Category Archives: Orchard

Siamese twin apple

Posted on October 11, 2026 by james

Found in some of the apples that have been brought in for me to press this week.

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High protein apple juice?

Posted on October 10, 2026 by james

It seems as though high protein foods are the height of dietary fashion at the moment, regardless of the fact that our western diet means that most people probably eat more protein than they need anyhow. I think I can … Continue reading →

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It’s all in the press

Posted on October 10, 2026 by james

There have been plenty of apples go through the crusher in the last week or so. If I’m honest it’s been bloody hard work. Last year I could easily manage two hundred bottles a day and if I pushed myself … Continue reading →

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Speidel hydropress bladder replacement

Posted on September 30, 2026 by james

At least, for the older forty litre model. In spite of other plans, today mostly turned into a day of fixing things. The most complex one was replacement of the failed neoprene bladder in said Speidel forty litre hydropress which … Continue reading →

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Putting one over on the squirrels

Posted on July 6, 2026 by james

Today it occurred to me that I could get my own back on the squirrels who have had pretty much every walnut that has ever appeared on my tree by picking them early and pickling them, as I believe they … Continue reading →

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Wow! Pink apple juice!

Posted on January 16, 2026 by james

Someone brought in a large-ish batch of apples of mixed varieties to be pressed. By sheer chance, the first batch I did produced juice of an amazing pink colour. It was sheer chance that I noticed — if it hadn’t … Continue reading →

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It seems pears don’t stick

Posted on January 16, 2026 by james

to the inside of the press cloth like apples do 😀 I had another test of the settling “tank” with the pear juice too. This is the sediment from about forty litres of juice… And the pear juice, with apple … Continue reading →

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There will be quincequonces…

Posted on January 16, 2026 by james

… if I don’t use these soon. But for what, hmmm?

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Testing apple juice settling tank

Posted on January 16, 2026 by james

To reduce the amount of sediment in bottles of apple juice I have been testing an extra step in the process — leaving the juice in a barrel or tank for twenty-four hours prior to syphoning off the juice and … Continue reading →

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Apple juice with a bit of bite

Posted on January 13, 2026 by james

Or sting, more accurately. This is the end of one of the syphons in a bottle filler. It’s not uncommon for people to start them off by sucking juice through the syphon via this hole. Note to self: check the … Continue reading →

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