My juicer broke and I'm soooo confused!

[mulchie]

I know there are a ton of posts out there, and a ton of options, too. We are pretty new to juicing and now our juicer gave up the ghost (gift from a friend)... We aren't *serious* juicers, just adding this to our daily round. We would like to have something super reliable. It probably doesn't have to be super fast. I'm worried about the OMega because it looks like it spits out carrots like crazy and constantly has to be jammed into reverse. I'm leery of the guy with the long vids on youtube because, well, he just seems to want sales.... and he does go on. So... sorry to repeat an oft-repeated thread, but if I'm going to lay out $300+ I would like some unbiased advice from the pros...
many thanks from a new poster!

[walnutty]

I don't have any advice about a juicer as I just use an inexpensive one, but I wanted to let you know you could still have "juice" until you purchase your new juicer by putting your produce in a blender (preferably high speed/powered) with some water and then straining it through a nut milk bag.

[tiggerbounce]

It sort of depends on what you want to do with it. The Omega Vrt is pretty amazing. I even saw John make nut butter using it. Although that voids the warranty. The almond milk he made with it looked insanely easy to do.

I have the Champion Juicer. I use it for nut butters, juices, sorbets, iced smoothies, coconut cream, and lest we forget...the amazing banana whips. The banana whips were my end goal as I would do smoothies with the blender and be fine. Now I just have more options. I also waited 5+ years to get a juicer.

I do run my wet items thru twice with the Champion or until the pulp is as dry as I want it to be. I have no complaints about the Champion. Be sure to order the course screen right away if you do order the Champion.

I think if you get the heavy duty Omega, the output chute is bigger and you do not experience the jamming so much. I would go for the HD, definitely, if I were to get an Omega.

John is a good guy. He has about the lowest prices you will find on the juicers. He demonstrates many juicers. As I understand it, if you call and talk to him he will ask you questions about your intended uses/needs and help you make a choice that will hopefully fit your needs. He just gets excited about what each type of juicer can do and wears it on his sleeve. :) And he does not just steer you to the most expensive juicer. He has the best job/business ever. I would love to do what he does. :)

If I had my way (and I might...heh) I would have both the Champion and Omega Vrt.

For a very long time, I just simply used my Bosch blender and either strained or had smoothies. It is a really good and practical option.

Good luck! I am sure that whatever you choose, you will be happy with your choice. You just gotta decide and then embrace it and do not lust after what other juicers do. I have seen people jump from one expensive juicer to another and never really find that one that really does everything for them.

[DebB]

I've also got a Champion, we've had it since probably 1982 - still going strong. But, I find it's not so great for greens. I do alternate something juicy (cucumber, apple, etc.) with greens. It's very fast and easy to clean.

We've also got a Samson. This is great for greens. Not so great for soft fruit! We actually use both. My husband will juice the cukes & apples in the Champion while I'm juicing the greens in the Samson.

I know - who wants 2 juicers right?

I don't know if you're talking about John Kohler in your original post? He encourages us to contact him and tell him what we've got in mind, budget, how we juice and he'll recommend the best juicer for your needs. We ordered our Samson through him.

[Juicing Juli]

I love my Samson have had it for 10 years and works like new. I do everything in it including wheatgrass. I have had to replace the main screen, but that's about it. I only have experience with a Juiceman Jr. before that and it doesn't come close to the Samson.
I know technology is constantly changing, so maybe there's something else out there better than the Samson.
Your budget is probably a consideration too, right?

[michigan roman]

ive only owned two centrifugals , krupps and juice man . a commercial champion . and just bought an omega 8004 . but since going raw 6 years ago ive read on line 100's of hours about juicers / blenders ,
and checked them all out at stores . and watched 100s of videos on them at youtube . plus talked to 100s of raw foodists about them . so i dont have huge hands on experience but im up to date on the matter .
so i'll express my opinion :

- theres some high powered fast working centrifugal juicers from 160 to 260 , ive seen 100s love them . for me i like their speed but they tend to froth and lightly heat the juices . that said ive never owned the real big power ones like i'll later link to , they may froth less . but whats too frothy to me is fine to others . but i like juicing soft stuff like tomato and pineapple and my lower powered juicers really frothed them up . so thats a question ide ask a person with a high powered centrifugal , do the high powereds froth less then lower powered ones ?

