Cold Press Juicer Vs Centrifugal Juicer – Which Is More Advantageous?

09/12/2022

Drinking juices every morning in the breakfast is one of the best ways to include more nutrition in your everyday meals. If you are a health-conscious person like me, you must know that homemade juices are much better than store-bought ones.

Among the different types of juicers I have used, cold press and centrifugal juicers are the most commons. However, the difference between the operation, price, benefits and drawbacks is vast.

Many are aware of this, but need help choosing between cold press juicer and centrifugal juicer, as choosing the right one involves analyzing certain key factors based on practical experience.

For better understanding, I have made a thorough comparison of cold press vs centrifugal juicers with pros and cons below. Go through the entire article to understand the benefits of both juicers and choose the one that’s best for you.

Cold Press Juicer Vs Centrifugal Juicer Comparison

Point of Difference	Cold Press Juicer	Centrifugal Juicer
Size, Weight, and Space	Cold press juicers have comparatively higher weight, typically between 5-10 Kg. Horizontal cold press juicers take up more counter space whereas vertical models require more area to fit.	Centrifugal juicers have lower weight compared to cold press juicer, usually between 1-5 Kg. Their space requirement varies depending on capacity.
Working Method	A cold press juicer uses a motorized auger to slowly press the fruits and vegetables, extracting the juice from the pulp.	It contains rotating blades or grater that chops the produce at high speed. The released juice is pushed towards the edges due to centrifugal force and sieved through a mesh.
Juicing Speed	Low speed of 40-100 RPM.	High speed of 8000-15,000 RPM.
Yield and Juicing Efficiency	Highly efficient with upto 95% yield, leaves very dry pulps.	Average juice yield (60-80%), leads to more wastage of produce.
Nutritional Benefits	Low heat generation leads to reduced oxidation of the nutrients. Cold-pressed juice is healthier as it retains more nutrients and enzymes. It is pulpier and more beneficial with high fiber content.	A higher heat generation due to the high-speed motor leads to higher oxidation of the juice. Though in a small quantity, it degrades the nutritional value of the juice.
Texture, Taste, and Flavor of Juice	The juice produced by a cold press juicer is rich in taste, has a pulpy texture, and better flavor due to higher amounts of nutrients.	A noticeable change can be tasted in the original taste of juice due to oxidation and reduction of nutrients.
Shelf Life of Juice	Cold-pressed juices have longer shelf life of upto 3 days, depending on the type of juice.	The juice made using a centrifugal juicer has a shorter shelf life of upto one day due to rapid oxidation.
Ease of Use	Even if cold press juicers are easy to use, the juicing process is quite slow.	Centrifugal juicers are easy to use and produce juice very quickly.
Cleaning and Maintenance	Slightly difficult to clean due to the complex setup.	Easier to clean due to the straightforward design,
Price	Cold press juicers are comparatively more expensive, priced between ₹8,000 to ₹40,000. Commercial models are more costly.	Centrifugal juicers are priced by most brands between ₹2000 to ₹10,000.

Differences Between Cold Press And Centrifugal Juicers

Size, Weight, and Space Requirements

The weight of cold press juicers in the current market is usually between 5-10 Kg. Most of the weight of a cold press juicer comes from its motor. As I observed, these juicers require a lower RPM and higher force to crush the fruits while generating little to no heat, which is definitely beneficial.

To maintain these criteria, cold press juicers are equipped with powerful and heavy motors that generate high torque even at a small wattage by maintaining low speed.

On the other hand, centrifugal juicers run at high speed of around 15,000 RPM and don’t require such heavy motors as they cut the fruits instead of crushing them.

That’s why they are equipped with lighter motors of higher wattage, which maintains the required speed. Centrifugal juicers weigh somewhere between 1-5 Kg.

However, the space requirement for both types of juicers depends on the capacity. These kitchen appliances are meant for personal juicing are smaller, whereas those meant for a family require more space. Commercial cold press and centrifugal juicers need more space.

In cold press juicers, mostly the vertical models, where the feeding tube is directly stacked above the motor, need less counter space compared to the horizontal ones.

Working Process

Both centrifugal and cold press juicers are electric juicers that have tremendous advantages over manual juicing processes.

Cold press juicers extract juice by pressing the fruits using an auger and pushing the ground fruits through a strainer. These juicers work at a very low speed of 40-100 RPM, generating almost no heat. That’s why they are called “cold” press juicers.

Centrifugal juicers, contrarily, finely chop the fruits using a rotating blade or grater. This releases the juice that is pulled away to the edges through the centrifugal force generated by rotation. The juice passes through a sieve into the container at the bottom.

Most modern juicer mixer grinders have a centrifugal juicing system along with the facilities of traditional mixer grinder. Besides juicing, if you have requirements for wet grinding, dry grinding and mixing, you can choose a juicer mixer grinder instead of a centrifugal juicer.

Juicing Speed

To maintain high efficiency and juice quality, cold press juicers work at a low RPM. This considerably slows the juicing process, especially if you are working with hard vegetables or greens. For this reason, these juicers are also known as slow juicers.

