New to Juicing? Here are the Best Juicers for Beginners

Having a diet that’s based on juicing fruits and vegetables has been shown to not only decrease the chances of cardiovascular disease but potentially stave off weight gain. For these reasons and many more, juice makers or juicing machines have become a hot seller for ordinary consumers and those wishing to take on a strict diet. But what is a good juicer for beginners?

There’s lots of information that you should be familiar with prior to buying. Below are ten of the best juicers for beginners — subcategorized by type, available for this year and details suited to help you narrow down your choice.

Juicing 101 Beginners

When first looking at the different juicers available, you might be slightly overwhelmed by the variety and shapes these products come in. Juicing for beginners should never be hard. But there is an easy way to find out what you prefer most. Before the reviews begin, take a moment to go over the five primary juicer types and what each of them is best at achieving.

Masticating

Masticating juicers have a wide rear, feeder, spout, and auger in the interior. Many are sold with small pitchers while others also include a small collection cup for the pulp. As fruit is placed inside the feeder, a tamper, or small plastic stick is used to help push the product down into the auger. The fruit is squeezed by the auger until juice comes out from the spout into the pitcher. Simultaneously, pulp dispenses from the end that’s farthest away from the rear. Unless specifically sold with the feature, masticating juicers of this type release all pulp externally. There are some varieties that resemble the shape of centrifugals and do have specially built containers for such.

Most juicers of this type move slowly, taking anywhere from 5 to 20 or more minutes for a session to be completed. The more fruit and veggies you plan on juicing, the more time will be needed. They’re known for generating little to no heat while running, so you won’t have to worry about anything spoiling too soon. And because the auger spins at a leisurely pace, pulp usually comes out dry. Most masticating juicers can handle citrus fruits, leafy greens, and nuts/pastes but always ensure that only permitted foods as stipulated by the manufacturer are placed inside, as some foods could void the warranty if they are specifically forbidden.

Centrifugal

Probably the most commonly known type of juicer, centrifugals are large in shape, requiring lots of room but are generally very easy to set up. Many juicing tips for beginners will suggest centrifugals to be bought first due to this and also due to the few controls outfitted on most brands. In fact, some machines will only have one set or feature a knob that turns the speed of the flat-shaped blades. Made of titanium, these blades are housed in small areas located in the center of the juicer, increasing the pressing inside the chamber while cutting, then ejecting both pulp and liquid contents into two separate areas. Pulp collection is usually on the left and the spout to the right.

The pulp containers are very large and big enough for you to place a bag over the entire piece. This makes cleanup time a lot easier once finished, as centrifugals have a reputation for being pretty messy. The chute/feeder is also typically built large enough to handle some small fruit whole with little to no cutting. Juice also comes out fast, so if speed is important, centrifugals tend to be faster than any other juicer type available.

But with this speed comes some drawbacks. The pulp often is soggy or wet, making it likely that you’ll end up passing your produce through more than once when you need to get a high yield. If you were to take the pulp from any random centrifugal and feed it into any of the other juicers described in this article, you’d probably end up with enough liquid to make a full glass of juice! Although this example is obviously not the case in all centrifugals, remember that you’re sacrificing speed for less juice content, at least on the initial run.

Twin Gear

While we have talked about centrifugals and masticating juicers, one trait that’s sometimes missing from them is the ability to homogenize. Essentially, homogenizing is a technique for a juicing machine to add more nutrient-dense particles into your juice while the fruits/veggies/nuts are being processed.

Twin Gear juicers are designed for this; they include two small rotating pieces of stainless steel or metal that disintegrate and emulsify small particles found in pulp into liquid. Superficially, this may read as something all juicers should be able to do, but with occurs on a smaller scale — with twin gears. The result is juice that looks and tastes much bolder. There’s also no foam created during operation and the motor does not warm quickly, creating a “cold press” juice that is flavorful and clear of any solid pieces.

Manual

Sometimes, the old-fashioned way can create the best tasting juice. If you’ve ever been to European countries with lots of outdoor markets, you may have run into a juice stand where someone operates a tall device that squeezes the citrus juice out of the rind quickly, going through multiple fruits at a rapid pace. This is just one of many types of manual juicers. Some can be more simple tools used for squeezing lemons or other small-sized produce while others take the form of masticating juicers with a crank that much be rotating while food is fed into the chute.

