A pressing question (Apples = homebrew)

[Fruity-ya-ya]

How do all,

Has anyone got any simpler way of extracting juice from a glut of apples my mate has dropped round so I can make cider from them other than another mammoth session with an electric juicer?

The last load (2 sacks) went through my Dads juicer but took (many) hours.
A cheap & cheerful juicer just big enought to juice a quater of an apple at a time & clogged up (needing a complete strip down/wash) after about two apples.

Any tricks I'm missing?

I've considered making a press or even buying one but wondered if any of you homebrewers might have some crafty alternatives.

p.s. I have made cider from the cartons of juice before and know it's easy but as I get these apples for free I'd prefer to use them.

[lx_online]

Do you have one of those blenders that can blend an iPhone? Then press the remaining liquid with a cloth around it...?

[Messie]

I've heard that you can hire proper apple presses for cider making. I've also heard that apple growers who make cider will press you apples for a small fee if they have the spare time.

Haven't tried it myself though, but would love to. I've just put sloes onto 2 litres of gin, a bottle pf port onto some elderberries and I'm planning on putting whiskey on the pitifully poor crop of blackberries. Looking forward to Christmas!

[Bibio]

join a local cider making club.

[Fruity-ya-ya]

Haven't tried it myself though, but would love to. I've just put sloes onto 2 litres of gin, a bottle pf port onto some elderberries and I'm planning on putting whiskey on the pitifully poor crop of blackberries. Looking forward to Christmas!

Port in elderberries. Hmmm. Now that sounds nice. What quantities\process did you follow?
I've loads just come in and was toying with making a wine but what you've done sounds tasty.

Is that done with sugar in a demijohn?

[Fruity-ya-ya]

Do you have one of those blenders that can blend an iPhone? Then press the remaining liquid with a cloth around it...?

I might just try that. If anything at least the jucier won't have to work its butt off.

[454697819]

yes I have some great advice.. Pm me and Ill share with you its DIY but works really well, dont have time to write it all now though.

[Messie]

Port in elderberries. Hmmm. Now that sounds nice. What quantities\process did you follow?
I've loads just come in and was toying with making a wine but what you've done sounds tasty.

Is that done with sugar in a demijohn?


It's in a Kilner jar and made much like sloe gin but with less sugar. It doesn't ferment itself, just infuses. I gues about 100g sugar to 250g elderberries to a bottle of port. I've made elderberry wine before but I've got out of the wine making habit now. Maybe I should dust off the demijohns again...

[Fruity-ya-ya]

It's in a Kilner jar and made much like sloe gin but with less sugar.

Thanks Messie x

Definitely going to have a bash.

Almost set my Kenwood on fire pulping the bucket of apples. If he brings more I'm going to ask about and see if anyone has access to a better jucier/blender.
I've put a weight on the pulp and it's currently dripping nicely through my nylon bag.
Tbf much easier and quicker than the tiny jucier.

[lx_online]

Good luck with the cider - do you use the naturally occuring yeast?

[Specialone]

Hey fruity, do I get to taste some when it's done???

[yorkie_chris]

Build a press, you know you need a welder.

[keith_d]

Proper way is to run the apples through a mincer, pile them on muslin sheets in big 'cheeses' and use a press to extract the juice.

[metalangel]

Hands up any geeks who thought this was about programming your own software on a Mac.

[sputnik]

Tried making some last year - we hired/borrowed a brilliant press for a day from a local allotment or climate change group thing(?). Heavy duty contraption that pulped the apples, a box at a time, with a screw down press. You just stuck a bucket underneath with muslin on top and out the juice poured. Well worth seeing if you can track one down - quite good fun too.

Opened our inaugural bottle from last year's harvest last week and....:smt078bloody awful! Smelled great, nice fizz, good appley flavour but not enough sugar added so it's like liquid heartburn in a bottle. Makes a good marinade for various things though so not a total waste but I'd rather have drunk it.

[Fruity-ya-ya]

The blender method worked but the suspended bag with the plate/weight didn't strain as well as I'd hoped.
After developing Popeye sized forearms from squeezing the remaining juice from the pulp I think I'll try to hunt down a press as you all advised.

Just picked a load more apples from the nearby school trees (the caretaker is my mate, i wasn't scrumping) so I might try blender/dads juicer combo before I scour the local hire shops.

Good luck with the cider - do you use the naturally occuring yeast?
I know you can but I might chuck in campden tablets & a champagne yeast for a more controlled brew.
Hey fruity, do I get to taste some when it's done???
Sure why not, sounds like a plan. I'll test it on my brother & if his teeth don't fall out we'll have to sort out a session.
Build a press, you know you need a welder.
Already scheming, borrowed my uncles rod welder on an unrelated job and haven't returned it yet (rubs hands together and cackles in a Bond villain stylee).

[Specialone]

Ive probably got enough bits and bobs to make one in my garage, ive got large threaded handles, 2 inch box section etc

When i get back from france, tell me what bits your short and ill see what i can find.