Centrifugal juicers are comparatively much faster due to the higher speed of nearly 15,000 RPM. As a result, these juicers extract juice quickly.

For example, extracting a glass of orange juice takes less than five minutes on a centrifugal juicer. But the same will take nearly 10-12 minutes on a cold press juicer.

Yield and Juicing Efficiency

The efficiency and yield of a juicer determine how much juice you get for the amount of fresh produce used. Cold press juicers crush and grind the fruits to extract the juice.

This results in little wastage as every last bit of juice is squeezed from the fruit giving out a very dry pulp. Usually, the efficiency of cold press juicers is between 70-80%. But some high-end juicers have also shown an efficiency of 90%.

In comparison, centrifugal juicers have a low yield. The juicers cut up the fruits to release the juice, which results in a lot of juice staying back in the pulp itself.

Centrifugal juicers have an efficiency of only 50-60%, which means you get almost half the yield compared to cold press juicers.

Nutritional Benefits

If you are trying to include more juices in your diet, it is either to maintain a healthier lifestyle or to meet certain nutritional requirements.

In both cases, the nutritional content of the juice is very important. If you are choosing a juicer based on the quality of the juice, then you need to look out for two factors: heat generation and the amount of foam.

Cold press juicers don’t generate much heat or foam due to their slower working process. As a result, the juices have a higher nutritional value as the micronutrients stay intact.

The juice from a cold press juicer also has more pulp which means a higher amount of fiber. Though puppy juice isn’t everyone’s favorite, it definitely has more health benefits.

Centrifugal juicers, on the other hand, generate a high amount of heat and foam. Both are detrimental to the quality of the juice produced. Certain micronutrients are temperature sensitive. These start to break down due to the heat from the juicer.

The foam on top aids oxidation which again reduces the juice quality. The juice itself is also more watery with low pulp, which means it doesn’t contain a lot of fiber content.

Texture, Taste, and Flavor of Juice

Cold press juicers extract all the juice from the pulp, including a lot of fibers. Depending on your preference, you may or may not like the pulpy juice. But newer cold press juicers come with different types of strainers to adjust the juice’s thickness. For example, if you prefer thick juices or smoothies, you can use a strainer with wider holes.

As cold-pressed juices are more stable due to reduced oxidation, they also taste better and are very flavorful. This isn’t true for centrifugal juicers. Juices extracted from centrifugal juicers taste good but only for a short time.

Due to the high amount of foam, oxidation rapidly sets in, changing the taste and texture of the juice. But if you are someone who loves to make less pulpy juices in a shorter time, then centrifugal juicers do a better job.

Shelf Life of Juice

The same factors that enhance the nutritional quality and taste of cold press juices are also responsible for higher shelf life. Since cold press juicers don’t undergo heat degradation or oxidation, they stay fresh and last longer. I have found that it also depends on the type and freshness of the ingredients used.

For example, juices with a lower pH, such as orange or lemon juice, last longer than juices with a higher pH (like beetroots). For further details, check this pH chart of various fruits and vegetables according to your preference.

Juices extracted using a centrifugal juicer undergo high oxidation, reducing nutrients and changing taste. The juice also undergoes visible browning and separates into layers of solid and liquid as quickly as one hour after juicing.

Cold-pressed juices have better nutrient quality for upto three days, whereas juices from a centrifugal juicer undergo rapid degradation.

Ease of Use

Centrifugal juicers are nearly twice as fast as cold press juicers. If you are using a cold press juicer, especially for hard vegetables like carrots and beetroots, expect the juicing process to be quite slow. But apart from the speed, both juicers have the same ease of use.

What you need to focus on is the difference between various features that effect in the juicing process. For example, any juicer with a smaller chute is more difficult to use as it requires higher prep time. The bigger the juicer, the larger pieces of fruit you can put in the juicer in one go.

However, all juicers require a certain amount of preparation before you juice the ingredients. It is advised to remove the core or seed of fruits before putting it in the chute. If you normally don’t consume the peel of certain fruits, such as citrus, then it is necessary to peel the fruits before juicing.

Cleaning and Maintenance

All juicers need cleaning after every usage. Otherwise, fruit pulps stuck in the mesh start to rot, which might contaminate the next juice you extract. However, most of the juicer parts of both the models are dishwasher safe, which simplifies the cleaning process.

Centrifugal juicers are the easier to clean than cold press juicers. They have a simple design with only the blades and a mesh which can be cleaned using cold water and a brush after every use.

However, I highly recommend deep cleaning at least once a week to remove all the fruit pulp stuck in the juicer. This can be done by disassembling the parts and washing each one separately.

On the other hand, cold press juicers are slightly challenging to clean due to their complicated design. Among them, horizontal cold press juicers are easier to wash. That’s because they have a simpler design and smaller mesh which can be cleaned using a brush.

Vertical masticating juicers have a larger mesh which takes more effort to brush. Similar to centrifugal juicers, cold press juicers also require thorough cleaning every week.

