What Is Cold Pressed Juice?

Welcome to the ultimate guide to cold pressed juice.

If you’re new to juicing, or simply curious about what makes cold pressed juice special, you’ve come to the right place.

What is cold pressed juice?

Cold pressed juice is juice made by grinding fruits or vegetables and then pressing the pulp under high pressure, instead of spinning it in a centrifugal juicer. It is often marketed as more nutritious, but a 2019 study found no significant difference in vitamin C, phenolics, carotenoids or antioxidant capacity between cold pressed and centrifugal juice. Like any juice it has little fiber and can be high in sugar, and juice that has not been pasteurized or otherwise treated can carry harmful bacteria.

This comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know about cold pressed juice.

What Is Cold Pressed Juice? (Longer Explanation)

Cold pressed juice is a type of juice that is extracted using a hydraulic press, as opposed to traditional centrifugal juicers.

The term “cold pressed” refers to the method of extraction. The produce is chopped or ground, then the juice is slowly squeezed out of the pulp under pressure.

Cold pressed juice is often marketed as a healthier alternative to other juices, but the evidence for that is thin.

Makers of press equipment say pressed juice separates and browns more slowly than juice from a centrifugal juicer. Any fresh, untreated juice is still perishable and has to stay refrigerated.

They are popular with health-conscious shoppers, although a 2019 study in the journal Heliyon comparing a cold pressed juicer with a centrifugal juicer found no significant differences in vitamin C, total phenolics, total carotenoids or antioxidant capacity.

Many are sold with no added sugar, but the label is the only way to be sure. Juice with no added sugar still contains natural fruit sugar.

The Cold Pressing Process

The cold pressing process starts with fresh fruits and vegetables that are ground into a pulp.

This pulp is then subjected to extreme pressure through a hydraulic press.

The pressing action separates the juice from the pulp, creating a liquid that is rich in nutrients and flavor.

Makers of press equipment say this limits heat and exposure to air.

Because the pulp is pressed inside a bag or cloth, the finished juice usually contains very little pulp.

Here is a good video about how cold pressed juice is made:

Types of Cold Pressed Juices

Cold pressed juices come in a wide variety of flavors and combinations, each with a different mix of nutrients.

Below are some of the most popular types of cold pressed juices.

Single-Ingredient Fruit Juices

These are the simplest form of cold pressed juice, featuring a single fruit like orange, apple, or grapefruit.

They’re a good introduction to cold-pressed juicing.

Why? Because they offer straightforward flavors and a nutrient profile similar to the whole fruit, minus the fiber.

One caution: the FDA warns that grapefruit juice can change how some medicines work. Anyone taking prescription medicine should check with a doctor or pharmacist before drinking it.

Single-Ingredient Vegetable Juices

Like their fruit counterparts, these juices feature one primary vegetable, such as carrot, beet, or celery.

They are often consumed for their concentrated nutritional value.

Many people prefer them for their generally lower sugar content compared to fruit juices.

Green Juices

These are blends that typically feature a mix of green vegetables like kale, spinach, and cucumber, sometimes with a touch of green apple or lemon for flavor.

These juices carry most of the vitamins and minerals of the vegetables they are made from, but very little of the fiber.

Root Vegetable Blends

Root vegetable juices combine ingredients like beets, carrots, and ginger for a hearty, earthy flavor profile.

These juices are often high in vitamins like A and C.

As you might imagine, they can provide a good dose of antioxidants.

Citrus Blends

These juices are a mixture of various citrus fruits like orange, lemon, grapefruit, and lime.

They are often high in vitamin C.

Tropical Mixes

Featuring fruits like pineapple, mango, and coconut water, tropical mixes offer a sweet, refreshing flavor profile.

Coconut water contains electrolytes such as potassium.

Spice-Infused Juices

These juices incorporate spices like turmeric, ginger, or cayenne pepper, mostly for flavor and heat.

Health claims made for these spices in juice are not well established.

Herbal Juices

These feature herbs like mint, basil, or parsley, often blended with fruits and vegetables for a more complex flavor profile.

Nut and Seed Milks

While not strictly juices, cold-pressed nut and seed milks like almond, cashew, and hemp are often found alongside traditional cold-pressed juices.

These offer a dairy-free alternative to milk and can be consumed on their own.

Or, you can use them in smoothies and other recipes.

Specialized Health Blends

Some cold-pressed juices are marketed for goals such as “detox”, energy or digestion, and may include ingredients like activated charcoal or spirulina. Treat these as marketing claims. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health found no compelling research to support detox diets for eliminating toxins from the body, and activated charcoal can interfere with medicines.

