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Other Brands Juicer Reviews

May 29, 2016
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Cuisinart CJE-1000
1000-Watt Juice Extractor

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In addition to its powerful 1000-watt motor and patented “foam management system”, the CJE-1000 boasts many enhanced features and is available for an incredibly competitive price.

It can be easy to see high numbers in the name of a product and automatically think that it must be a great piece of machinery. This is why many companies add numbers to the names of their products – to fool you into thinking they mean something wonderful. Luckily, in the case of this particular juicer, the number 1000 actually refers to the motor’s wattage and it is a good sign of quality.

It can also be easy to see a name brand, such as Cuisinart, attached to a low-priced juicer and assume that it is a deal. Sometimes, though, good brands and misleading names are attached to poor-quality juicers. I have concluded that that is not the case for the CJE-1000. It appears that Cuisinart has done its best to bring the quality we expect from them and infuse it into this juicer. The major aim of this article to is to decipher whether the low price of this juicer reflects an amazing bargain or a low-quality build. Although I have already told you my conclusion, read ahead to understand how I came to it.

A 1000 Watt Wonder

In discussing juicer motors it is important for you to know the different kinds of motors which are often placed in juicers. A 700-watt motor may sound impressive if you are unaware that a 1000-watt motor is often used as well. Similarly, a 1000-watt motor may sound wonderful if you are unaware that 1400-watt motors are often used. In the case of juicers, 1000 watts appears to be a sort of upper threshold. The most powerful motor you can find for a juicer hovers around the 1000-watt mark, just like the motor found in this juicer.

A motor this powerful is likely to stand up to the high speeds necessary for juicing with a centrifugal juicer. It is also likely to withstand the demands of someone who juices regularly and in large batches. I would worry that a 700 or 800-watt motor would overheat and break down if used by someone who takes their juicing very seriously. In this case, however, I would not hesitate to recommend this Cuisinart juicer to such a person. I believe that you will be able to run the CJE-1000 for extended periods of time without a worry.

Foam Management System

Cuisinart 4FCuisinart is very much about their patented “foam management systems”. They brag about these systems in each of their juicer commercials and I would not doubt that it is likely printed in big bold letters on the packaging of their juicers.

So, what is a foam management system? Essentially, it reduces the amount of foam created during centrifugal juicing. I must admit that I was a skeptic when I heard about this system. Foam is a natural occurrence in the centrifugal juicing process, so I found it hard to believe that they had developed some sort of system which stopped it from happening.

My other concern was that it would somehow slow down the juicing process. However, I have seen it in action and was quite impressed at how well it worked. Despite the high speeds and soft foods used in the demonstration I watched, there were very little (almost imperceptible) amounts of foam created as the user juiced a significant amount of food in a very short amount of time.

Built For Large Batches with Minimal Fuss

As I have mentioned, the 1000-watt motor supports large batches of juice by not overheating or breaking down when used for extended periods of time. Many other factors make it easy to create large batches of juice with minimal hassle. For example, this juicer comes with a 2-liter pulp collector. I have previously expressed excitement about 10-ounce pulp collectors, so seeing a 2-liter pulp collector makes me feel overjoyed.

Part of what makes it difficult to create large batches of juice is the fact that you must stop every so often to empty the pulp collector. A pulp collector as large as this one means that you could create a rather large batch of juice without having to stop. In fact, you could create batches which are two to three times larger than those you could create in other leading 1000-watt juicers.

Indulge in Extras

Although this juicer doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles I have seen featured in other, more expensive, centrifugal juicers, it does feature a few important extras I am excited to share with you. Firstly, it features an LED light ring around the power setting dial. I must say that I am not sure what purpose this LED light ring serves, but it sure looks neat.

Another interesting extra is the way that Cuisinart has chosen to attach the extra-large 1-quart juice pitcher to the machine. Most other juicers do not feature attachable juice pitchers, making the juice susceptible to being spilled and splattered. Adding to the list of extras are things such as removable, dishwasher safe non-electrical parts, large 3-inch feeding tube, and five speed settings.

