Fruit Press & Apple Press for Juice, Cider & Wine

This apple and fruit press is made for pressing chopped fruit into fresh juice at home. The hand-operated twist and extend mechanism applies pressure through an oak pressing basket, making it suitable for apple juice, cider, wine and other homemade drinks. Choose from 6, 12 or 18 Litres sizes depending on how much produce you normally press.

Wooden Fruit Press UK for Home Juice Making

The press has an oak pressing basket with a sturdy steel base plate. There are no motors, wires or electrical connections, so you can set it up wherever you have a firm, suitable working surface.

Some self-assembly is required and instructions are supplied. A powered screwdriver will make assembly easier.

How the Manual Apple Press Works

Fill the lined basket with prepared fruit, then turn the handle. As the mechanism moves down, pressure is applied to the contents of the basket and juice is pressed out.

Once the pressing bar reaches the top of the basket, add the supplied wooden blocks to continue applying pressure. It is a simple mechanical process. You do have to turn the handle yourself.

Preparing Fruit Before Using the Press

Apple and pear should be chopped into small pieces before they go into the basket. Grapes, berries and other softer produce can also be pressed. If you would like help with this try our apple scratter.

Preparation matters. Large, hard pieces will generally give a lower juice yield and make pressing harder, so breaking the fruit down first is worth the extra few minutes.

In real use, you will notice the flow of juice gradually slows as the pulp becomes more compressed. That is usually the point where the wooden blocks become useful for continuing the pressing cycle.

Cold Press Fruit Juice for Cider and Wine

The manual pressing action lets home brewers extract juice without using an electric press. The resulting juice can be used for apple juice or as part of home cider and wine making.

How much juice you get will vary with the type, ripeness and condition of the produce. Stored or drier fruit may release less juice than ripe, freshly picked fruit, even when it has been prepared well.

Fruit Press Pulp Bags and Wooden Blocks Included

Each fruit press comes with three pulp bags and two additional wooden blocks.

The pulp bag lines the pressing basket and helps keep seeds, stalks and larger pieces of pulp out of the collected juice. Having three bags also gives you spares when one is being washed or dried.

The wooden blocks extend the pressing range once the mechanism has travelled down towards the basket. They can be particularly useful when pressing a smaller load.

Fruit Press Sizes – 6,12 and 18 Litres

• 6 Litre Fruit Press – 58cm high x 27cm deep
• 12 Litre Fruit Press – 60cm high x 37cm deep
• 18 Litre Fruit Press – 70cm high x 37cm deep

The right capacity depends on the amount of fruit you expect to process. If you have several established apple trees or collect larger harvests in autumn, a larger basket means fewer separate loads.

Using a Fruit Press During the UK Harvest Season

For many UK gardeners, most pressing will take place from late summer into autumn as apple, pear and other garden produce becomes ready to pick.

Prepare the fruit before loading the basket rather than trying to press large whole pieces. If you have a sizeable harvest, working in batches also makes the job easier to manage.

Wet autumn weather can make outdoor pressing awkward, so use the press on a stable surface somewhere you can work comfortably and collect the juice without the press moving around.

Manual Fruit Press Key Features

• Available in 6,12 and 18 Litre capacities
• Manual twist and extend pressing mechanism
• No electricity required
• Oak pressing basket with steel base plate
• Suitable for prepared apple, pear, grape, berries and other produce
• Includes three pulp bags and two additional wooden blocks
• Some self-assembly required

Fruit Press FAQs

Do I need to peel apple before pressing?

Peeling is not stated as a requirement. The important preparation step is chopping the fruit into smaller pieces before loading the pressing basket.

Can I press whole apple?

Chopping apple into small pieces is recommended. Trying to press large pieces makes extraction harder and can reduce the amount of juice you collect.

Does the fruit press need electricity?

No. The press is operated by turning the handle and does not require a motor, wires or a power supply.

What can I make with the juice?

The pressed juice can be used as fresh apple juice or as part of homemade cider, wine and other beverages.

Is the fruit press supplied assembled?

No. Some self-assembly is required and instructions are included. Using a powered screwdriver is recommended during setup.

How many pulp bags come with the press?

Three pulp bags are supplied, along with two additional wooden blocks for extending the pressing range.