Nutritional Benefits

One of the major selling points of cold pressed juice is its high nutrient content.

Juice contains most of the vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals of the produce it is made from. Whether cold pressing keeps more of them than other juicing methods has not been established.

Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants, and juice keeps most of their vitamins and plant chemicals.

They can provide a quick and convenient way to increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables.

However, it’s worth noting that cold pressed juices are generally low in fiber since the pulp is removed during the juicing process.

Juice is also a concentrated source of sugar. Harvard’s Nutrition Source notes that 100% fruit juice has just as much sugar and as many calories as soft drinks, and suggests limiting it to one small glass a day.

Popular Uses of Cold Pressed Juice

Cold pressed juices are incredibly versatile and can be used in a number of ways.

They’re perfect for quick, on-the-go nutrition, especially for those with busy lifestyles. Many people also use them as a natural supplement to boost their daily intake of vitamins and minerals.

In addition to individual consumption, cold pressed juices are often incorporated into detox and cleanse programs.

These programs usually last a few days and involve drinking only juice.

There is no compelling research showing that juice cleanses or detox diets remove toxins or help with lasting weight loss. Early weight loss comes from eating fewer calories and tends to return once normal eating resumes. Cleanses are a poor fit for people with diabetes, who should follow the eating plan from their health care team, and unpasteurized juices used in cleanses can make people sick.

How to Choose Quality Cold Pressed Juice

When shopping for cold pressed juice, there are a few key factors to consider.

Firstly, look for juices that are made from organic produce to minimize pesticide exposure. Check the ingredients list to ensure there are no added sugars or preservatives.

The packaging is also important. Cold pressed juices should be stored in airtight containers to minimize oxidation.

Many bottled brands treat their juice with High Pressure Processing (HPP), which uses very high pressure instead of heat to inactivate harmful bacteria and extend shelf life. The juice still has to be kept refrigerated. Juice that has not been pasteurized or treated this way is raw juice and carries a food safety risk.

Keep the juice refrigerated and go by the date on the bottle. Fresh juice that has not been treated should be drunk right away.

Is Cold-Pressed Juice Safe?

Cold pressed does not mean pasteurized. Raw, untreated juice can carry harmful bacteria. The FDA warns that children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems risk serious illness from untreated juice and should choose juice that has been pasteurized or otherwise treated.

In the US, packaged juice that has not been treated must carry a warning label saying it has not been pasteurized and may contain harmful bacteria. Juice sold by the glass, for example at juice bars and farmers’ markets, does not have to carry that label, so ask whether it has been pasteurized or treated.

What Is the Difference Between Cold-Pressed Juice and Normal Juice?

The primary difference between cold-pressed juice and normal juice lies in the method of extraction.

You make cold-pressed juice through what’s called a hydraulic pressing process.

This process applies extreme pressure to pull juice from fruits and vegetables, minimizing heat and oxidation.

Pressing is often said to preserve more nutrients, but the 2019 study found no significant difference in vitamin C, phenolics, carotenoids or antioxidant capacity between cold pressed and centrifugal juice.

Normal juice, often made with centrifugal juicers, uses fast-spinning blades to cut the produce and separate the juice from the pulp.

Makers of press equipment say spinning adds heat and air to the juice and that it separates and browns sooner. For store-bought juice, the bigger practical difference is how the juice is made safe. Most regular bottled juice is heat pasteurized, many cold-pressed brands use HPP instead, and some fresh juice is not treated at all.

What Is the Downside of Cold-Pressed Juice?

While cold-pressed juice has many advantages, it’s not without its downsides.

One of the main drawbacks is the cost. Cold-pressed juices are generally more expensive than their centrifugally-juiced counterparts due to the specialized equipment and longer production process.

For those on a budget, this could be a significant factor.

Another downside is the lack of fiber.

The hydraulic pressing process removes most of the pulp, which is where much of the fiber resides.

Fiber is essential for digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar levels.

If you’re using cold-pressed juice as a meal replacement, you might be missing out on this important nutrient.

Additionally, because the juices are so concentrated, they can also be high in sugar and calories, which is something to be mindful of if you’re watching your intake.

Untreated juice also carries a food safety risk, covered above.

Is Cold-Pressed Juice Really Better?

Not clearly. The 2019 study that compared cold pressed and centrifugal juice found no significant nutritional difference, and Mayo Clinic notes that juicing is no healthier than eating whole fruits and vegetables.

