Best Juicer – Buyer’s Guide

Whether you already have a very Smeg-based kitchen and want to keep to the theme, or you simply want a juicer which is a bit less bulky and ‘dated’ looking than a lot of the others available, then this is perfect.

Don’t be put off by the word ‘slow’ in the title. The slow squeezing mechanism keeps all of the vitamins and nutrients in the juice rather than damaging them in the process, resulting in a healthier drink at the end of it all. However, it is still relatively quick at doing this, with juice ready in a matter of minutes.

For a bit more flexibility, you can adjust the density level of the juice, so it is at the perfect consistency for your tastes.

A 500ml juice container will hold enough for the whole family, or for you to enjoy a few times. All of the pulp is separated into a container for easy removal, and the entire machine is easy to disassemble and clean when the time comes.

There is no denying that the design is one of the best on the market, and Smeg spent a lot of time getting it just right. But the fact that it also performs well at its primary job of juicing makes it worth the high price tag.

This machine will juice all of your fruit and vegetables, from the usual oranges, lemons and apples to kale, wheatgrass, carrots, and celery.

You have to chop everything into quite small pieces so it can handle them, which can be more effort than you’d hope for, but once it is all done the results are worth it. The amount of juice you get out of all your produce is great, and it is a nice ready-to-drink temperature once it is all complete.

The pulp is all collected in a small container, and this is easy to remove as it is quite dry. If it does come out a bit damp, such as with citrus fruits, you can simply run it through again to dry it off. A few little bits did slip through when we tried certain vegetables, which happens with juicers across the board, but it is nothing that a small strainer can’t remove at the end.

Building it all up and dismantling for cleaning is pretty easy and self-explanatory. We would recommend doing this asap after making the juice to make life a bit easier and ensure it has no time to dry.

Overall, it is compact, relatively quiet and a really good price too. And there is a 3-year warranty if anything should go wrong, which should give you peace of mind.

Another juicer which can be transformed into a multi-use machine, the Omega will allow you to also use it as a mincer, homogeniser and pasta maker just by switching a few attachments.

It is quiet when in operation and seems to handle everything really smoothly, with no problems encountered. The ‘drill’ mechanism it uses keeps all of the nutrients in the juice, as opposed to a mesh design which can damage them.

Cleaning it takes only a few minutes, and it is all simple to take apart and pop back together before and after. Much easier than a lot of the more modern juicers which seem a bit too over-complicated.

It feels very sturdy and strong, and we’d say it would be able to cope with pretty much any fruit and veg you throw at it. Looks-wise, it is best described as a more modern version of the Matstone 6-in-1, which is great if you want the best of both worlds.

The only thing that will likely put you off is the price; it is around twice the cost of a lot of others on the market, and it doesn’t offer a lot more for the money. But the ease of use, end flavour of the juice and versatility could well sway you – it will be a great investment which will likely last years.

Sage appliances, made by Breville, are well-known for their effectiveness and design, and this juicer is no different.

Firstly, unlike with masticating juicers, the centrifugal models can handle softer fruits and vegetables with ease. Whether it be bananas, strawberries or raspberries, the Froojie Discs will pulp them into a smooth juice. There are also Nutri Discs with reinforced titanium blades for all of the usual harder ingredients.

Variable speeds will also get the most out of the various kinds of fruit, with a slow one to pulse softer content and faster pace to cut down on hard veggies. A froth separator on the jug means the resulting juice is smooth and clean.

The 84mm wide chute reduces the need to cut the additions down really small, which is great for saving time and reducing the effort needed to be healthy. You can even pop in apples whole, core and all, and everything will be juiced down and separated on your behalf.

Because of the way centrifugal juicers work, it can be easy to get some heat transferred to the juice thanks to the friction. However, these discs work quickly, so there is less than 2°C of transfer, meaning the juice is pretty much ready to drink.

Price-wise, it is pretty good for the effectiveness. Centrifugal juicers often leave a lot of waste and the taste/colour of the end product is not as vivid as with masticating models, even though they are faster, but this Sage one brings together the best of both worlds.

Not just a juicer. Why not press some citrus fruit or prepare a coulis or smoothie, too? The perfect machine to help get that fresh fruit and veg straight into your glass.

The basket is ideal for both soft and hard-skinned produce, from apples to bananas and berries. Pulp is left dry so you can remove it easily with the shaped spatula. Plus, the spin dryer basket gets almost every drop of juice from the goods. No waste, and you aren’t left with lacklustre results.

As there is an extra-large feed tube, you can cut the time you spend making the juice in half by feeding whole pieces of fruit and veg to the juicer as opposed to chopping it up into tiny segments.

If you fancy a smoothie instead, just add the SmoothieMix attachment to the extractor basket. This will transform the results from juice to thick, creamy smoothies, coulis, purees or even baby food.

Then there is the citrus press. It comes with two cones, so no matter the size of your orange, there will be one to accommodate it. Also makes it ideal for limes and lemons. A 30-year motor guarantee covers the robust 400W commercial grade induction motor, and a three-year guarantee covers all dishwasher safe removable parts.

So while it may be more than you were hoping to spend, the versatility and protection mean that in actual fact, it is a bit of a steal.

One of the best-priced juicers on the market, but without any loss in power, performance or ability.

It is compact and quick to set up, so is perfect for any smaller kitchens which can’t really accommodate large appliances. Because it is also lightweight, it is easy to pop in the kitchen cupboards and store when not in use, then lift and bring out as and when it is needed. Great if you can’t leave things out on the benches.

