smaller batch ferment faster?

would a 1 gallon batch of cider ferment faster than a 5 gallon batch of cider?

It might if you use a full packet of yeast. Other than that, I'm not sure if it would ferment faster.

As long as the original gravities are the same, along with temperature and yeast pitching rate, I see no reason why a 1 gallon batch would ferment any faster than a 5 gallon. However, if you pitch the same amount of yeast that would go in a 5 gallon batch into your 1 gallon, I would think it would finish faster;this is based on the idea that there are more yeast doing the same amount of available work. If not, I would think that if the size of the batch being fermented (all other things constant), played a role in how long the fermentation would take then it would take years for Budweiser to ferment their multi-thousand gallon batches of beer! Anyway, hope this helps, cheers!

I find that gallon batches finish a couple of days faster than carboys. I'm not sure why this is, but its pretty reliable.

Simply by starting with 5 times the yeast concentration, the growth phase will be much shorter. Fermentation starts sooner and finishes faster.

I've pitched beer on a yeast cake and had fermentation start within 30 minutes.

Yes it's the same reason that a bomber of beer take longer than a 12 ouncer to carb and condition. Or why a "satellite" that some folks use to take hydro readings is a bad idea...it will tell you WHAT the beer ferments at, but it will be finished much faster than the 5 gallon fermenter, so it's a sucky reference.

It certainly starts faster doing a 1 gal, but I dont notice a difference in total ferm time. Each batch varies by a couple days anyway...