However, the latest models of both types of juicers come with auto-cleaning features. All you need to do is put cold water in the chute, close it with the chute cap provided, and run the auto-cleaning feature for a few minutes. You can follow it up with the weekly deep cleaning to ensure the removal of all residue.

Price Range

Centrifugal juicers are the most basic type of juicers and hence are affordable. Most centrifugal juicers cost between ₹2000 to ₹6000, with the high-end models costing below ₹10,000.

In comparison, cold press juicers are more expensive, with a starting price of ₹8000. Among them, horizontal cold press juicers cost less due to their basic design. They also come with various attachments to make pasta, and nut butter, so horizontal juicers can be considered a great kitchen investment.

Vertical cold press juicers, on the other hand, cost more due to their advanced design and higher number of features.

But a more expensive juicer doesn’t necessarily mean better quality. You need to consider the frequency of usage before investing in any kind of juicer. If you rarely use juicers, then a high-end centrifugal juicer is worth the money compared to a cold press juicer in the same range.

When Should You Choose A Cold Press Juicer?

Domestic-scale cold press juicers changed the way we juice at home. Buying cold-pressed juices from the market is expensive. But with the best cold press juicer, you can relish the same nutrient-rich juice in the comfort of your home at a much lower price per glass. However, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of these juicers before you make the purchase.

Benefits Of Cold Press Juicer Over Centrifugal Juicer

As cold press juicers give out less heat and foam, there is no oxidation in the juice, and the nutrients are preserved. This also increases the shelf life of the juice.
They squeeze out every last bit of juice, giving a high yield and a very dry pulp that you can reuse.
If your juicing ingredients contain more green leafy vegetables, then cold press juicers are better as they easily process fragile ingredients.
Some of the models are versatile and can be used to make nut butter or even pasta.

Limitations Of Cold Press Juicer

When compared to centrifugal juicers, cold press juicers tend to be more expensive. Even the basic models cost almost double that of centrifugal juicers.
Due to low motor speed, cold press juicers take more time to extract the juice.
As they have a complicated design, cold press juicers tend to be heavy, take up more counter space, and are also difficult to clean.
The juice extracted through cold-pressing is thicker. Though the pulp makes it more nutritious, not everyone prefers drinking thick juice.

Cold press juicers like Kuvings B1700 and Hestia Nutri Max are great choices if you are committed to juicing every day. But you also require sufficient time as they are quite slow.

Moreover, with very little wastage, you get the most out of the ingredients you buy. It is a good choice if you are considering including more greens or herbs in your juice recipes.

Even if they are expensive, the quality and the nutritional benefits far outweigh their cost. After using both cold press and centrifugal juicers, it proved correct to me.

When Should You Choose A Centrifugal Juicer?

Even if cold press juicers have several benefits, they may not be the best choice for everyone. Centrifugal juicers are the most basic and still the most popular type of juicer. Most people are drawn to centrifugal juicers because of how quick and pocket-friendly they are. Take a look at the pros and cons of centrifugal juicers before making a decision.

Benefits Of Centrifugal Juicer Over Cold Press Juicer

Centrifugal juicers are some of the most affordable ones, with the basic models starting just at ₹1000.
They have a high motor speed, which means fast and easy juicing.
Due to their simple design and smaller motors, centrifugal juicers are lightweight and easier to clean.
If you like “pure” juice that is free of pulp, then centrifugal juicers are a better option compared to cold press juicers.

Cons Of Centrifugal Juicers Compared To Cold Press Juicer

Due to high motor speed, centrifugal juicers produce a lot of heat, foam, and noise. The heat and foam cause oxidation, reducing the nutritional value of the juice.
Centrifugal juicers have low efficiency and give out small quantities of juice compared to the amounts of ingredients used.
They can only process larger fruits and vegetables. If your juice recipe includes green leafy vegetables or herbs, then centrifugal juicers won’t be able to process them.

Centrifugal juicers like Philips Viva Collection HR1863/20 are the best choice if you don’t drink frequently or are a beginner. They are not very expensive and are a good investment for occasional use. Moreover, they produce juice faster and are easy to clean, which saves considerable time.

Cold Press Juicer Or Centrifugal Juicer: Which Is Better?

Most people include juice in their diet for more intake of vitamins and minerals. That’s why buying a juicer that produces fresh nutritious juice is the best choice. Opting for a cold press juicer may be expensive, but the cost is justified for the tremendous advantages it provides.

However, if you are testing the waters with juicing and aren’t ready to shell out a fortune, centrifugal juicers are your best bet. They produce less-pulpy, pure juice and are great for beginners.

Apart from centrifugal and cold press juicers, you can also choose specialty juicers. For example, a citrus juicer is dedicated for juicing only lemons and oranges. Similarly, choose a suitable juicer for juicing hard vegetables like carrots and beetroots.

Ultimately, the best kind of juicer for your home depends on your requirements. Take note of your long-term juicing goals and frequency of usage before choosing the right juicer for you.