Best Juicers 2018 – Top Picks & Reviews
Juicing has myriad health benefits that can improve your sense of well being and quality of life.
For me, it’s the ability to consume my daily greens and vegetables quickly, efficiently and in the most delicious way possible! Every day, I satisfy my nutritional needs through juicing and an otherwise balanced diet. Previously, I could not meet my needs through meals alone.
Ok, so you are here and you want to start juicing. What is the best juicer for you? Check out our juicer reviews to quickly see the top 5 Juicers for any users’ needs. We will also go deep into the hows and whys of juicers in our juicer buying guide. With this knowledge, you will be ready to jump into the life changing world of juicing feet first!
Best Juicers 2018
| MODEL | PRICE | REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE | TYPE | USER RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tribest SW-2000-B | $$$$ Check Latest Price on Amazon | 47 RPM | Masticating | 5.9/5 Top Pick |
Breville JE98XL | $ Check Latest Price on Amazon | 6.500 - 12.000 RPM | Centrifugal | 4.8/5 Best for the money |
Omega VSJ843QS | $$$$$ Check Latest Price on Amazon | 43 RPM | Masticating | 4.5/5 |
Omega J8004  | $$$ Check Latest Price on Amazon | 80 RPM | Masticating & Twin Gear | 4.4/5 |
Breville BJE430SIL | $$ Check Latest Price on Amazon | 6.500 - 13000 RPM | Centrifugal | 4.1/5 |
#1 Tribest SW-2000-B – Our Top Pick
One of the great things about juicing is speed. You can quickly pack nutrients and goodness into your body and then get on with your day. It’s a little ironic then, that the Tribest SW-2000-B Slow Star Juicer is one of the slowest juicers out there and simultaneously the best juicer to buy on the market right now. This vertical auger juicer spins at a turtle like 47 rpm and like the proverbial turtle it’s a winner. The sweet slow spin of the slow star juicer reduces oxidization and keeps nutrients in their most pristine and desirable state. Finally, the slow speed has one more benefit – it is quieter than the average juicer.
As mentioned, the SW-2000-B is a vertical auger juicer. Unlike other vertical auger juicers, it features two blades rather than one lonely blade. The double blades allow you to precut less than other vertical auger juicers although you should still precut fibrous greens. In fact, this juicer excels with almost all vegetables and fruit. It is has some difficulty with just leafy greens, however. Go for something like the Omega VERT Slow Juicer VSJ843QS if that is your primary need.
The double blades have two major benefits. Compared to other single blade vertical augers like the Omega VRT400, the SW-2000-B produces more juice (up to 10% more) and less pulp. The downside, is that is requires a little more push to do so. If you or another user have arthritis or have reduced hand function, it might be a good idea to look elsewhere. Check out the [Reference] below as an option.
One major upside is the full ten-year warranty offered by Tribest. Juicers can be finicky and prone to breaking. A full ten-year warranty significantly mitigates risk and justifies the cost.
One downside of the SW-2000-B is that the clean up can be trickier than with other juicers. It has little nooks that are hard to clean as well as an interesting yet hard to clean design on the cover. It also isn’t dishwasher safe if that is a deal-breaker for you.
That being said, we still believe the Tribest SW-2000-B Slow Star Juicer is the best juicer to buy on the market. We believe in the ‘slow is good’ concept and enjoy the added production allowed by the double blades. It is not your best option if you are primarily juicing leafy greens or have reduced hand function but other than that we wholeheartedly recommend the Tribest SW-2000-B Slow Star Juicer.
Pros
- Reduces oxidization
- More juice and less pulp
- Quieter than the average juicer
Cons
- Requires more push than the average juicer
- Not so great for leafy greens
#2 Breville JE98XL – Best For The Money
Number 2 on our list is the Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain. We firmly believe that this is the best juicer for the money out there. The Breville JE98XL is a centrifugal juicer with features that scream value for money and some small drawbacks for the buyer with more specialised tastes.