- next youve the single auger slow turning omega 8000 series and the sampson , theres others but more expensive then these 250 range ones . ive seen 10s of raw foodist like sampsons past 6 years , and it looks solid and may be just as solid as omega . but the omega 8000 series is loved by 100s on line from raw food forums to amazon reveiws by the 100s to juicing experts and videos on youtube . it goes slower then centrifugal so takes too much time for manny but for me it makes alot less froth - doesnt heat juice , thusly makes better tasting juice - and really squeezes the pulp dry . and im not leary of john kohler , i think hes legit and speaks his feelings as ive seen him trash a few items . and his personal juicer hes used for years is the 8004 i bought

- next step is twin gear greenstar which gets up to 500 ands supposed to be best but we arent talking that price . though i saw kohler do a test between 8004 and green star and 8004 made more juice . though ide believe the greenstar has bigger badder motor and would last longer . that said omega has big rep for lasting

- theres one more option and its manual for 100 . its the z star made by highly respected makers of greenstar . its hand cranked but has a single auger grinder like the omega / sampson which ive seen in videos work very well . it makes very dry pulp just like my new omega 8004 . kohler loved it but said if you juice alot he'd get electric . plus it has to be clamped to something or it moves around making juicing clumsy . but i almost bought it because liked it in video and if my omega doesnt work out im buying it

- next angle is i bought a champion juicer on line from out of state and when i was unhappy with champion they wouldnt accept refund so i was stuck with that . so big RED LIGHT there . it caused me to buy my next juicer from bedbath beyond because i know i can return it to store easily , that was a HUGE factor in this purchase . though i was buying omega 8004 regardless as im sold on it , even before attaining . and bbb shipped my new juicer very well protected in cushioned shipping box with a free return label via UPS shipping . a quite civil experience and ive returned stuff before to bbb so theyve become my suggested juicer sellers .

- in ensuing post i'll link my top juicers which i considered / mentioned

[michigan roman]

the omega 8004 which i just bought and really like . though ive only used like 5 times : http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17740806&RN=693&


PS - I FORGOT TO MENTION THE BEDBATHBEYOND 20% OFF COUPON WHICH MAKES ALL JUICERS / BLENDERS THEY SELL CHEAPEST PRICE IVE SEEN , EVEN BEATS ALL AMAZON PRICES

[michigan roman]

heres an omega centrifugal , i picked up the 150 and 200 dollar brevilles which are highly highly respected and i'll link to next because ive read 100's love them , and two other omega centrifugals and this weighed way more saying to me stronger / heavier motor . but this 200 omega without seeing the 240 dollar big bad breville centrifugal is my fave cetrifugal : http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=100217&RN=693&

[michigan roman]

heres big breville of which i speak , HIGHLY loved by 100s : http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=13596441&RN=693&

[michigan roman]

A CHEAPER THOUGH VERY WELL LIKED BREVILLE . though its my opinion by its weight ,compared to the omega centifugal i posted above, that its motor less powerful and would bog down alot more : http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=13687110&RN=693&

[michigan roman]

mid range priced breville : http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=14770267&RN=693&

these brevilles ive seen in stores and are well designed / built . i just wont buy a centrifugal for previously stated reasons

[michigan roman]

heres a biggy i forgot the new omega vert . kohler really likes it , so do others . but i took it apart over about 3 visits to bbb and completely looked at every part , they hate me there :D ,
and i wont rate it high because it has too many moving parts in the screen / grating area . and a few of the parts look like they wont last long . and the concept of the rubbery paddles cleaning the grinding blade dont work for me , i also see the rubber paddles wearing out quickly . but here it is just in order to have expressed my opinion on it as youve no doubt sen it : http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17893181&RN=693&

[michigan roman]

and heres the zstar at amazon . notice the liked reveiws : http://www.amazon.com/Z-Star-Manual-Portable-Wheatgrass-Juicer/dp/B0007W04AW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328829560&sr=8-1

[michigan roman]

concerning both my omega links i suggest those EXACT models as theres variance in most their machines and it matters

[tiggerbounce]

michigan roman....you are the MAN!!!!
:)

thanks for all that great info!

