Cider making for idiots / beginners

[chivelegs]

Morning All.

I was talking to a few other allotment owners the other day and discussion turned to making cider communally from all the different varieties people have spare. We have a bit of cash left over from fundraising and want to buy a cider press between us.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a set-up and basic rules for varieties that would make a decent basic cider? Bear in mind none of us have tried this before, but I have access to all the essentials for beer-making (hydrometer, fermenters, sanitisers, cappers etc.)

what sort of budget would we be looking at?

Many thanks

T

[kinnockthecat]

There are plans on the net on how to make simple press using a hydraulic bottle jack, I built one but didn't use it, cuz given a proper one.

We washed the apples in water with some crushed campdrn tablets, then quartered the apples puy them thru a scratter, loaded into muslin bags n pressed.

We used wild yeast for fermentation n had good results!

[steambrew]

Try Vigo a good firm in the cider industry they do a good basket press (Vigo are in honiton ) good luck

[kinnockthecat]

Try Vigo a good firm in the cider industry they do a good basket press (Vigo are in honiton ) good luck

Mine is a vigo press and the scratter too, however the are expensive

[chivelegs]

Probably will go for the Vigo gear as there seems to be a consensus here. I've spotted a few crab apples around the place, would these go well and what sort of mix are you looking for as regards apples?

[jmc]

Recommend you get a copy of this (short) book

Its aimed at starters like you and has sections of all the questions you've asked

Real Cider Making on a Small Scale


I have a small press and have just made a scratter so I re-read it recently.
Very useful.

[Pinto]

I have a homemade bottle jack press and use a well cleaned and sanitised garden shredder to scrat my apples Sadly, Its going to be a light season for me as the old gent who supplied me with a lot of my apples passed away earlier in the year and the new owners arent so friendly

[chivelegs]

Nice idea, but there's no electrics to run the shredder off. Homemade?....sounds up my alley. Any photos?