Consumer Feedback

Feedback from actual consumers has been mostly positive. Apparently, the pulp created by this machine is rather dry and the machine’s juice yield is much higher than that of many similar competitors. The only major complaints I can find are based around three issues. First, consumers have complained that this juicer is rather large and is not made for those with small countertops. This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the juicer itself, just that it isn’t made for certain countertops.

The second most common complaint was that refurbished versions of this juicer are breaking down, overheating and, quite simply, aren’t very good. Do not let these reviews deter you from purchasing the CJE-1000. Simply allow them to steer you away from refurbished appliances – they are often more of a hassle than they are worth.

The final popular complaint was that this juicer does not handle leafy greens very well. Instead of extracting juice from them, it shreds them and spits large chunks of them into the pulp collector. Unfortunately, this is just a regular problem when it comes to centrifugal juicers. You will have a very difficult time finding a centrifugal juicer which does not experience difficulties with leafy greens.

Concluding Remarks

Many companies will create beautiful juicers with all the bells and whistles but neglect to put a very powerful motor in them – this is how they offer them for low prices. It appears that Cuisinart decided to do something a little bit different. Although a few bells and whistles are present, they appear to have focused their energy on the incredibly powerful 1000-watt motor they installed in each and every CJE-1000 Juice Extractor.

I began this review by posing a question: Is the Cuisinart CJE-1000 a steal of a deal or is it all hype? I have seen cheaper centrifugal juicers, but not with the abilities that this juicer clearly holds. All of the bragging, boasting, and hype about this juicer appears to actually be founded in reality; consumers have had very nice things to say about its ability to produce quality juice with little hassle. In the end, I believe that this juicer is worth much more than it is currently being sold for. If you have the counter space to accommodate the CJE-1000, I recommend picking one up.

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May 28, 2016
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VonShef Professional
Wide Mouth Whole Fruit Juicer

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Despite its large feed tube and pulp cup, I hesitate to recommend this VonShef centrifugal juicer on the basis of its high-speed settings, low-power motor, and significant consumer complaints. Although I am not a very big fan of centrifugal juicers, I recognize that there are some definite advantages to owning this type of juicer. For example, centrifugal juicers work quickly and require much less prep time. I am also aware of which qualities a good centrifugal juicer should include and exclude.

I aim to bring you my honest, unbiased opinion when it comes to any juicer listed and reviewed on this website. Therefore, as we work our way through this article, I will address each of these concerns while simultaneously acknowledging the positive features of the VonShef Professional Whole Fruit Juicer.

Bigger Isn’t Necessarily Better

VonShef boasts about this juicer’s two speed settings. While having variable speeds is extremely important in a centrifugal juicer, I fail to understand VonShef’s enthusiasm where this particular juicer is concerned. Let me take a moment to quickly explain speed settings and centrifugal juicers so that you can understand what I am saying here.

Centrifugal juicers work by using rotating blades to break down foods. When those blades rotate very quickly – between 12,000 and 16,000 rotations per minute (RPM) – they are able to break down hard foods such as carrots and celery. When blades rotate at slower speeds – between 6,000 and 10,000 RPMs – they are able to easily cut through soft foods such as oranges, bananas, and berries.

This VonShef juicer operates at either 14,000 or 18,000 RPM, depending upon whether you choose the “low” or “high” speed setting. Those numbers are awfully high, don’t you agree? 14,000 RPM is considered a mid-range speed setting for processing hard foods, not a “low” speed setting for juicing soft foods. While either 14,000 or 18,000 RPM are acceptable settings for juicing hard foods, they are likely to obliterate the enzymes in soft foods while creating massive amounts of foam.

Except When It Comes to Centrifugal Motors

Although I do not think large RPM numbers are necessarily indicative of a better juicer, I do believe that powerful motors are quite important. Let me first say that powerful motors with high wattage aren’t always necessary for masticating juicers or citrus juicers. They are, however, very important in centrifugal juicers.

