Centrifugal juicers are fast and cheap; masticating (cold press) juicers are slower and pricier but pull more juice and keep more nutrients intact.
That’s the real trade-off behind almost every juicer on the market. Here are four worth buying, from a budget-friendly centrifugal option to a proper cold-press machine.
Juicers Worth Buying
Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus
A centrifugal juicer with a wide 3-inch chute, so whole apples and small carrots go in without much pre-cutting. Dual-speed control matters here — low speed for softer produce like leafy greens, high speed for hard fruit and root vegetables. The fastest way to get a glass of juice on a weekday morning.
Breville BJE430SIL Juice Fountain Cold
Still centrifugal, but Breville’s Cold Spin technology keeps the juice cooler during extraction, which slows oxidation and preserves more vitamins than a standard fast-spinning juicer without adding the cleanup hassle of a masticating machine.
Ninja NeverClog Cold Press Juicer (JC151)
A high-torque auger juices fibrous produce like celery and kale without the clogging that ruins a lot of masticating juicers’ reputation. Two one-touch programs and dishwasher-safe parts close most of the gap on convenience that usually favors centrifugal machines.
Hurom H70 Cold Press Juicer
Strainer-free and self-feeding, which removes two of the most annoying parts of owning a masticating juicer — fishing pulp out of a mesh strainer and constantly pushing produce down by hand. A compact footprint for a cold-press machine, which tend to run large.
What to Look For Before You Buy
Type matters most: centrifugal models spin at high speed and finish a glass in seconds, while masticating (cold press) models grind and press slowly, which means more cleanup time but noticeably drier pulp and a higher yield per pound of produce.
Feed chute size decides how much pre-cutting you’ll do — a 3-inch chute takes whole apples and small carrots, while a narrow chute means chopping everything first. If mornings are rushed, a wide chute saves real time.
Motor power (or auger torque, for masticating models) determines how well the machine handles fibrous produce like celery and ginger without clogging or stalling halfway through a run — read the specific model’s spec sheet rather than assuming higher wattage always means better performance.
Noise and cleanup are the two complaints people bring up most. Centrifugal machines are loud and have more parts to wash; masticating machines run quieter but usually take a couple of minutes longer to disassemble and rinse.
Warranty coverage varies by brand — Breville and Hurom both back their machines with a manufacturer warranty you can register directly on their site after purchase, which is worth doing the same week the box arrives.
If you’re weighing this against a smoothie routine instead, our blender picks for smoothies cover the other side of that decision — a blender keeps the fiber in, this doesn’t.
FAQs
Is a cold press juicer actually worth the extra money?
If you juice daily and care about nutrient retention and juice yield, yes — masticating juicers extract more liquid per pound of produce and generate less heat, which means less oxidation. If you juice occasionally, a centrifugal machine’s speed and lower price usually win out.
Can a juicer handle leafy greens like kale and spinach?
Masticating juicers handle leafy greens well; most centrifugal juicers struggle and yield very little juice from them because the fast spinning doesn’t extract liquid from low-moisture leaves efficiently.
How long does fresh juice actually last?
Centrifugal juice oxidizes fast and is best drunk within a few hours. Cold-press juice, stored airtight and refrigerated, typically holds up for 48–72 hours without major nutrient loss.
Final Thoughts
Buy centrifugal if speed and easy cleanup matter more than yield. Buy cold press if you’re juicing daily, care about leafy greens, or want juice that keeps for a couple of days in the fridge.