The greatest advantage of a manual juicer is mobility, with the devices being easy to take outside to an outdoor event (no electricity), and quick cleanup. Most products under this category can be fully disassembled, so washing everything down with only water is a simple task to complete.

Wheatgrass Juicers

Out of all the juicers mentioned, wheatgrass juicers may strike you with their traditional looking parts, of which, can oftentimes be used to grind up wheat into flour or even substituting as an ordinary juicer that’s strong enough to handle nuts and fruits. Wheatgrass is tough on electronic juicers, so most products catered to this niche are going to be manual. The designs range from stainless steel, metal, and/or plastic. They are smaller in size and usually require a pan or pitcher on deck to catch the wheatgrass juice as it pours.

To get juice from the dry plants, the leaves must be wet. Cranking can be a chore, however. If you have any disabilities or impairments that limit your ability to operate hand tools that require a moderate amount of strength to use, you’ll want to stay clear of manual wheatgrass juicers unless there’s someone to help you with the process.

The Best Juicer for Beginners Reviewed

Now let’s get on to the reviews. The products are separated by juicer type, followed by two additional juicers that belong to another class.

Masticating Juicers

Mooka Slow Masticating Juicer

If the consumer electronics company Apple made a juicer, it would probably resemble the Mooka Masticating Juicer. It paces itself to produce great-tasting juice without any irritating noises found on some in the same class as this product. Although it may appear to not be the case, speed is acceptable since the auger must cycle only a handful of times to get all the juice from your fruits out. The pulp is dry, and unless you’re juicing lots of watery items, you probably won’t need to run it through a second time to get an admissible yield.

Cleanup is where you may run into problems, particularly, if you don’t wash it immediately after use. Food residue may build up in the corners between the chute and the auger and be impossible to wipe away unless scrubbed in excess. And the collection cups sit at an awkward angle where it’s likely that juice and pulp will sometimes mix into the separate containers. To fix this, try not to juice too quickly, as doing so could speed up the flow of liquid and pulp being pushed out from the spouts. In general, Mooka is the best starter juicer and an above average product recommended for first-time users who want their pulp as dry as possible.

Juicing basics involves knowing what class and style come with each individual machine. Once you’re familiar with all of the above, you’ll be ready to pick by referring to the specific category to see if it’s in line with your expectations.

Pros:

• The slow-moving auger produces little sound
• Although masticating, the wait time is shortened since the juicer usually strains all liquids over few rotations
• Little pulp comes out for collection

Cons:

• Thin corners around the interior parts of the juicer are difficult to clean
• Unless rotating between hard and soft foods, the chances of jamming are high when lots of different fruits/vegetables are being juiced altogether
• The collection cups must be placed in a position that sometimes makes the pulp and juice mix together

Omega Juicer NC800

The Omega Juicer is also masticating but built to a higher quality than the previous brand shown. The auger produces great yield and is suitable for making butter as well without getting damaged. One of the best qualities is its assembly, which is very easy to rinse down after use. A slightly higher learning curve exists here, mostly regarding the order of the type of fruit or leafy greens that are placed inside. Some produce comes out better when fed after solid foods, so use care when there are lots of items on your palette for juicing during a single session.

If you do plan to juice mostly fruits, you may experience some small solid pieces getting stuck on the transparent panel that encircles the auger. You might even have to turn the juicer off to get it emulsified. And, thoroughly cut most of your produce before administering into the juicer. If not, lots of foam could develop and leave you juice tasting more like a soft drink when it’s shaken. Mind you, these are all minor setbacks and do not inhibit the device to produce an expected outcome. Just go slow but don’t be afraid to tinker around a bit to see what combination of fruits will produce a higher quality liquid. The Omega Juicer NC800 is recommended for first-timers that want to bypass average brands and go straight for a top shelf masticating appliance.

Pros:

• Yield is high, going through most fruits and greens quickly, with lots of juice processed
• Cleanup time should be finished in under five minutes
• Can be used to make frozen foods such as sorbets
• Oxidation does not occur

Cons:

• When juicing soft fruits, the pulp sometimes clings to the inside of the machine and requires the user to scoop it out manually
• The likelihood of backup increases with soft fruits
• Preparation before juicing must be done to prevent foam from enveloping inside during fast runs
• The funnel and chute are permanently attached, making it awkward to clean over previous models

Centrifugal

Breville BJE200XL

Breville kicks off the centrifugals with its BJE200XL. While that may not be the most attractive sounding name, the speed of juicing that it offers will surely make this a popular device for any family. But even if you are alone, it’s still a good buy since the design is a lot smaller than the other Breville models and comes with an 800-milliliter pitcher, perfect for quick, small juicing.

Centrifugals, as noted earlier, have large chutes. If you like to juice apples, carrots, or lemons, your prep duties will be kept to a minimum. You will have to take off the rinds of course, but this only applies to citrus. You can add the rinds if you want but it often leaves the juice with a bitter aftertaste. There’s only one setting on this machine as well. You won’t be able to speed things up for leafy greens, and the pulp ends up filled with contents that look as if they never went through the machine from the start. So, if your primary goal is to juice vegetables, it’s highly advised that you find a different machine, preferably a masticating or twin gear.

Other than that, the Breville BJE200XL is still a great centrifugal in its own right. The pitcher would be better if a tad bit larger, but as a juicer for beginners, it scores high off the fact that many consumers new to the trend will stick to the staple fruits and veggies at the beginning.

Pros:

• Smaller dimension than most centrifugal juicers; should fit on most average-sized countertops without hassle
• A large chute keeps prep time low, and more produce can be placed inside with minimal cutting
• Few settings and configurations make the juicer easy to use without flipping through the manual

Cons:

• The pitcher is small and fills up quickly; heavy one in one sitting requires lots of pauses to empty it into another container
• No adjustments featured on the juicer dispenser (the piece that pours juice from the machine)
• The center portion for pulp collection is difficult to clean by hand, whereby food leftovers cling to the sides and dries out fast

Cuisinart CJE-1000

Taking it up a notch, the Cuisinart CJE-1000 is large in size but quick in processing. A big pulp container and a one-quart sized pitcher is housed for collecting juice. Don’t worry about anything spilling out of the pitcher either. The spout is shaped to line up perfectly with the pitcher’s lid, so juice to your heart’s content without slowing down.

This juicer has five different speeds settings. Typically, the slow-to-average speeds are geared for citrus fruits and firm vegetables like carrots and celery. You’ll want to max it out for the leafy greens. In order to get the best yield, try rolling the leaves together in batches, then place into the chute while the blades continue to run.

The titanium blades cut immediately upon contact, so there might be a few lingering pieces left over that aren’t fully juiced. Give it a second run and your vegetable juice should come out more acceptable, at least for a centrifugal juicer. The Cuisinart CJE-1000 rates well in terms of producing less froth and automatic adjustments to speed. Dripping may sometimes occur after a large bout of juicing. So, have a towel on hand before you get started.

Pros:

• There are five different speed settings that help break down vegetables better consistency than average centrifugals
• A plastic bag can be placed over the pulp catcher to help speed up cleaning once finished
• The pitcher is made to keep sediment (froth) in the back when pouring, keeping it out of your drink

Cons:

• Running on the highest setting produces a lot of noise
• Plastic pieces may become damaged when placed in a dishwasher that uses hot water
• The spout drips after juicing, especially with citrus fruits
• Pulp may come out wet and force users to pass it through the chute twice to get proper juice yield

Twin Gear

Tribest Greenstar GSE-5000

The Tribest GSE-5000 is for beginners that aren’t afraid of handling the many parts and cleanup required for this machine to run smoothly. Don’t be intimidating though; it’s actually a lot more rudimentary than what may appear. If you are on a strict diet and want to get as many nutrients from your pulp as technologically possible with a juicer, this product is the machine for you.

Performance and juice yield are very high, and the twin rotary blades are specially made with a bioceramic material that lowers oxidation (foam) in the contents of your juice, along with more nutrients that are able to remain with the liquid, giving the juice a much longer shelf life than other juicers, in and outside of its category. For some, this might give the impression of a snake-oil pitch, but it’s proven to help produce rich content that’s beneficial for people that are meticulous in getting the most from their juicer. You should probably start your preparations early, however. The chute is very small and nearly all items must be chopped before being added inside.

