Although power chains like Starbucks are still going strong, juice bars are giving them a run for their money. With new locations seeming to pop up every day, ginger shots are becoming the new espresso shots.
Think about it. You've probably seen signs for "cold-pressed juice" just as much as you see signs for "hot coffee." And you've definitely at least heard of someone drinking celery juice because apparently it's as powerful to celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Kylie Jenner as spinach was to Popeye.
So, you've probably joined in on the trend by stopping into one of those juice bars and paying $7 for a cup of blended and mixed fruits. Yes, it's delicious but it's also expensive. That's why you should think about doing the juicing yourself.
We know it can be overwhelming. I mean, what does cold-pressed really even mean? Well, we're here to tell you. Starting with the fact that there are two main types of juicers — centrifugal and masticating — and "cold-pressed" juice comes from only one of them.
What is the difference between centrifugal and masticating juicers?
It all comes down to how the food is being broken down. Centrifugal juicers use a high-speed blade to slice and dice whatever ingredients you put in. It'll remind you a lot of a blender, actually. They're quick, easy, and usually a bit noisy.
Masticating juicers are made up of gears that squeeze and grind the food instead. Citrus juicers, although they are not technically masticating, fit into this category as well because of the spinning and squeezing that takes place during the manual process. (You can buy a non-manual masticating juicer, but they cost a lot more.)
Which is the best choice for you and your lifestyle?
This depends on what you plan on doing with the juice. While centrifugal juicers may seem like the best choice at first glance because of their power and speed, there are definitely some downsides.
Since the blade just slices and doesn't squeeze, a lot of the actual juice remains in the food instead of ending up in your glass. In addition, the heat that comes from the speed of the blade can destroy some of the natural enzymes and nutrients of the food. So, if you're looking to get everything you can out of your produce, this may not be for you...but there are still some great uses.
If you intend to use the juice for cooking and baking, then the lost nutrients from the juicer won't necessarily make a difference since the same loss would eventually occur once placed on your stovetop or in your oven. From salad dressing to sweet poaching liquids for your chicken or salmon, there are a ton of recipes you can try.
Or, you may be excited to make your own cosmopolitan or flavored martini. In that case, we're guessing that you're not overly concerned with the exact vitamins and minerals you're drinking, so go ahead and grab a centrifugal juicer to get those meals and drinks ready as quick as possible. (Check out some of the best centrifugal juicers that we've rounded up.)
If "destroys some of the natural enzymes and nutrients" made you want to cry, this next part is dedicated to you. You can open your eyes now, the scary part is over and we're about to give you all the juice cleanse talk you love to hear.
Masticating juicers give you all that you came for. They give you the cold-pressed juice that everyone's crazy about (yup, the elimination of the heat from the centrifugal blade is where the name comes from). Whether it's your new goal to have a fresh juice every morning (you haven't lived 'til you've combined raw spinach and strawberries) or are going all the way and doing a juice cleanse, a masticating juicer will extract all the good stuff and magically create a drink that'll leave you glowing from the inside out. Okay, it's not necessarily magic...you basically do it yourself but still, it's great.
Besides, a juicer and the supplies for a cleanse will still probably end up cheaper than just purchasing a 3-day juice cleanse cooler from somewhere like Juice Generation where it's $174.
If the latter is more of the direction you're trying to go, check out our favorite manual veggie and citrus masticating juicers: