For those who make nut butters

[Raene]

Do you recommend a Blender (Blendtec/Vitamix) or a Juicer (Champion/GreenStar)?
I'm broke but I feel that if this is what's required for truly raw almond butter, I'll buy one...but which...blender or champion? I've heard of people using both, so I just want recommendations.
Oh...and I'd much prefer to buy a blender b/c I don't juice, I blend...so it would make the most sense for my lifestyle...but I want the almond butter to work in it. Thx!

[raweater]

I used to use my food processor which did an a pretty horrible job (if you don't allow about 80% cool down periods, the butter will cook, and the job takes about 30 minutes), I've since tried my Green Star juicer and it did the job in about 30-60 seconds! I'm never using the food processor for butter again.

I would not recommend the champion for a few reasons:
-It's quite a high speed (nearly 2000 RPM I believe) and will cause more oxidation when used to juice
-It extracts significnatly less juice than the Green Star, meaning you're throwing over 33% of your money out the window with every food item you put in it to juice (this alone makes up for the Green Star's higher cost)
-It does not work well with wheatgrass
-It does not make juice that keeps for several days like the Green Star
-The high speed causes it to cook food for several uses, I would assume making almond butter may be one of the jobs where it cooks the food

If you do want to make almond butter, get the Green Star 3000, or at least make sure to get the bread stick guide and blank, as these are the parts that make the smoothest almond butter (without this I think it comes out powdery). It's still not liquid like the store bought one, but the best result I got home made.

The Green Stars start at $340 I believe on 2-life.com, and the 3000 model was $380.

[Lady Green Jeans]

I begin by putting the nuts through the food processor to get them in smallish pieces. My juicer is Green Star, so put the nuts through using the blank plate. Have found they come out as a very nice nut butter after running through 4-5 times. Depending on the nut may be more or less, but well worth the effort. Have given nut butters to friends for gifts and they love them.

Let us know how yours turns out.

Kathy

[raweater]

Why run them through the FP first? I ran them directly through the Green Star, and only once, and got good results. Does running it back through several times make it more liquid like the store bought one? You can alsmost pour that one better than molasses! The one I make is solid and completely unpourable.

Thanks

[Raene]

I made mac butter this morning in a small really really cheap food processor and it worked great! I'm sure those are easier than almonds though.

[Lady Green Jeans]

Raweater,

Yes, running them through makes the end product just like the store bought--more liquidy.

Kathy