In a nutshell, the Breville JE98XL is fast, flexible, easy to clean up and able to make large batches. Fast and flexible go together here as it can run at two different speeds. You can run it at 6500 rpm for soft produce and 12000 rpm for anything harder. It’s also fast from start to finish as it has a three and half inches wide feeding chute – to allow easier feeding – and is also equipped with a chopping blade. The juice jug (1.1 l) and the pulp strainer (2.5 l) also help gain you time as you can make big batches and rather than many smaller ones. Perfect for the family that juices together in the morning!
For everything good there is bad, and there are some corresponding downsides to all this speed. At either speed setting, this centrifugal juicer is way faster than the Tribest SW-2000-B Slow Star Juicer. The faster speed increases oxidization rather than decreasing it. This means you can only store juice for one day rather than more than three. Also, at either speed, the Breville JE98XL will be noisy, but especially at 12000 rpm.
Like the Tribest SW-2000-B, the Breville JE98XL is not ideal for leafy greens. Check out the Omega VERT Slow Juicer VSJ843QS if you will primarily be using leafy greens when juicing.
The Breville JE98XL is great value for money at less than half the price of our top pick. Yes, that comes with downsides including a one year warranty rather than ten, but the price to benefit ratio is very tempting. Especially, if you are feeding a family on the go.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Very fast
- Very little prep
Cons
- Increased oxidization
- Very loud
#3 Omega VSJ843QS – Great For Greens
The Omega VSJ843QS is quite a bit more expensive than our top pick but it by and large justifies the price tag. Especially if you will mainly be juicing greens. The Omega VSJ843QS is one of the best masticating juicers on the market.
A masticating juicer works at low rpms (typically 80-100rpm) to reduce oxidization, retain nutrients and increase storage time. Our first pick, the Tribest SW-2000-B Slow Star Juicer clocked in at an amazing 47rpm. The Omega VERT Slow Juicer VSJ843QS beats that at an even more amazing (amazinger?) 43rpm. It really is the slower the better when it comes to juicing quality.
This is a relatively new design from Omega and as well as reducing the speed, they also upgraded the bowl, auger (double blades) and strainer to make them more effective (more juice and less pulp) as well as easier to clean. It is a real ergonomic achievement although of course as a vertical auger, you will need to do some pre cutting of leafy greens.
Another point in its favor is an amazing 15-year warranty which is pretty much unheard of, but possibly warranted … because of the price.
Pros
- More Juice, less pulp because of new design
- Quiet
- Excellent 15-year warranty
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Slow on purpose but still slow
- Expensive
#4 Omega J8004 – Great For Roots And Fruits
Our next entry is another strong entry from Omega. This juicer is great for roots and fruits, but is also an all round great blender. As it is has a horizontal auger, the Omega J8004 Nutrition Center works very well with leafy greens as there is less need to precut.
The Omega J8004 also has the benefit of the extended Omega warranty – a massive 15 years. Like the Omega VERT Slow Juicer VSJ843QS it is a masticating juicer where the greens, vegetables and fruits are crushed against a screen at slow speeds. However, the Omega J8004 can’t quite hit the low speeds of its stablemate at 80rpm (The VSJ843QS runs at a smooth 43rpm). Of course, this is reflected in the difference in price between these models. At this speed, you still gain a higher juice yield and lose pulp and foam compared to a centrifugal juicer.
One thing you will notice is that this is called a nutrition center and not a juicer. This isn’t just grandiose naming practices on the part of Omega. The Omega J8004 can produce a whole hosts of foods including soy milk, sorbet, flour, and so on. That can also lead to a downside in that it is quite complex. It might not be the best choice for someone who simply wants juice.
Finally, like all masticating juicers, the Omega J8004 is quiet and slow. Take that as good or bad, but they tend to go together.
Pros
- More yield, less pulp than centrifugal juicer
- Much more than a juicer
- Quiet
- Fantastic warranty
Cons
- Slow (but quiet!)
