How to make cider with a manual press for grape wine?

[hereistay]

Hi there!
I'm from Italy and I have a press that we use to make grape wine.
It is a big one, I think 150kg.
I will also use a manual crusher before pressing.
According to you can I use it to make cider?
Someone suggested me to use a fabric filter inside the wooden "walls" to retain the pulp and to use some mats to distribute strength better. What's your suggestions?
If I use it just like for grapes without a filter and without mats?Will it work?
A second possibility is to use a simple household electric fruit extractor...would it work the same?
Thank you very much !

 

[madscientist451]

I use a similar wine press when making cider and I do use a bag to keep the pulp from squirting out between the slats.
I've never seen those fiber mats, where did you find them?
The grape crusher/de-stemmer pictured won't work for apples, you need something like an electric wood chipper to chop up the apples.
There are lots of home made apple crusher videos on you tube, check that out.
I've used my Breville juicer with apples and I wasn't satisfied with the result.
Too much solids in the juice, a foam that won't dissipate and it takes too long.

 

[hereistay]

Hi madscientist!
Those mats are used here to make cold pressed virgin olive oil.
What kind of bag do you use?
I watched some yt videos and they use a sort of tablecloth .
I'm able to find bags only for little basket presses.
About the manual crusher, if I cut the apples in slices wouldn't it work?

 

[madscientist451]

My local wine making.brewing shop sells bags something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008EKZ82I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Slicing the apples probably won't work, plus it would take a long time.
The most simple way is to use a wooden post and a bucket:

 

[Silver79]

You will need to somehow crush the apples. As others have posted, YouTube is your friend. I've made a couple of scratter types but a very simple way would be bucket and post or paint mixer and drill. Or put them in a plastic bag ( garbage pail sized and sealed) between two boards and drive over them with a vehicle. That last one is just theory.

 

[hereistay]

So, according to you cut apples in pieces and crush them in a tool like this won't work?
I watched some yt videos and they use something very similar!

 

[Silver79]

So, according to you cut apples in pieces and crush them in a tool like this won't work?
I watched some yt videos and they use something very similar! View attachment 571321

I would totally use that!

 

[JB_Brewing2]

We made 10 gallons of cider last fall with the equipment such as you have pictured. We did line the press with a mesh bag that was provided by a neighbor. The bag was a white fabric mesh material. Good luck!

 

[hereistay]

Ok!
So the problem now is to find a fabric linen big enough to use with my basket press ..

 

[Silver79]

Ok!
So the problem now is to find a fabric linen big enough to use with my basket press ..

I have used a mesh laundry bag in the past available in larger sizes. Might check a store who would sell such a bag.