Homemade cider press built by my neighbors Gene and Priscilla. A hydraulic cider press that uses found materials from a log splitter and a tree chipper, Gene built this from parts he had. Use this video and the photos here as a basis for your own cider press plans. This is really cool to use, and it would be a blast to build as well.
Build your own cider press
You can do this! It will take some time, but its do-able. Its helpful to have some metal skills or ask a neighbor who does to help. You'll want a bunch of people around anyway to help with the cider press, its a lot of work to process all the apples, apple mash, and bottle the cider.
This cider press uses a chipper, much like those that are in electric wood chippers, to mash up the apples. I love the use of a traffic cone to direct the apple mash in the right place. The racks that hold the mash are custom built, be sure the racks have slots to allow the cider to drip out. The cloth is muslin.
The apples are first washed in a mild bleach solution and then rinsed in two buckets of water. A 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled in it works well for this. Any bruises or blemishes are cut out of the apples.
After the apples are pressed, the cider is filtered and pumped through a UV sterilizer. UV light kills bad bugs in the cider, its a simple way, i think to have good cider and not have to pasteurize it to sell. Your local rules might not allow this, so check first.
You can freeze cider to be able to enjoy it all year. Leave enough space in the containers for some expansion as the cider freezes.
We've made hard cider from Priscilla's press, you can check out our how to make hard cider videos here
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stephen says
Cool video. Do you know what kind of cloth is used to strain the mash?
@rhkennerly says
That’s amazing. That’s a real DIY production system.
Eric Gunnar Rochow says
its muslin, they run it through the washing machine and it cleans up nicely. eric.
Tonia Moxley says
What effect does the UV sterilizer have on the cider — does it kill the natural yeasts, etc.?
Eric Gunnar Rochow says
UV light is used to kill micro organisms in water treatment plants, this is the first time i’ve seen it used for cider, but i think its a neat solution.
Kevin McGillivray says
At 0:56, is that a FOOD GRADE orange traffic cone where the ground apples come out of the bottom of the scratter? 🙂
Great video!
Kimberley Crocker says
Absolutely loved this entire piece on making hard cider! Inspiring and mouth watering – and always fun!
Eric Gunnar Rochow says
i knew someone would point that out! have to check with the authorities on that one… eric.