We liked the drip-stop spout, which can be turned to prevent any remaining juice ending up on your countertops when the juicing is done. Because it is compact and around half the size of usual juicers, the spout is just the right height to allow you to place a glass straight under, so your drink is ready to go without the need for transferring it from a jug.

Quick Clean technology also makes this easy. A lot of pulp often gets caught in sieves and mesh filters of juicers, but because the surfaces on the Viva are all smooth, all you need to do is wipe it away with a sponge or cloth. No need for rigorous brushing or soaking for hours, and it only takes a minute.

The lid and pulp container are transparent, so you can see when it is ready and when it needs emptying or restocking before it is good to go again.

If you’re looking for the best affordable juicer but don’t want to miss out on effectiveness, then the Philips Viva is a frontrunner.

Thanks to two speed settings and a 75mm wide feeding chute, this juicer allows you to create the juice you want with little hassle and prep.

It takes around 15 seconds to have fresh juice ready to drink in the jug, which is great if you want to be healthy but are always pressed for time. An anti-splash spout will reduce the need for cleaning up afterwards, and most parts are dishwasher safe too – juicing doesn’t have to be hard work.

The power rating is higher than a lot of other juicers on the market, so it will happily deal with an orange in about 2 seconds. And as the chute is generous in size, you can pop it in whole, and it will deal with the rest.

A 2L pulp container will allow you to keep going for quite a while until you have to empty it, and it is also hidden out of sight within the machine which makes it look a lot cleaner.

It is one of the sleekest models on the market, looking more like a coffee machine than a juicer which will please anyone who is conscious about style.

Smeg appliances are well-loved and sought after, and whether you’re already a fan or want to start slowly building your collection, this juicer is the perfect way to add a touch of retro.

Juicing starts once pressure is applied to the reamer, and the entire system is made from anti-corrosive stainless steel, so there is no worry about it wearing away over time or damaging the juice. Most other juicers contain plastic parts, so this Smeg has an extra touch of reliability.

All you need to do to stop it working is relieve the pressure on the reamer, which doesn’t only make things simple and easy but also adds a safety element. It is quiet when in use, and everything can be taken apart for easy washing.

These extra touches all come at a price, of course. It is quite a bit of money for a juicer which is restricted to citrus items, but it is relative to the effectiveness and how much yield is given. Not a single bit of peel, pith or pip will be in your drink.

It is only at the bottom of our list for the price and fact it is missing a few extras which much cheaper options have in place. But it takes the effort out of the process and is a must if you love the retro 1950’s look or have a kitchen kitted with Smeg.

Incredibly powerful for a citrus press, this Sage model is one of the best you could get.

It is a lot cleverer than it looks; two sensors detect the placement of the fruit, so it will only work if it is in the best position to get the good bits rather than the pulp.

Talking of pulp, there are two filters included so you can get the correct juice consistency for your tastes. Thanks to a quadrafin cone, every piece of the fruit right up to the rind is paid attention to so you get the maximum possible yield. All that remains is the pith. Whether it be pure orange juice, lemons for your own lemonade or limes for cocktails, the power will have it done in a flash.

To work it, just pull down the lever. You don’t have to press down hard at all, which is great. Once it has done the work, pull the lever up, and the collector basket is immediately sealed to prevent any drips or residue escaping. The pulp filter is easy to clean and collects everything well.

The price is a lot for an item which will only take citrus fruit, but then again if you know this is the only kind of juice you will want to make, then you’re going to want the best of the best. As other reviewers have said, you get what you pay for so this is a good piece of kit.

It is a pity it won’t do a more extensive variety of items, but Sage does have a machine which will so if you’re a fan of the brand you don’t have to miss out.

A perfect option for a no-frills juicer, this Philips model is great value for money.

It is surprisingly robust, even though it looks quite simple and is made largely of plastic. The simple design looks clean and will slot into any kitchen. As it is compact, it will be able to sit out on the worktop without taking up too much space, ready for when it is needed.

Everything comes apart simply to make it easier to wash, which can be done in the dishwasher or by hand. An adjustable pulp selector lets you choose the level for your drink each time, so if you want an orange juice with bits but completely smooth grapefruit juice, this isn’t an issue.

You could be forgiven in thinking it will only handle the odd use every so often, but we think it is sturdy enough to manage regular use, at least once daily.

A large 600ml jug gives you enough capacity to make enough for two people or to do you two or three times.

Despite its small size, this press can get a lot out of your fruit.

It does this by alternating the rotation direction left and right, so every last drop of juice is brought out. There is a foam separator and pulp extractor to reduce any unwanted additions to the drink.

But what if you want bits in the orange juice? Well, the adjustable pulp control makes this possible – get the texture you want with a twist of the base.

The jug is 350ml capacity, which is great for an individual who wants a glass of juice with their breakfast. There are measurements on the side, so you know if you need to add another orange to get the correct amount.

Automatic stop/start keeps you safe and also makes it easier than ever to use. It is activated when you press the fruit juicing cone down and stops if the pressure reduces.

Because it is compact, storage is simple. You can also tidy the power cable around the base of the machine, so this doesn’t get in the way of any other appliances or become tangled and damaged.

Most components can go in the dishwasher after use, and it is all easy to take apart. If washing by hand, all parts just need a wipe. For the price, fresh orange or lemon juice has never been easier.