With blades rotating as quickly as 18,000 times per minute, it is important that the juicer’s motor be able to withstand the high energy output necessary to perform this duty. Simply put, low wattage motors are likely to overheat and burn out when used at this level for long periods. They may also overheat to the point of melting nearby plastic pieces. While 700 watts may sound like a large number to someone who has not researched centrifugal juicers, as someone who has done such research I can easily tell you this is not a very powerful motor.

Many centrifugal juicers employ motors of 900 to 1000 watts to power 10,000 to 14,000 RPM. Surely a 700-watt motor trying power 18,000 RPM does not make much sense? I worry that this motor will overheat and break down with continuous or regular usage.

Swallow It Whole

An important upside to the Professional Whole Fruit Juicer is its large mouth. Like many centrifugal juicers available on today’s market, this one features a 3-inch wide feeder tube mouth which allows you to place entire fruits and vegetables inside. Without the necessity of chopping up the food ahead of time, both your prep and cleanup time are greatly reduced.

A Detachable Dream

I believe this juicer’s biggest selling feature is its pulp collection cup. The best pulp cups are externally located – either completely separate from the juicer or attached to its outer encasement. In the case of this VonShef juicer, the pulp collector cup is attached to the outer encasement for easy access, and effortlessly clips on and off for quick emptying. To top it off, this pulp cup can hold up to 70 ounces of pulp, whereas the pulp cups on competitor juicers are only able to hold about 12 ounces of pulp.

Consumer Complaints

I find it very unfortunate that the list of consumer complaints for this product is so long. I did, however, expect the list to be rather long. As you can see from what I have written in this review, I did not have high hopes for this juicer on the basis of its low-power motor and its high-speed settings.

As expected, I found that many consumers complained about motors overheating, breaking down over time, or suddenly not working at all. Other complaints were focused on how quickly the blades became dull and the fact that pieces quickly and easily broke off of this machine.

Concluding Remarks

I quite simply cannot, in good conscience, recommend this juicer. I understand that it is priced fairly well and that it features a wonderfully large pulp collection cup, but the truth is that it is unlikely to perform the tasks you hope it will perform. If it does manage to perform those tasks, chances are that it will not be able to perform them for very long without breaking down or breaking apart.

If you are looking for a juicer you plan to use quite infrequently, do not mind foam in your juice, and are not concerned about breaking down the enzymes in your food, you may be able to live with this juicer. Otherwise, I suggest that you continue your search and use this review as a lesson on what not to look for in a centrifugal juicer.

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May 27, 2016
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Tribest SW-2000-B Vertical
Slow Cold Press Juicer

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Let’s be honest here, the major story about this juicer is its torque power. The 200-watt motor of the Tribest Slowstar Vertical Juicer features the equivalent of nine horsepower. It appears to be this major feature which places the Tribest Slowstar above many of its vertical masticating competitors.

In this article, you will learn more about the effect of this juicer’s nine horsepower motor. We will also explore some of the more basic features and functions of this machine as we work together to see if it may the right juicer for you and your needs.

The Ups and Downs of Masticating Juicers

Let’s begin with a quick review of the differences between masticating and centrifugal juicers. Of course, more information can be found in the information articles included on this website, but it can be helpful to our conversation to review the major points of those articles here as well.

Masticating juicers work by slowly grinding and squeezing the juice from fruits and vegetables as they work their way through. This process is much slower than the slicing and dicing process used in centrifugal juicers, but it also does not create as much heat. The heat created by centrifugal juicers is believed to break down and kill enzymes which help us digest our foods. A major advantage of masticating juicers is that, although they take a long time to process foods, they never get hot enough to destroy those important enzymes.

Masticating juicers can easily break down leafy greens. They can also create a large assortment of other types of foods, such as nut butters, salsas, sorbets, and sauces. The Tribest Slowstar is fully capable of living up to each of these popular masticating advantages. Unfortunately, while some masticating juicers are able to create pastas, this particular juicer is not.

Going Vertical

Tribest 2FA vertical masticating juicer is slightly different from a traditional horizontal masticating juicer in that runs food downward instead of horizontally. The vertical process utilizes the power of gravity to assist its processing of foods.