- Much more than a juicer
Check out our juicer for leafy greens buying guide, to find more juicers that do well with leafy greens.
#5 Breville BJE430SIL – An Honorable Mention
The Breville BJE430SIL is an interesting one and well deserving of an honorable mention. It is a centrifugal juicer, which have many good points but one major downside – you have to use the juice quickly, typically within one day. The Breville BJE430SIL utilizes a special jug designed to be stored in the fridge and cold spin technology to extend the shelf life of your juice. This is big, as often this is the only thing holding someone back from grabbing a centrifugal juicer.
Otherwise, it still boasts the benefits of a typical Breville centrifugal juicer. It’s fast, it has two speeds for soft and hard matter, it requires very little pre cutting (although still not the best for leafy greens), it boasts a high capacity and is relatively easy to clean. Sounds great!
There are a few downsides. While it manages to keep juice good for up to 3 days, you could still be losing some nutrient composition compared to a masticating juicer. Also, like other Breville machines, it only has a one year warranty – a full 14 years less than Omega. That is a long time.
Overall, this is a great deal and it solves one of the key problems of centrifugal juicers. If shelf life is a factor for you, then you have to include the Breville BJE430SIL on your shortlist.
Pros
- Cheaper than top of the line masticating juicers
- Easy to clean
- 72 hours shelf life
Cons
- Only a one year warranty
- Can be noisy
The Benefits of Juicing
Watch the video above to hear about all the benefits of juicing and why you should start juicing right away.Factors to Consider When Buying a Juicer
Once you’ve taken the plunge and decided to start juicing, you will be presented with a dizzying array of choices. There are so many juicers of different sizes, prices and types that it can be quite intimidating to choose one – especially when you can easily spend well over $100. In this section, we will discuss what to keep in mind when deciding on a juicer.
There are many different factors to look at when choosing a juicer, but they can be broken down into time and space needed, price and specific uses of juicers. In the last section, we will look at the different types of juicers and their best uses.
Time and Space
Everyone’s situation is different so this is a very personal thing. Keep the following questions in mind when buying.
How long will it take to prep?
Some juicers require a lot of prepping, and with some, you can put in whole fruits and vegetables.
Generally, the wider the feed chute the better here. For masticating juicers, keep in mind that vertical augers require precutting of leafy greens.
How long will it take to clean up?
You want to make sure that the juicer is dishwasher safe or at least most components are. Also, look out for nooks and crannies that allow juice to pool and congeal. In general, machines with less parts are better here too.
How much can you make and how long can the juice be stored?
This is a little more abstract, but the more juice you can make and the longer you can keep it – the more time you save. Masticating juicers reduce oxidization so stored juice will keep longer. The opposite is the case with centrifugal juicers.
How much space do you need?
Counter space is at a premium. Centrifugal and masticating juicers with vertical augers usually take up less space.
How long does it take to juice?
Centrifugal juicers are much quicker than masticating juicers as they are many thousands of rpms faster.
Everything is a trade off here. For example, a masticating juicer with a horizontal auger will save you time when it comes to cleaning, requires less precutting than a vertical auger but will take up more counter space and is generally slower than a centrifugal juicer. You need to figure out what is important to you as there are no perfect options for every buyer.
Price
Again, this a very personal thing. One thing to keep in mind is that warranties are important. Omega models will run 15 years and Breville will run for only one year, for example. Factor that into the price, especially when you are buying higher priced models.
Types of Juicers
In this section, we’ll go through some the main juicer types and what kind of user they suit.
Centrifugal Juicers
Centrifugal juicers don’t require a lot of precutting and are very fast. The downside is that all this speed will increase oxidization so juice can be stored for less time.
There are two main types. The base model will hold pulp in the internal pulp basket and the ‘extraction’ models will extract the pulp into it’s own dedicated storage device.
Who should buy this and why?