They also offer a wider variety of flavors and combinations.

However, the higher cost and lack of fiber make it a less-than-perfect option for some people.

It’s also worth noting that while cold-pressed juices are a convenient way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet, they should not be used as a replacement for whole foods.

Whole fruits and vegetables offer a range of benefits, including fiber and other nutrients, that you won’t get from juice alone.

Where Can You Get Cold-Pressed Juice?

Cold-pressed juices have gained considerable popularity, making them widely available across various outlets.

Supermarkets and Grocery Stores

Many grocery stores now carry a selection of cold-pressed juices, especially those that focus on organic or natural foods.

You’ll typically find these juices in the refrigerated section, separate from the traditionally processed juices.

Brands such as Suja and Pressed Juicery sell bottled cold-pressed juice.

Specialty Health Food Stores

Stores that specialize in organic and natural products usually have an extensive range of cold-pressed juices.

These outlets often offer juices from smaller, local producers that you might not find in larger grocery chains.

Staff can usually say how a juice was made and whether it has been pasteurized or HPP treated.

Online Retailers

Many cold-pressed juice companies offer their products online, either through their own websites or via larger e-commerce platforms like Amazon.

This can be a convenient option if you already know what you like and want to purchase in bulk.

However, keep in mind that shipping costs can be high due to the need for refrigeration during transit.

Juice Bars and Cafés

Many cities have juice bars or cafés that specialize in freshly made juices, including cold-pressed options.

These venues offer the added advantage of customization; you can often create your own juice blend from a selection of fruits, vegetables, and add-ins like ginger or turmeric.

Farmers’ Markets

Some local farmers and small-scale producers offer cold-pressed juices at farmers’ markets.

These are often made from locally sourced, seasonal produce, giving you a fresh and unique flavor profile you might not find in commercial products.

How to Make Cold-Pressed Juice at Home: Step-by-Step Instructions

Making cold-pressed juice at home is a relatively straightforward process, especially if you have the right equipment.

A true cold press grinds the produce and then presses it in a bag. Many home machines sold as “cold press” juicers are slow masticating juicers, which push produce against a screen with a slowly turning screw. They make juice in a similar slow, low-heat way but are not presses.

The choice depends on how often you plan to make juice and what your budget allows.

Here is how to make cold pressed juice at home:

1. Select Your Produce — The first step is to choose the fruits and vegetables you want to juice. Make sure they are fresh and, ideally, organic to reduce exposure to pesticides. Wash them thoroughly under running water before cutting, and scrub firm produce with a clean brush. Washing lowers the risk but does not make raw juice safe for people in high-risk groups.
2. Preparation — Cut your produce into manageable pieces that will fit into your juicer. Remove any hard seeds, pits, or inedible peels.
3. Grinding — Some hydraulic press models have a built-in grinding function. If yours doesn’t, you’ll need to use a separate grinder or blender to turn the fruits and vegetables into a fine pulp. This makes it easier for the press to extract the juice.
4. Load the Press — Place a clean bag or cloth in the press chamber, then fill it with your prepared pulp. Make sure not to overfill, as this can cause the bag to burst during pressing.
5. Pressing — Turn on the hydraulic press or use the manual lever to apply pressure. This will separate the juice from the pulp. The juice will collect in a container below the press.
6. Collect the Juice — Once the press is done, you can pour the collected juice into a jug or glass bottles for storage. Some people like to run the juice through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining pulp, but this is optional.
7. Storage — Store your freshly made cold-pressed juice in an airtight container in the fridge. Homemade juice is not pasteurized, and Mayo Clinic warns that harmful bacteria can grow quickly in freshly made juice. Make only as much as will be drunk right away.

Homemade raw juice is not recommended for children, pregnant women, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system.

Final Thoughts: What Is Cold Pressed Juice?

Cold-pressed juice can be an enjoyable way to drink fruits and vegetables, but it is no healthier than eating them whole. Check whether a juice has been treated, keep it cold, and keep portions small.

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Sources

FDA (juice safety)
FDA (grapefruit juice and medicines)
Mayo Clinic (juicing)
NCCIH (detoxes and cleanses)
Harvard Nutrition Source (sugary drinks)
Khaksar and others, Heliyon, 2019 (cold pressed and centrifugal juice compared)

Reviewed October 2026. We corrected the claim that cold pressed juice has more nutrients using a 2019 study in Heliyon and Mayo Clinic guidance, removed unsupported detox and health claims, and added FDA food safety advice on untreated juice and Harvard guidance on sugar.