The vertical process has two major differences from the horizontal process. First, it is more difficult to process certain foods (such as celery) in a vertical juicer. Second, you can run water through a vertical juicer to clean many interior parts. Of course, it will be your decision as to which of those things matters most in your juicer.

Another difference between a vertical juicer and a horizontal juicer is that whereas horizontal juicers take up more counter space, vertical juicers require more space between countertops and upper cabinets or within cupboards.

Faster and Slower All At Once

How can a juicer be both faster and slower than its competitors? Answering this question brings us back to the 200-watt, nine horsepower motor. The Tribest Slowstar works at a slower cycle of revolutions per minute (RPM) than most masticating juicers, but actually gets the job done quicker. Whereas most masticating juicers work at about 80 RPM, the Slowstar functions at about 45 RPM.

One may expect that fewer RPMs would mean an even slower juicing process, especially since masticating juicers work slower than centrifugal juicers which can feature up to 16,000 RPM. However, the strong motor in the Tribest Slowstar allows it to add even more pressure to the crushing and squeezing process, meaning that more juice is extracted from the food as it moves through the machine. Therefore, although the auger spins slower, the entire process actually takes less time than it would with a comparable masticating juicer.

Concluding Remarks

In all honesty, aside from the nine horsepower motor and incredible crushing power of this juicer, I wasn’t able to find much to set it apart from other vertical masticating juicers. Of course, its popularity also weighs into this discussion. This juicer wouldn’t have even been featured on this website if it wasn’t extremely popular in the juicer world.

Consumers have had plenty of good things to say about this juicer’s quality, longevity, and performance. It appears to be a well-built piece of machinery. It boasts all of the advantages of most other masticating juicers with the addition of working much quicker. That being said, it also features the disadvantages of other masticating juicers, with the clogging problems known to affect only masticating juicers.

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May 27, 2016
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Maximatic ETS-401 Elite
20 Ounce Citrus Juicer

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The Maximatic is a low-power, low-cost citrus juicer built for optimal convenience. In this article, we will look at its specifications and weigh those against what I believe constitutes a great citrus juicer.

Before we begin, I want to make sure you know the difference between a citrus juicer and other types of juicers. True to its name, a citrus juicer is made only to extract juices from citrus fruits. If you are looking for a machine that will break down other types of fruits and vegetables, you will have to turn your attention toward a centrifugal or masticating juicer. For more information on the difference between those two types of juicers, have a look at our informational page about those types of juicers or the reviews I have posted about specific centrifugal and masticating juicers.

However, if you are a big fan of lemonade, orange juice, or grapefruit juice, or if you enjoy a glass of crisp flavored water, this type of juicer may be just for you. Unlike handheld reamers and presses, the Maximatic ETS-401 electric juicer takes all of the hard work out of creating your favorite beverages.

Only 25 Watts?

Let’s begin this conversation with what I believe is the only definite negative aspect of this juicer – its 25-watt motor. The motor inside a citrus juicer is used to power a system which causes the reamer to spin when it senses pressure. In other words, if you press your halved fruit down on the reamer, sensors will engage the motor and make it to spin.

The wattage of the motor determines not only how well it can spin the reamer but also how long it can stay running before needing a rest. Leaving low-power motors running for too long while they are performing difficult tasks can cause them to overheat, which is my concern for this particular juicer.

Most citrus juicers feature a motor which is between 80 and 90 watts. This 25-watt motor is considerably less powerful, yet it is expected to perform the same duties as a comparable 80 or 90-watt motor. Simple math tells me that this low-power motor may have a very difficult time processing large batches of juice; I worry that this motor will overheat and break down if you use it for extended periods of time to create more than one or two glasses of juice.

Stop Struggling

MaxiMatic 2Moving on to better qualities of the Maximatic Citrus Juicer, I would like to take a moment to discuss the attention the designers of this product have clearly paid to the struggles faced by many people as they attempt to prepare a citrus-based beverage. Obviously, the fact that there is a pressure-sensitive, motor-powered spinning reamer is the first testament to this attention. This type of system means that you will not need to struggle with on/off switches while your hands are sticky with citrus juice.

