KuKoo Fruit Press

• Wash the fruit thoroughly, removing any rotten, moldy, or bruised parts.
• For hard fruits, crush them into a pulp to maximize juice extraction.
• Soft fruits should be cut or crushed depending on their size, while small soft fruits may only need to be halved or left whole. Remove stones from fruits like cherries or peaches.

Ensure the press is placed on a sturdy surface that can support its weight and the fruit. Line the inside of the press basket with a straining bag to filter seeds and prevent fruit from escaping.

Position a bucket or container under the spout to catch the juice.

Line the pressing basket with the straining bag and place the basket onto the base of the press.

Fill the press with your fruit ready for pressing and fold the top of the straining bag around the fruit.

• Make sure the top of the fruit is level and place the circular pressing plate on top of the fruit.
• Put a bucket or container under the spout on the base of the press to catch the juice.

• Then place the two wooden blocks on top of the circular pressing plate either side of the spindle.
• If you are not using the press with a basket full of fruit then you should add more wooden blocks, this will initially increase the height of the press but it will decrease as the fruit and pressure plates are pushed down into the basket.

Screw the top pressure plate on to the spindle until it sits on top of the wooden blocks.

• The ratchet can then be screwed onto the spindle to push onto the top pressure plate.
• The handle will not be able to screw down past the top of the pressing basket so more wooden blocks may need to be added during pressing.
• The extra wooden blocks will hold the ratchet above the top of the basket and still allow you to press further down and get the maximum juice out of your fruit.

• Now attach the handle to the ratchet and begin turning it to press the fruit and produce juice.
• Turn the ratchet a little bit at a time; you don’t want to press the fruit all the way down straight away.
• Allow the press to squash the fruit bit by bit until you reach friction and the ratchet can’t be turned any further. When you reach friction you can just allow the press time to squash all the fruit and get the maximum amount of juice from your fruit.

The remaining fruit pomace that remains in the basket can be used for home brewing, baking or compost.

Please read through the guide below if you have any problems using the device. The information covers and resolves the majority of frequently asked questions.

How do you press at less than full capacity?

If you don’t have enough fruit to fill the press you can still produce juice. Even with minimal fruit in the pressing basket you will be able to extract the juice. This simply works by using more wooden blocks between the circular pressing plate and the top pressure block.

Then press as you normally would by attaching the ratchet and the handle, if you find more blocks are needed as you press you can remove the ratchet and top pressure plate to add more blocks as you need them. Any clean and solid wooden blocks can be used.

How long will the juice last after pressing?

The juice will last about 2 - 4 days in the fridge or even longer in the freezer. If you want to use preservatives to stop the juice oxidising and going brown you can add some Campden, which will not affect the flavour.

What fruits can be pressed in the KuKoo Fruit Press?

This fruit press is suited to pressing both hard and soft fruits. Most hard fruits such as apples, pears and pineapples will need to be crushed to a pulp using a fruit crusher. You can pulp softer fruits such as peaches and plums however most soft fruits like grapes and berries, which can easily be squashed may be more suited to just pressing rather than crushing first.

How should the KuKoo Fruit Press be cleaned?

After each use or when changing fruits, the press and straining bag should be cleaned. Use water to wash away any excess fruit and juice then allow to dry naturally. Never use chemical cleaners on the press as this may contaminate your fruit pulp and damage the press.

Online cider and beer making forums are a great place to find tips and recipes for anyone new to home brewing. YouTube also provides helpful visual tutorials for using fruit presses and crushers.

If your problem persists please contact our Customer Support team via the details on the Contact page.