Pros:

• The twin gear blades are built specifically to keep nutrients inside the juice that would otherwise be separated
• Motor can be reversed to prevent jamming at its onset
• Tampers, cleaning utensils, and measuring cups are all included with the machine itself

Cons:

• Attaching all of the parts together takes time, even once familiar with the layout and how they should be placed
• The chute is very small; only long produce such as celery and carrots are capable of going in without chopping into small bits
• The screen is difficult to clean, even with a brush

Tribest Greenstar Pro GS-P502

Currently, the Tribest brand produces a majority of the best twin gear juicers, which is why the Greenstar Pro GS-P502 follows up from the previously reviewed product from the manufacturer. Most of the attributes specified for the former are available with this older juicer but it doesn’t include the same set of twin gears. They look the same but are not hollow on the inside. But, don’t worry, you’ll still end up with juice that tastes fine, it’s just missing the minor selling point of the newer edition.

Much like all Greenstars, setup will definitely slow you down, significantly more so with this device. There’s a small tray table placed on the chute, but you probably won’t need it; it’s too small to fit most items, especially if you tend to process lots of vegetables and fruits. And cleanup is a bit of a mess. Fortunately, there’s a brush included in the box, so that should help move things along when you’re done. As a whole, the GS-P502 is probably not the best juicer for beginners but shouldn’t be ignored if you plan on buying more than one product to counteract what the other lacks in achieving.

Pros:

• The extraction process does not heat up juice, keeping it fresh and lengthening the time in between spoilage
• In the rear of the machine, a small pocket is built into the juicer near the vents that stores the tamper
• Homogenizing accessories are included in the box that decreases sedimentation and improves taste of the juice

Cons:

• The tray table on top of the chute is too small to hold most items unless they are diced (as it the chute itself)
• Preparation, extraction, and cleanup takes up a lot of time and makes the juicer unsuitable for users who need juice quickly

Manual Juicers

Gourmia GMJ9970

Gourmia is a manual juicer that’s great for citrus fruits and pomegranates. It’s strictly for juicing and nothing else, meaning no nut butter, grounding, or wheatgrass is possible with the device. There’s no electricity and everything must be performed with the handle. The first thing some will think upon viewing the juicer is how easily it could topple over when the level is pulled, which is true. That’s why Gourmia placed suction cups at the bottom to hold it firmly to your counter or tabletop.

It’s entirely made from stainless steel parts (those are the pieces that come into contact with the fruit) and cast-iron reinforcements. You’ll probably have it years after any electronic juicer. Since unconstrained from electricity, take it with you outside for special events like a barbecue or camping.

A main area of improvement would be the tiny holes in the strainer, the part that holds pressure on the fruit when the level is turned. They are large enough to allow small seeds to escape on occasion. This means you might end up straining the juice once more with a separate utensil if you don’t want them in your liquid. Regardless, the Gourmia GMJ9970’s heavy-duty construction and ease of operation may serve you better than the learning that’s required for more advanced juicers. And, when tight on funds, it is the best budget juicer for people who want good quality and not something that will break after one week. As a juicer for beginners, this is about as minimal as things get for citrus.

Pros:

• There are suction cups at the bottom that help the machine stay down when pressed with force
• All parts consist of either cast iron or stainless steel
• The lever does not require too much force to extract lots of juice for most produce

Cons:

• The strainer holes will allow small seeds to pass into the juice
• Large citrus fruits are tricky to juice and are messy to clean up
• The top (the piece that presses against the fruit) does not come off and cannot be cleared of debris quickly

Chef’s Star Manual Hand Crank

The Chef’s Star Manual Hand Crank is the best affordable juicer and has a basic setup that’s small to manage and extremely easy to clean. All parts are made of plastic, so you must consider this a juicer that may eventually develop issues over time that make it difficult to use. That’s not to say it’s a bad juicer. Very few rotations are necessary to produce juice for most people, and the wide chute directly connects to the auger, which is moved simultaneously as fruit is added. Press down firmly with the tamper and try not to make anything come out by moving its position around, depending on what stubborn pieces need extra pressure.