[michigan roman]

update on my omega 8004 : just juiced apples and tomatoes . both these soft items come out more as sauce then as juice . i guess greens and hard items come out as juice from what ive seen on videos . but these soft items are like sauce which has to be strained . itd make great salsa or apple sauce , itd be perfect . but its not a clean juice . though pulp comes out totally dry . also the spout is low to the table so the juice catching container cant be too tall and thusly doesnt hold much juice and has to be emptied every few minutes . so i cant say this machines perfect or that i really think its great . its solid / powerful / heavy duty but its making sauce out of these soft things not juice . thats what kohler said too , that its great for greens and hard stuff but not the best for soft . and now i concur

[michigan roman]

i forgot add about champion i didnt like it because it spins too fast and froths juice . most powerful juicer motor going , its like a huge wash machine motor . but the head design isnt right imo .
though ive seen 1000s love it . to me itd last longer than any juicer ive seen , like 50 years i bet because the motors huge . but not good on soft stuff imo , or greens

[mulchie]

Wow. I came to the right place! We're still mulling it over. Lots to mull. Thanks so much. I'll check back and see if anyone else weighs in.
Looking forward to returning to juice land some time soon.

[DebB]

I love my Samson have had it for 10 years and works like new. I do everything in it including wheatgrass. I have had to replace the main screen, but that's about it. I only have experience with a Juiceman Jr. before that and it doesn't come close to the Samson.
I know technology is constantly changing, so maybe there's something else out there better than the Samson.
Your budget is probably a consideration too, right?

I'm so glad to hear that your Samsom is over 10 years old and you're still in love with it! We got ours 2011 and wow - we really love it. We got the cold press oil attachment too. While we're no longer making or eating the flax oil, we did when we first got it and it's so neat!

[Raw Angel Mom]

I find that juice.com has a lot of video on many type of juicer and it cans be educative.

What do you value? What do you need?

Do you want a juicer for general purpose? or a juicer that specialize in greens? Or a juicer that specialize in fruits or a Juicer that don't do oxidation.

Do you value TIME, MONEY, Dry Pulp or SPACE???

If you need something not too expensive, any juicer will do until you can get a decent one. Save money every week and then buy a good one.

If you value no oxidation and dry pulp. Twin gears super greens is the juicer to go. Excellent for wheat grass or any leafy greens. Works well with vegetable or firm fruits such firm apple. It doesn't work well with soft fruits such tomato, pears. It is big and heavy and as for clean up, it is fairly easy if you know how. IT does ice cream and nut butter or smooth pate or nut cheese

If you value time either a BRAVO (centrifuge) or an OMEGA 8000 series (only because it is very fast to clean).

Bravo, juice will oxidize. Omega, you don't have the dry pulp as the twin gear but it cans do everything and it is so fast to clean. It does take a little bit of space on your counter. You can make nut butter

Good juicer for Fruits : Omega VRT series or equivalent. Doesn't take room, can do fairly everything (no nut butter as the 8000), easy to take to travel. Amazing for fruits, not that great with greens and wheat grass even it cans do that. Clean up time is the same as the twin gear.

Champion: Is fast but your juice will oxidize. Heavy, takes room and juice eat up. Great for banana icecream.

As you can see, it depends of your need.

When i make a green juice, i will use the twin gear. If i want to add a soft fruits, i use the omega vrt in combination.

If i am in a hurry, i will use the omega 8000 series.

If i want a nut butter, either omega 8000 or twin gears do the trick. Since, 8000 is faster to clean, i will take that one.

All the best

[rawgirl00]

I have an omega 8500 and really like it. I juice everything including wheat grass and make almond butter with it :woohoo:

[kstew82]

I just bought a Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite Juicer 800-JEXL. Seriously it's incredible. I'm a chronic dieter but my sister kept pushing me into juicing. I actually really like it and I've done it at least once a day. It was $300 which is a little pricey but from what I've read it juices really fast, being my first juicer I have nothing to compare it to. BUT my Dad's also trying out a less expensive one and he hasn't complained yet. He got a Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor.

Kristy Stewart
http://www.juicingforward.com

[mulchie]

Ordering the Omega vrt 350 through discountj.com I would have liked to be able to ask some questions by phone, but that's not an option. We'll see how it goes. Seems the best choice for us for mostly veggies and a bit of fruit. Missed the juice the last few weeks!

[DebB]

Ordering the Omega vrt 350 through discountj.com I would have liked to be able to ask some questions by phone, but that's not an option. We'll see how it goes. Seems the best choice for us for mostly veggies and a bit of fruit. Missed the juice the last few weeks!

Congratulations mulchie! Have a great time juicing when it arrives!

One of my favorite juices is 4-5 oranges and 1 red grapefruit. Mmmm :)

[Mary Kay]

I have an Omega VRT 350, a Samson, a Jack LaLanne and a manual stainless steel wheatgrass juicer. I would not go manual--it's too time consuming. But they're great if you're ever camping, the power goes out etc.