The base model is perfect for people who are juicing for one person. They also suit the solo juicer who needs to preserve counter space.
The extraction model is perfect for someone who is juicing for two or three people. You will lose some counter space with this option.
Are there any dealbreakers?
Centrifugal juicers are noisy. In a shared kitchen or in tight spaces, this could be a big problem, especially if you are leaving the house earlier than housemates or neighbors.
Centrifugal juicers increase oxidization which is generally thought to be a bad thing. It reduces the nutritional composition of the juice and crucially reduces possible storage time. This could be a dealbreaker if you need to store juice for any length of time.
Centrifugal juicers are not ideal for leafy greens. This is only a dealbreaker if leafy greens are your overwhelming priority.
Masticating Juicers
These are also called slow juicers. They work by crushing the produce against a metal screen at very slow speeds. (80rpm vs 6000-13000rpm for centrifugal juicers). They also come in two main types with their own pros and cons – horizontal auger models and vertical auger models.
If you’re interested in a masticating juicer, we advise that you check out our comprehensive masticating juicer buying guide.
Who should buy this and why?
With either the horizontal or vertical auger, you should buy one of these if you are concerned with storage time and reducing oxidization, and you want the ideal tool for leafy greens. The horizontal auger models are usually easier to clean while the vertical augers take up less space. You will have to pre cut leafy greens for the vertical auger which probably makes the horizontal auger a better choice for leafy greens if space is not a concern. Vertical augers may be better if you like the smaller footprint and juice a wider variety of produce.
Are there any dealbreakers?
Masticating juicers are expensive and slow. As mentioned, you have to precut leafy greens for a vertical auger – it’s a hard requirement.
Twin Gear Juicers
These are specialized for most leafy greens (wheatgrass is an exception) but are not ideal for soft produce. Produce is crushed between interlocking gears.
They share many of the benefits of a masticating juicer in that they work best with leafy greens and reduce oxidization.
Who should buy this and why?
You should buy this if you really want to get the most out of leafy greens in terms of quality and yield. That has to be your strong priority.
Are there any dealbreakers?
They are very expensive, much more so than a masticating juicer. They are also pretty hard to clean. The price will be a dealbreaker to most people except enthusiasts.
Other Types
There are quite a few other types of juicer out there but they are generally either extremely specialized or have major drawbacks. Citrus Juicers are for citrus fruits, ideal for someone who makes fresh squeezed juice in the morning. We’ve all seen the basic manual model but there are also more advanced mechanized models out there.
Wheatgrass Juicers are for people who want their daily wheatgrass shot. They come in hand crank or plug in models. Press Juicers produce juice lacking almost any oxidization and optimal yield/quality. They are however crazily expensive.
To finish up, when buying a juicer, it’s a good idea to prioritize your needs. Start with getting a price range. When you have decided that, figure out other factors like:
- How many people are you juicing for?
- How long will it have to be stored?
- Is noise a factor?
- Is counter space a factor?
- What will I be primarily juicing?
- How much time do I have to juice?
Once you have answered those questions, you can narrow it down to a type of juicer and get one in the price range you have decided upon earlier. Keep the warranty in mind when deciding on your final purchase.
Conclusion
Ok, so bottom line is this, picking a juicer is a daunting experience. There is so much choice out there.
The number and range of juicers in the marketplace have exploded in recent years in terms of quality and complexity. Masticating juicers are getting slower, centrifugal juicers are figuring out ways to reduce oxidization and the lines are being blurred on what is the best choice for each user.
I hope though, that this guide has helped you figure out which juicer to choose, or at least which area to concentrate in. Our goal is to reduce some of the paralysis analysis inherent in researching new products and point you in the right direction. All the juicers we recommend, we stand behind as great choices either generally or in their own niches. You really can’t go wrong. If none of those fit your needs exactly, there is something out there for you! Use our guide to narrow down and prioritize your specific needs and then choose a model in your sweet spot. Happy hunting and happy juicing!
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