so can you suggest me beast juicer, mysticating juicer or cold press juicer
You are completely wrong on below statement. I have been juicing since 1990 and my first machine was this heavy Champion. Juice is not meant to refrigerate. You drink immediacy, case closed on that.
If you’re looking for a piece of equipment that will create great tasting, nutrient dense, longer-lasting juice that can be sold over time or stored in your fridge for several days, the cold press juicer is what you’re looking for.
Hi Morey,
Thanks for your feedback. We definitely agree that juice is best when you drink it immediately, however, there are circumstances that don't allow people to have the opportunity to be able to make it every day at every instance they want to consume juice (also take into consideration our juice business audience). If you are interested seeing how the nutrients keep in cold pressed juice made on our machines, you can check out the lab results here: https://www.goodnature.com/blog/cold-pressed-vs-centrifugal-juice-nutritional-data/ and here: https://www.goodnature.com/blog/cold-pressed-vs-centrifugal-juice-part-2-nutrient-shelf-life/
Hi can you reccommend a great masticating cold press juicer inwant to start my own businessasap
Hi Tiffany,
We recommend the M-1 for starting a juice business with a commercial cold press juicer: https://www.goodnature.com/juice-presses/m1/ If you are looking for a masticating juicer (not a press, although sometimes marketed that way), you can find them online. Just be sure that it is a commercial machine, otherwise the health department may not approve it. You can learn more about what makes a juicer a cold press and the benefits of it here: https://www.goodnature.com/difference/
Hello Robin, nicely done and written.
Just came across such an amazing detailed article on the types of juicers. Personally, I love the masticating juicers because they are perfect and silently does their works without losing any nutrients of the products.
Thank you.
Thank you!
Masticating juicers work pretty well, I used one for about 8 years before moving to a true cold press. I always say the best juicer is the one you actually will use! I find that with the press extraction technology, my juices taste better, have more vibrant color and have much less solids. Did you ever see this comparison? Pretty interesting, ran across it today while doing some juicing for cancer research: https://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/other-juice-extractor-comparison-2007.pdf
About 15 years ago I was caring for my elderly mother. Mom had bought a Jack Lalanes juicer. Mom taught me how to use it. I was not into juicing at all. Mom has since pass and know I want her JL juicer. How does it compare to your product?
Hi Leslie,
The Jack Lalanne juicer utilizes centrifugal technology while our juicers utilize a two step cold press technology, you can learn more about that here: https://www.goodnature.com/difference/
As I always say though, the best type of juicer is the one that actually use! Happy juicing 😄
What is the best press for home use
Hi Barbara,
That is a very personal question that depends on your specific needs, however, I would say the short answer to your question is: The best press for home use is going to be the one that you actually use. For me, and other hardcore home juicing individuals, that is the genuine juice press, the Goodnature M-1. For other home juicers, it may be a masticating juicer like the Kuvings or the Omega. You just need to take into account all the factors and decide what is most important to you. I would recommend considering these factors as you compare juicers: Quality of juice (taste and nutrients), durability of the machine, ease of cleaning, ease of operation, amount of time it takes to make juice on the machine, and any other factors you feel will affect your ability to enjoy making juice at home. Once I tasted juice made on a Goodnature juicer, I was not able to drink juice made on my masticating juicer anymore, the juice is just that much better. You can read more about the Goodnature difference here: https://www.goodnature.com/difference/ Happy Juicing! 😄
Hi Robin, that was a very informative article. Thank You.
Hi Robin. First let me tell you, this article was very informative. I was able to get all the information I needed in a quick read. So, thank you for that! I do have a question for you... I am looking for a good juicer for my home and while I would LOVE to have your M-1 or X-1 mini, the reality is I can’t afford it. What juicer do you use in your home and what do you recommend I look for for the best quality juice? My husband and I are in our late 30’s and trying to eat healthier. I would also like to use the juicer for my grandson who is currently only a month old but will eventually be able to partake in our juicing. Thank you in advance for all your help.
Sincerely,
Angela
Hi Angela,
So glad you found this article helpful! I totally understand, the M-1 is on my wish list as well 😄
I've had an Omega slow juicer for over 8 years now, and it is still going strong. In fact, for the last year and a half my Mom has used it every day to make the carrot juice she drinks to help battle her chronic leukemia. After I gave it to her, I purchased a Kuvings slow juicer. The nice thing about the Kuvings is that it has a big hopper so you don't have to cut up the produce as small as you do with the Omega, however, the clean up takes forever. I don't know about you, but I would rather spend more time cutting produce than scrubbing a screen that is so hard to get clean. I believe that we should enjoy the process of preparing our food and that the love we put into the process comes through in the end result. I also find that the quality of juice is better from the Omega. I am not sure why, but it seems to taste better and is less pulpy. That being said, there is no comparison in the quality of juice from a slow juicer to that from a true juice press machine. Making juice on a Goodnature press at work has me spoiled now so it's tough for me to be satisfied with the juice from my home juicer. It is so smooth and the taste you get from each ingredient is so much purer and not bitter, it's as if you were eating it (this is due to the technology in our extraction process, which gently chops then presses, keeping the plant cell walls intact). Sorry for the long winded explanation!
All in all, from my experience I personally recommend the Omega. It produces a decent juice (although I filter it twice to remove the suspended solids) that can last up to three days in the fridge (depending on your recipe), it is durable (I've had mine for years and never needed to have it fixed or replace any parts), and it won't break the bank. This is newer version of the model I have: Omega Juicer
If your budget allows, you could also look at the Norwalk or PURE juicers, they are presses that produce good, quality juice for the home but run $2k+ (IMO I would put that money in a piggy bank for a Goodnature juicer down the road once you have some juicing experience under your belt, but that's just me) The cleaning process is extensive and juicing is slow going, but they do produce good juice.
Oh, and also you can make baby food for your grandson with a slow juicer until he's ready for juice (maybe by then you will have your Goodnature juicer 😉 ) Happy Juicing!
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