Another important feature designed to make your life easier is the internal juice storage system. Most low-cost (and even some high-cost) citrus juice extractors are designed with a reamer on top, a filter in the middle and the motor on the bottom. Somewhere between the filter and the motor exists a little tube or chute through which the juice runs, eventually falling from the spout and into your glass. Two major complaints with that type of design are that those juicers are difficult to clean and that their spouts are so low you can only fill one 8-ounce glass at a time.

The Maximatic is designed very differently. Below the reamer sits the strainer. Below the strainer is a large container, into which juice can freely flow. This container is see-through so you can tell how full it is getting and judge whether you have created enough juice to satisfy your needs. Therefore, instead of creating one 8-ounce glass at a time, you can create up to 20-ounces of juice at once. That means you can create approximately 2.5 glasses of juice without having to empty the juice container.

Making things even more convenient, Maximatic has added a handle to the unit and created a locking system for the lid so that you can easily lift and pour your juice into your glass without worrying about the unit slipping from your hands or the top popping off.

I Hope You Like Pulp

This juicer features a strainer, like most citrus juicers. Unfortunately, where many juicers offer multiple types of strainers to suit your tastes, only one strainer is available for the 20-ounce Citrus Juicer. The one strainer which is included with this juicer is capable of catching seeds and large chunks of fruit flesh, but is not likely to catch much pulp.

I haven’t decided whether this is a strike against this particular juicer or not. I suppose that for those who prefer their juice pulpy, this will really make no difference in their choice to purchase this juicer. However, for those who like no pulp or only a little bit of pulp, or those who enjoy varying the amount of pulp from time to time, this could be a definite deal breaker.

Consumer Feedback

From what I can find through my research, it appears that those who have purchased this juicer are mostly quite happy with it. They seem especially happy to have paid about half the price people often pay for a comparable citrus juicer.

Those who have expressed unhappiness about their purchase appear to have complained about the motor, as expected. Apparently, this 25-watt motor is not able to handle regular use, let alone large batches of juice.

Concluding Remarks

The Maximatic Citrus Juicer embodies the convenience of budget. Unfortunately, when we try to get the convenience of top-dollar products by paying minimal prices we often end up finding ourselves with inferior-functioning products. This juicer does not appear to be an exception to that rule. Although you can get some awesomely convenient features, such as an internal catch basin for over 20 ounces of juice, you are not being supplied with a motor strong enough to handle everyday use. However, this juicer may be just the right fit for someone who plans to create small batches of citrus juice (about one 20-ounce container at a time) on an infrequent basis.

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May 27, 2016
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Jack Lalanne’s
Fusion Juicer SLH90

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This juicer’s substandard quality leaves me scratching my head and wondering, “Is this really a Jack Lalanne juicer, or is this an impostor?”

The late Jack Lalanne was a professional body builder and health advocate. He is known in many healthy-eating circles as the “Godfather of Juicing.” If you are old enough, you may remember watching his infomercials late at night. If you are young enough, you have no idea who I am talking about. Either way, suffice to say that Jack Lalanne was a big name in the world of juicing for many years and worked hard at bringing the benefits of juicing to the general public.

It is actually quite surprising that this is the only Jack Lalanne juicer I have posted on this website. After all, the man was the Godfather of Juicing. Still, my reviews are based on current popularity and the Jack Lalanne brand has been moving downhill since his death in 2011. Even more surprising than this being the only Jack Lalanne juicer on my list is the fact that I am currently questioning whether this is actually a Jack Lalanne juicer at all.

I will quickly preface this entire article by letting you know ahead of time that, despite its popularity, I do not recommend purchasing this juicer. I believe its popularity is based, at least partially, on the brand name attached to it. Still, this is not your cue to stop reading. I believe it is important to learn about substandard products and compare their specifications to great products, so that you can make educated decisions in the future. If you were to assume from the hefty price tag and celebrity brand name attached to this juicer that it would be a great and powerful juicer, you would be wrong.