Whatever you do now, like, maybe you only want to juice cukes, apples and carrots but very little greens....just remember, that you may not always want to juice this way. For those types of things = at just over $100, the Jack LaLanne is awesome. But it wastes greens and cannot do wheatgrass.

And don't get me started on the Omega VRT---It is quick...really quick. it self feeds when you put in carrots or cukes. It self feeds when you put in greens, and it self feeds when you put in wheatgrass.....BUT and this is a big B U T....it is constantly getting clogged in the pulp ejection port whenever anything is stringy, like wheatgrass, celery, parsley stems etc. P L U G G E D. I even went so far as to take a dremel and grind out the pulp ejection port and make it a little larger. It only helped slightly. What they need to do is to make the hole "taller"...it's a narrow little slit.

So, IMO, slow and steady wins the race. The Samson is the best bang for the buck. You have to push down on celery as you're juicing, and you have to push down on carrots. The wheatgrass self feeds......

I actually am a so-called" dealer," and the way I became one was by finding seven people who also wanted Samson's and we got them at wholesale, which was something like $ 160 or $170 . I charged everyone $5 extra bucks, and so I figured I got mine for around $130. You could do this if you have the gumption. Or you could buy one from me, and I'd like to make $10 on the transaction. I can't imagine that you'd want to deal with me, not knowing me though. I'm just a regular person, but we do own a farm and I've thought about trying to sell them there, but don't have the gumption/time myself!

I'd say go with the Samson. Again, best bang for the buck.

If you do get that Omega VRT, definitely try out stringy things like wheatgrass and celery. I even cut them into 1 inch pieces and at first it does great, but then you'll see the juice start coming out pulpy and you'll see the pulp stop coming out. This is because it gets blocked. Try this out right away, so that you can send it back and get your money back.

I also got the flax oil attachment for the Samson, but only used it a couple times. And it does work, but mine got plugged because I tried mixing in other seeds besides flax....sigh....

DebB, just wondering why you've stopped making flax oil. And just wanted to wave "hi."

Mary Kay

[DebB]

DebB, just wondering why you've stopped making flax oil. And just wanted to wave "hi."

Mary Kay

A big "Hi" back to you as well, Mary Kay! About the flax oil - we really cut down the amount of oil we are consuming, which is why we're no longer making and taking our own flax oil. That's it in a nutshell. We stick to a very small amount of added oil for a recipe and use mainly avocado (whole food) as a fat source.

[Mary Kay]

I'm sorry to hijack this thread!!!....but why did you cut back on fat so much, DebB? Were you tested before/after, and how are you reacting? Just curious.

Mary Kay

[DebB]

Hi Mary Kay ~ I sent you an email :)

[mulchie]

Well, Omega vrt coming and I'm going to cut up the stringy stuff quite small. We shall see. I do understand that can be a pain. But it uses very little electric, which is great, and though I don't like the idea of all the chopping, I think the quiet function and the high yield will balance that out. Believe me, we'll be trying it right away. We have been away from juicing for 3 weeks and I really miss it! I never woulda thunkit!

[mandela10]

The Omega vert as Michigan has pointed out do have a lot of moving parts and it produces great juices though, better than a lot of other juicers. Just wanted to point that out

[blackjuice]

I have a Breville 800 centrifugal juicer. If you don't mind spending more time prepping fruits and veges and want to maximize the yield, I would recommend the Omega VRT350HD Masticating juicer. You should also compare both juicers to make sure they can juice the fruits and veges you prefer.

[delmar]

I still don't see why people spend a lot of money on juicers. I chop up my veggies in a $30 food processor and built a Juice-Press. (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?67284-My-19.78-2.49-two-ton-Juice-Press!) I linked to the one that Kias built instead of mine because I think his design is a little nicer.

[Raw Angel Mom]

The thing with omega vrt, it is only for fruits pretty much. You need to cut thinly the greens with fiber such parsley and wheat grass. Omega 8000 series is better and more versatile. With the new attachment, they pulp are reasonably dry. If you want super dry pulp then the green star is the way to go. It tend to use my omega 8000 ( i don't remember the number exactly) more then the green star now, only because i don't have much time in the morning and it is faster. I do like the green star but it is big and space in my kitchen is very limited. I use it more on weekend.

All the best!