Again, the plastic parts are an area of concern. There’s no indication on whether or not the product is BPA-free and the suction cups at the bottom tend to slide around in the middle of juicing, mostly when you’re applying lots of pressure to the device. Don’t use on a wet surface or you’ll risk the entire juicer sliding off. It does perform well with most fruits but some citrus such as oranges could prove difficult. Lemons turn out well since their size is smaller. Wheatgrass is another possibility.

Pros:

• Parts can be assembled together fast
• There’s more freedom in where the juicer is placed since it uses no electricity
• Only one round should extract everything; no juice in the pulp

Cons:

• All parts are made of plastic
• Even with suction cups, the bottom may slip if placed on a countertop or table that is not pristine and/or smooth
• Some citrus fruits become stuck even when chopped, making the machine incompatible with them

Wheatgrass

The Original Healthy Juicer (Lexen GP27)

The Original Healthy Juicer is not only great for wheatgrass but most other produce as well. In this regard, it’s possibly the best beginner juicer for manually operated items that must be hand cranked. It has a white and jungle green exterior, fitted with a long rotating crank capable of going through wet wheatgrass very quickly. During washing, just disassemble the entire device and rinse all the pieces out. Nothing clings to the inside, even most citrus fruits.

If you’re planning on doing strictly wheatgrass, try to remember that more strength will be required to turn, but not as much as you may think. It would be much better if the small handlebar on the crank were a bit longer and wider. And there’s no rubber padding, so your hands could become very tired when there’s lots to juice. Keep in mind that you can only use the juicer at the edge of your countertop or table, too. The crank is long and needs additional space to make a full rotation, impossible to do when placed in the center of a surface with no nearby edge. Still, it’s great to see a wheatgrass juicer that might double its use in your kitchen as an ordinary juicing product.

Pros:

• Can juice a wide assortment of fruits and vegetables besides wheatgrass
• Easy to use in outdoor locations since there’s no reliance on electricity
• During cleaning, only warm water is needed to clear the insides of all debris

Cons:

• Can only be used on the corner of a counter or table due to the long crank
• Not suitable for permanent storage next to other kitchen appliances
• Cranking takes a firm grip to produce juice for wheatgrass
• Leaking on the counter may occur if not attentive to how the collection cup is placed

Handy Pantry HJ Hurricane

Rugged and old-fashioned, the Handy Pantry HJ Hurricane is made from stainless steel and capable of handling touch juicing work with its manual hand crank. Large batches of wheatgrass must be placed on the chute to use efficiently; it grinds everything down to a more liquid consistency when done so. Soak your produce in water before use, if not, it will come out ground instead. If you want butter or even flour, it’s possible. For flour, the opposite is needed: refrain from soaking and you’ll be on your way to creating homemade baking goods in no time.

A major setback with this lies in the design, which won’t be suitable for some counters. In fact, tables might not be adequate. Try not to reinforce the juicer on anything that’s expensive. Reason being is due to the amount of muscle you’ll place behind the crank. Even with juice yield being extremely high, you must sacrifice lots of energy to make it happen. As a result, the HJ Hurricane is best for beginners that will strictly juice wheatgrass and nuts alone. For them (or for you), it doesn’t get much better than this, so long as it’s used properly.

Pros:

• Along with wheatgrass, it can go through most tough fruits that the majority of other juicers have trouble juicing
• Safe to clean in a dishwasher
• Can double its use as a processor of wheat to make flour
• When prepared for juicing, does not wobble or slip; grip to the surface stays firm

Cons:

• The screw at the bottom can’t be placed on some counters, opening only to 1.5 inches, and may cause damage to the bottom of a table
• Does not work well unless the wheatgrass is packed to the brim with leaves
• The handle may come off when rotating from a counterclockwise position when a backup is necessary
• Not recommended for people who experience pain in the arms/hands

Conclusion

So, what is the best juicer machine for beginners? Because of the vast differences in speed and the intended produce to be used with the juicers, making a choice on one alone was no easy task. Our final choice as the top product on the list is the Omega Juicer NC800. What places this product above all other is the solid construction and abundance of food items compatible with it. Masticating juicers, as is the NC800, produce a great quantity with pulp that’s strained enough for only one go-around. These qualities, as described earlier in the juicing 101, help beginners produce great tasting juice that’s a breeze to handle and simple to wash away when done.