In this article, I intend to walk you through the positive and negative qualities of the Jack Lalanne 100th Anniversary Juicer to help you understand how I came to my conclusions.

Only An Adequate Motor

The motor is, arguably, one of the very most important parts of a centrifugal juicer. If the motor is not strong enough to move the blades or powerful enough to run for long periods, it more or less renders the entire machine useless.

The 800-watt motor included in this machine is adequate. It hovers around the average level of motor strength for centrifugal juicers, which tend to range from 600 watts to 1000 watts or, rarely, 1200 watts. I have never trusted any motor less than 800 watts. Though you can easily find a cheap juicer with a 600 or 700-watt motor, I really do consider the lower threshold of quality to be 800 watts. Therefore, I never recommend anything under 800 watts, and it is with hesitation that I even recommend 800 watts.

I would expect that running this 800-watt motor in this two-speed juicer would allow you to juice two to three glasses of soft foods at a time, or produce one glass of hard foods, before it would be necessary to take a break and allow the motor to cool. Unlike juicers created by some competing companies, this one does not appear to include a safety system which will shut the juicer down if it is in danger of overheating. Therefore, you will want to be very careful to take breaks during your juicing process.

The Extras

Jack Lalanne 2FThe extras included with this juicer are definitely appealing; to the untrained eye they may be enough to convince someone to purchase this particular machine. Extras are useless, though, if the machine itself is not run by a sufficiently powerful motor. Let’s see what sorts of temptations this company has chosen to add to this machine instead of beefing up its sub-par motor.

The extra-large pulp collector included with this juicer easily attaches and detaches from the back. It will collect massive amounts of pulp, theoretically allowing you to create large batches of juice without having to stop to empty it out. However, you will probably find yourself stopping before it is full anyway, either to allow the motor to cool or because the motor overheated and simply stopped working. Surely that would be a perfect time to empty a smaller pulp collector cup.

The large juice pitcher is a definite plus. I cannot argue with the positive effect this pitcher is likely to have on any home juicing enthusiast. It firmly attaches to the machine itself to prevent spillage and splattering – two annoying problems people face with other juicers. The only downside to this pitcher is that it takes up a lot of extra space on the countertop or in the cupboard when it is not in use; adding to the already bulky quality of this juicer.

The three-inch wide feeder chute will allow you to quickly and easily process entire fruits and vegetables without having to waste time cutting or peeling them. You will be using a wide variety of fruits of vegetables as you get to know the different recipes included in “The Ultimate Juicing Book Guide” which is also included with this juicer.

Consumer Feedback

This is where things start to get real. We can talk theoretically all we like; I can sit here and tell you how well I think the motor will work (or not work, in this case) and explain the advantages and disadvantages of certain extra features. But the real truth comes from consumer reviews. Consumers are people who have actually purchased and used this particular juicer; their reviews offer insight into the actual functioning of this product.

According to consumer reviews about the Jack Lalanne 100th Anniversary Juicer, it is about as reliable as I expected it to be. Although there are a great number of positive reviews, what I gather from those reviews is that they have been made by people who rarely use their juicer and those who posted a review after owning it for only a very short period of time.

The negative reviews mostly seem to focus around the same issue – the motor burning out, breaking down, blowing up, and altogether giving up.

Concluding Remarks

Although the bells and whistles and added extras can be quite enticing, and slightly weigh into my decision making, I tend to judge a centrifugal juicer mostly on two characteristics – its motor’s capabilities and its consumer reviews. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Jack Lalanne 100th Anniversary Juicer, neither was able to impress me.

This juicer is priced as if it can compete with some of the mid-high level centrifugal juicers currently on the market. It is my opinion that this juicer would stand no chance against the others if put to the test. For this price, I would expect to see a more powerful motor and possibly more speed settings.

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May 27, 2016
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Epica Stainless Steel
Whisper-Quiet Citrus Juicer

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Designed specifically for citrus juicing, the Epica Powerful Stainless Steel Juicer pairs a futuristic appearance with basic, nearly silent, function.

