Comparison Tefal Juice & Clean ZC 420 vs Hotpoint-Ariston SJ 15XL UP0

The volume of the built-in or freestanding juice tank (see Juice capacity). It is usually in the range from 0.2 to 2 liters. Doing more volumes, usually, does not make sense — freshly squeezed juice is considered the most useful, and it quickly loses its properties. Therefore, the best option is to prepare small portions of juice up to 1 liter, with the expectation that you can drink it right away. On the other hand, for the preparation of canned juices, a tank volume of 1.5 – 2 liters is usually quite enough.

The volume of the tank for the oil cake (pressed pulp) installed in the juicer.

While most models with a pulp tank come equipped with an automatic pulp ejection function (see "Functions"), there are some exceptions. Nevertheless, the size of the tank directly affects the duration for which the juicer can be used without having to empty the oil cake residue. However, an increase in capacity significantly impacts the device's dimensions, weight, and cost.

Modern juicers are designed with oil cake containers ranging from 200-500 mL in the most compact models to 3 liters or more in larger ones. The specific capacity is usually chosen by designers based on the unit's total power and performance. However, models with similar performance characteristics may differ in their oil cake container volume. When selecting a juicer, it's important to consider the intended use of the device. For occasional home use, a smaller container may suffice, but for a cafe or bar where freshly squeezed juices are prepared regularly, a larger capacity juicer may be the better option.

Juicer control panel design.

— Control knob. Mechanical control is carried out using rotary knobs and switches. Most parameters in such devices are set and controlled manually. In this case, the control elements are connected to the working parts of the juicer directly, without additional electronic circuits. This option is simple, reliable and low cost; True, it is only suitable for the most basic functions, but juicers usually do not require more than that.

– Push-button. Push-button control is based on electronic circuits. Such systems are more accurate than mechanical ones; more capabilities and modes are provided. On the other hand, such control is more complex and more expensive than mechanical control.

– Touch. A type of electronic control with touch switches. Compared to push-button models, it provides a high level of comfort in operation, and looks more modern and aesthetically pleasing. Touch control is found mainly in top models of juicers.

The number of speeds of the juicer. The optimal working speeds for different fruits are different: for example, soft fruits and vegetables need to be pressed at low speeds, solid ones (for example, carrots) — at maximum. In addition, the amount of pulp in the juice depends on the extraction speed: at high speeds it is more, at low speeds the juice is light.

The number of speeds provided by the design of the juicer can vary from 1 to 9. The more speeds, the easier it is to choose the optimal mode for each specific case.

The maximum rotation speed of the working tool is centrifuges in juicers, conical nozzles in citrus juicers. The higher the maximum speed, the more solid products can be processed in the device (this applies primarily to centrifugal juicers). At the same time, for soft products, a high rotation speed is not always suitable, as it leads to the ingress of an excessive amount of pulp into the juice. The perfect option is to have a speed control in the juicer (see Number of speeds).

The width of the opening for loading products into the centrifugal juicer. You should pay attention to this parameter if you plan to get juice from large fruits such as apples or pears — if the opening is less than 70 mm wide, the fruits will most likely have to be cut into pieces.

— Blender module. The blender module typically consists of a specialized container with a sharp rotating blade inside, which is placed on the juicer. This enables you to utilize the appliance for tasks such as chopping ingredients, pureeing, crushing ice, and so on.

— Coffee grinder module. A special attachment that allows you to use a juicer for grinding coffee. The grinding attachment typically consists of a container that is equipped with a grinder and is placed on top of the machine, so that the motor of the juicer powers the blades of the grinder.

— Automatic pulp ejection. In cases where a dedicated container is provided for the extracted pulp (as indicated by the "Volume of the pulp tank"), the process of discharging the pulp from the juicer separator at the end of the extraction can be automated. This means that the user is not required to manually clean the pulp separator and can simply dispose of the contents of the detachable container.

— Drop-stop system. In some juicers that feature a separate juice container, the spout or channel used for dispensing the juice may be designed to rotate. This allows the spout to be turned upwards, preventing any remaining drops of juice from dripping onto the table after the device has been used.

— Foam separator. Due to...the high speed of the juicers, foam often forms in the finished juice. In some models, the prepared juice tanks (both built-in and freestanding) can be equipped with devices for separating the foam from the juice.

— Soft start. There is a mode in which the motor of the juicer gradually gains speed upon being turned on, as opposed to a sudden jolt. This smooth acceleration helps prevent juice from splashing and also reduces wear and tear on the motor during operation.

— Adjustment of the amount of pulp. Certain types of citrus juicers come equipped with a feature that enables users to adjust the pulp content of the resulting juice. This is made possible through the use of a filter grate positioned beneath the conical nozzle, which allows for the size of the holes to be adjusted. The holes can be set to a small size to minimize the amount of pulp that enters the juice, or to a larger size for maximum pulp inclusion.

In centrifugal juicers, there is no adjustment of the amount of pulp as a separate option — it is carried out by changing the speed of rotation of the centrifuge.

— Pressing mechanism. Citrus juicers may feature a mechanical press designed to push the fruit against the conical nozzle. This eliminates the need for users to hold the fruit by hand and typically results in a more comfortable and efficient extraction process.

— Overheat protection. Juicer motor protection system that turns off the power when the load on the device increases critically and the motor overheats. Particularly useful if the device is to be used for the processing of solid products.

— Switch-on protection. Juicers often include a safety feature that prevents the device from turning on in abnormal conditions, such as when the lid is open. This protection is typically achieved by disabling the power button until the juicer is fully operational. This feature is particularly beneficial for households with young children.

The presence of the display increases the information content of the juicer control. The display can show data on the selected operating mode, centrifuge rotation speed, container fullness (for juice, oilcake), critical situations (engine overload, open lid), etc.

The body of a modern juicer is most often made of plastic or steel. Plastic juicers tend to weigh less and cost less; in turn, metal ones are more durable and look “more respectably”. The body material usually does not affect the functionality of the device.