Home Cider Making Equipment Review (Updated | Apr 22nd)

If you have ever wanted to try your hand at fermentation without turning your kitchen into a science lab, this kit from Craft A Brew is a fantastic starting point. It is designed specifically for people who want to skip the heavy lifting of a traditional apple press and get straight to the fun part.

The kit includes a one-gallon glass carboy, an airlock, and a specific cider yeast that produces a crisp, dry, sparkling finish. What I really appreciate is the Guide to Cider Making; it is written in plain English and includes some clever recipe variations that keep things interesting after your first batch.

It is the perfect gift for a hobbyist because it is assembled by hand in the USA with sustainable materials. However, you need to keep in mind that this kit does not include juice, so you will need to source a gallon of high-quality, preservative-free apple juice from the store before you can actually start your brew day.

The MUST BEE kit feels like a more ‘complete’ package for the aspiring cider maker who wants a bit more control over the final flavor profile. While most basic kits just give you the bare essentials, this one throws in a spice melody and a temperature tape, which is a total game-changer for monitoring your fermentation health.

It comes with a siphon tube and clamp, making the bottling process much less of a sticky mess than pouring by hand. I’d recommend this for the beginner who is a bit of a perfectionist; the inclusion of yeast nutrients ensures your cider doesn’t end up with those weird ‘off’ flavors that sometimes plague first-time brews.

It is a fully reusable setup, so once you finish your first gallon, you just need more juice and yeast. The only real headache is the siphon tube assembly, which can be a bit finicky to get flowing properly if you have never used one before.

If you have ever wanted to turn a basic gallon of store-bought juice into something impressive, this MUST BEE Deluxe Kit is the perfect starting point. I love that it includes a Triple Scale Hydrometer, which is usually the first thing beginners forget to buy but absolutely need to track alcohol content.

You get a sturdy 1-gallon glass carboy and a specialized spice melody that adds a nice complexity you won’t get from just yeast alone. The standout for me is the Auto Siphon; it makes transferring your cider to bottles so much cleaner than the old-school manual gravity method.

It is the ideal weekend project for a foodie or a hobbyist who wants a low-stakes entry into homebrewing. However, you should know that the 1-gallon capacity goes fast—after you account for the sediment at the bottom, you are really only getting about eight or nine 12-ounce bottles, which feels like a small reward for a few weeks of waiting.

For those who want to get their hands dirty and press juice from scratch, this 3L Fruit Wine Press is a solid, heavy-duty little machine. It uses dual stainless steel barrels, which is a huge plus because it keeps the fruit contained while the outer shell catches the juice, preventing those sticky splashes all over your counter.

The ergonomic T-handle provides enough leverage that you don’t feel like you’re fighting the machine to get every last drop out of your pomace. It is built from food-grade aluminum alloy and stainless steel, so it feels much more professional than plastic alternatives.

This is perfect for someone with a small backyard tree who wants to make small-batch artisanal cider. The main catch is the 0.7-gallon basket size; it is definitely a ‘micro’ press.

If you have a whole bushel of apples to get through, you are going to be reloading this basket many times, which can get tedious.

If you’re curious about making your own drinks but feel intimidated by all the heavy glass carboys and chemistry, the Brewsy Starter Kit is honestly the perfect entry point. It’s designed for the absolute beginner who wants to turn a grocery store juice bottle into a sparkling cider without a massive time investment.

The coolest part is the speed; you’re looking at a 9-day fermentation cycle, which is unheard of in traditional brewing where you usually wait months. You get to control the precision sweetness, so if you hate those sugary commercial ciders, you can brew yours bone-dry.

It’s a great gift for someone who loves DIY projects but has a small kitchen. However, because it uses a fast-acting yeast strain, the flavor profile can sometimes lean a bit ‘bread-y’ or yeasty if you don’t let it settle properly in the fridge.

It’s a fun experiment that yields four bottles per batch, making it a low-risk way to start a new hobby.