Before we continue, I want to make sure you realize now, before we go much further, that this is a citrus juicer. It is not intended to juice apple, pineapples, carrots, or any other type of non-citrus food. If you are looking for a juicer which can handle those tasks, head over to the centrifugal and masticating juicer reviews.

In this article, I will review some of the basic specifications of this Epica citrus juicer, as well as some of its special features. My major focus will be on helping you decide whether or not this juicer would make a good addition to your kitchen, by critiquing those specifications and features and adding to it my research on consumer experiences.

Simply Citrus

As I have already explained, this Epica juicer is clearly built for juicing citrus. Where masticating and centrifugal juicers feature feeding tubes the Epica features a citrus reamer. The citrus reamer atop this juicer makes extracting the juices of any citrus fruit fast, simple, and painless. No need to struggle with manual reamers or presses which place strain on your hands, wrists, and arms. Simply place your halved fruit cut-side down on the reamer, pull the lid down, and watch the juicer do the rest.

This juicer comes with two reamers (one large and one small), making it perfect for extracting the delectable flavors of any-sized citrus fruit. Easily and effortlessly remove the juices from a large grapefruit. Extract flavors from tiny limes without losing your grip.

Unfortunately, since this juicer operates only by squeezing down on round, soft fruits, it is unable to do many of the things you may have come to expect from a centrifugal or masticating juicer. It cannot process and extract juices from hard vegetables or fruits, or from leafy greens. Its design will not even allow it to extract juices from other soft foods, such as bananas.

Futuristic Appeal Without Space-Age Technology

One look at the Epica Juicer and my first instinct was to run and hide from approaching alien species. The mixture of stainless steel, black plastic, intense hour glass shape, and clear domed lid are strangely reminiscent of a space craft.

These days, it appears that electronic devices are starting to do more and more. The usefulness of a small appliance is often defined by its number of functions. The more modern and futuristic an electronic device or appliance appears to be, the more one expects it to have multiple functions and features. Despite its very futuristic appearance, there really isn’t much to this juicer. It effectively performs its basic function of extracting juice from citrus fruits, but does little else.

This specialized function may seem like a waste to those who want save counter space by purchasing all-in-one gadgets and appliances. However, it is this specialized function which allows the Epica Citrus Juicer to operate at such a low noise level. Extracting the juices from citrus fruits is rather easy, meaning that it does not require fast-moving parts or a loud motor like many other juicers.

Environmentally Friendly

Although I did not mention this in the introductory paragraph, I do believe that it is important for potential consumers to know that this particular juicer is much more environmentally-friendly than many other juicers on today’s market. The small 70-watt motor included in this juicer draws much less power than large centrifugal juicers with motors ranging from 600 to 1000 watts. Large motors are important in centrifugal juicers, as they are necessary for processing hard foods. That degree of power is not necessary when juicing citrus fruits – using a heavy-duty centrifugal juicer for this purpose would place unnecessary demands on the environment.

Consumer Feedback

When performing research for these juicer reviews, I gathered information about consumer experiences by reading hundreds of reviews written by those who have actually purchased and used the products. Consumer reviews about the Epica Citrus Juicer were, for the most part, quite positive.

Of the few negative reviews I was able to find, most centered on a single issue – the juice spout. Apparently, the adjustable juice spout has been known to break off completely as people try to adjust it from pointing in one direction to pointing in another. It may not appear to be that large of an issue, but the reality is that if this piece breaks the entire juicer becomes useless. Without the juice spout, juices flow directly into the bottom portion of the juicer itself, never reaching your glass and possibly damaging the machine’s motor.

Concluding Remarks

The Epica Citrus Juicer is perfect for creating fresh, crisp juices and flavored waters. It will make a great addition to any lemonade stand and can create excellent cocktails for your next backyard barbecue extravaganza. It takes the difficulty out of juicing these succulent fruits and is especially helpful to those with arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you are in search of a juicer which can perform multiple tasks or juice many different kinds of fruits and vegetables, this is not the juicer for you. You will need to look for a centrifugal or masticating juicer to meet those needs. However, if this is not the case, why spend extra money for a machine with extra features you do not plan to use? If you are only looking to create citrus juices, however, this low-cost juicer will do just what you need it to do.

