Your goals, lifestyle and available physical space dictate what you buy and how you use the products and a juice machine is no different.
Types of juice machines
Learn about juice machines by Darren and Jessica in this comprehensive post: How to Choose the Best Juice Machine: Click here to read about the types of juice machines.
Size and easy washing are very important characteristics to consider if your goals are to juice most everyday of the week. The machine will most likely live on your counter, and the parts will most likely be in the drying rack, often.
Suggested style: a centrifugal juicer.
Heavy duty will be high priority for those who want the highest nutrition density possible and who are able to alot time for a slower machine.
Suggested style: a cold-press masticating juicer.
Multi-purpose juice machines will make smoothies, sorbets, nut milks.
Suggested style: Nama Cold Press Juicer
What to look for when buying a juice machine
All parts should be of quality material. The main body, blade and filter preferably made of stainless steel.
The base is steady, well balanced and doesn't tip easy.
The wattage matters and the range is from 400 to 1000 watts. I recommend no less than 700 watts, and better if it's 800 or more. You'll notice more juice extraction and better performance. And, they will probably last longer too.
Look for a feeding tube that is 3 inches or wider. This will be large enough for full-size apples, beets and cucumbers. One bunch of celery will fit, too!
This is important to me. Taking it apart and washing it can be time consuming. Before buying one, I recommend watching a video to see how it's put together and assess if it'll be easy for you to do.
Centrifugal and masticating juice machines work for all types of veggies, however, the cheaper versions have a hard time processing hard dense and fiber-heavy plants.
The Breville juice machine I bought for $300 in 2011 met those criteria.
I'm very happy with my 9-year-old centrifugal juice machine. It seems like it has another 9 years to go! Here is an image of a similar, more recent model:
You get what you pay for
The first juice machine I bought was in 1992 because I needed to fix my health. I bought it while watching one of the first informercials — Jay Kordich selling his Juiceman Juicer. It was a $200 unit, one of the better ones I’ve had in that price range.
During the past 30 years I’ve had several juicers, ranging in price from $40 to $300. Anything under $100 just doesn’t hold up to how much and the type of veggies that I juice.
Types of juicers
I’ve had centrifugal juicers, and masticating juicers. I’ve used my Vitamix to make a pulp and then squeeze through a nut milk bag. I also have the masticating Champion Juicer, which is slower and more cumbersome than the Breville. The Champion does a much better job with extracting juice from leafy greens.
Cold-press juicer
This $2,000 Norwalk machine is a beauty, it’s a masticating juice machine with a hydraulic press to make cold-pressed juices. I bought it in the mid 90s, still have it but it’s too cumbersome to use and to clean. I use it now and then, mostly to make nut butters.