I do have concerns about how easily the juice spouts appear to break. Weighing that against how helpful this machine can be and its smaller impact on the environment makes it difficult to decide if I would feel right in recommending this product for anyone reading this review. I would cautiously say that this may be a great purchase. If you do decide to purchase this juicer, work carefully with the juice spout and check into warranty information before purchasing.

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May 26, 2016
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Black & Decker 400-Watt Fruit
and Vegetable Juice Extractor

By | Centrifugal Juicer Reviews, Other Brands Juicer Reviews | No Comments

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The Black and Decker Fruit and Vegetable Extractor makes some very large promises. It claims to be able to extract juice from both fruits and vegetables with ease and to make your juicing experience effortless. As you will see in the coming review, the Black and Decker JE2200B isn’t quite what it claims to be, but is still rather impressive for its competitively low price.

Is 400-Watts Enough Power?

In the world of juicers, 400-watt motors are usually featured only on lower end juicers designed for extracting fluids from soft foods such as berries and tomatoes. 400-watt motors are not very strong and can quickly overheat when put to large tasks. Breaking down hard foods such as carrots is a large task for any juicer and is best handled by one with a motor of at least 700 watts.

A 400-watt motor may be able to handle large tasks if it is used in a masticating juicer which breaks food down slowly by grinding it between gears. Unfortunately, this Black and Decker juicer is not a masticating juicer; it is a centrifugal juicer. As a centrifugal juicer, it relies on high speed blades to break down food. Considerable power is required to keep the blades moving at such high speeds when they are faced with the challenge of breaking down hard foods. I would be seriously concerned that this juicer’s 400-watt motor would quickly overheat if you were to try to use it for breaking down carrots or other hard foods.

Not Very Time Efficient

The Black and Decker JE2200B pulp extractor cup is medium-sized when compared with those of other centrifugal juicers. Although this is better than a small cup, it is obviously not as good as a large cup. The larger the pulp cup, the fewer times you will have to stop the juicing process to empty it. I wonder, though, if a large pulp cup would be beneficial to this juicer. I doubt that its 400-watt motor could run long enough to fill a large pulp cup without overheating.

The small-mouthed feeding tube also slows down your juicing process. Whereas many other centrifugal juicers feature mouths as wide as 3 inches, this Black and Decker’s narrow feeding tube means that you cannot simply drop an entire apple or orange inside. You will need to spend some time prepping your food before beginning to juice it.

Convenience Features

The only major convenience features I was able to find for this particular juicer were its external pulp extractor cup and its specially designed juice cup. Although I would prefer the pulp extractor cup to be larger, the very fact that it is external and easy-to-remove is a bonus feature.

The specially designed juice cup was made with an easy-pour spout to prevent spills and drips. It also features measurement lines so that you no longer need to play the guessing game when it comes to making specific amounts of one type of juice or another.

Consumer Concerns

I was very surprised to find that, despite its low price and low-wattage motor, the Black and Decker Fruit and Vegetable Juice Extractor has received very few negative consumer reviews. Of those I could find, the most common complaint was that the pulp left behind from the juicing process is often wet. However, wet pulp is a regular complaint for centrifugal juicers, especially when it comes to hard foods. Centrifugal juicers simply are not made to break down hard foods as well as soft foods.

Concluding Remarks

If you are looking for a very low-cost juicer, do not have high expectations, and do not plan to use your juicer to create large batches of juice, the Black and Decker JE2200B may satisfy your needs. It is perfectly designed to create berry and citrus juices. I would not, however, recommend this product to anyone who is hoping to make apple juice, carrot juice, or any other type of juice which involves processing hard foods. The 400-watt motor is not strong enough to handle these types of foods and the centrifugal design of this juicer is likely to leave most of their juice behind.

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