A Beginner’s Guide: 5 Cidermaking Essentials Every Newbie Must Know

From Simone Grantt

If you are a cider-lover, you will surely want to try your hand at making hard cider this season. Cidermaking is an exciting idea because it lets you create a fresh organic drink, which you can enjoy without worrying about preservatives. The sulfite level will be low, and you also have a gluten-free beverage. Although everything about making hard cider on your own sounds incredible, it can be a daunting process for a beginner. 

You will have to go the extra mile with the quality of apples and invest in the right accessories to get started. However, you need not spend a fortune on equipment nor worry about a long process with complex steps. Let us share a simple 5-step list of essentials that every newbie can rely on to complete the process flawlessly right on your first try. 

Start by knowing your apples

A common belief about hard cider is that a particular variety of apples yields the best. But you need not confine yourself with the mindset, rather you can go ahead with any variant of apples you have. Cider is much like wine, and you have to consider tannins that give it the characteristic flavor. The tannin content is higher in the bittersweet varieties of the fruit, though it will only affect the nuances in the flavor. 

You will love the cider that comes from apples with lower levels of tannin because they have a unique taste. As long as your apples are suitable for eating, they will yield quality cider. Know your apples well, and you can have the right flavor expectations from the final product. 

Understand the juicing process 

Once you pluck your apples, you are all set for the juicing process. But you cannot juice them straightaway. You have to wash them thoroughly to ensure a pure and uncontaminated taste and aroma. After juicing the apple, separate the juice from the pulp. It is time to test the acidity and measure the amount of sugar. You can maximize the yield of the juice by repressing the remaining pulp. It gets you weaker juice, which you can add to the first batch.

 Juicing may require specialized equipment, though you can do it with a conventional juicer as a beginner. It will require extra work to sieve the lumps and pulp, but you may consider moving to proper equipment once you are sure that you want to try it again. The juice collected will have to be poured through a muslin cloth before starting with the fermentation process. 

Go ahead with fermentation and pasteurization 

Next is the real work when you have to ferment and pasteurize your cider. Remember that metals should not come into contact with the apple juice at this stage, so you must choose your equipment with care. You may consider food-grade stainless steel, but glass bubblers are the best option for fermentation. Glass devices protect the juice from bugs, bacteria, oxygen, and other contaminants, so you can expect perfect flavor once done. You can ferment it in your kitchen, provided you follow the right technique. Separate it from the pulp and pour it into the bubbler. Cover the top with cotton wool to allow carbon dioxide to escape.

Keep the juice undisturbed for four days, maintaining the temperature at 22ºC. At this stage, the sediment will settle at the bottom and you have to separate it with a strainer. Heat the clear juice in a stainless steel pot to a temperature of 71 – 72ºC and separate the foam that appears on the top. After fermentation is complete, you will have to pasteurize the cider before bottling. If you skip the step, the bottles may explode due to pressure build-up. The next step is to bottle and refrigerate the beverage, and it will be ready to use in a week. 

Pick the right containers for storage 

Once you are through with the fermentation and pasteurization stage, you will have to find perfect storage containers to preserve the beverage. While it may not sound like a big deal, this step is crucial because you will not want all the hard work to go waste, only because you did not pick the right container. If you are a cider lover, you will probably have a few containers you may clean and recycle for your homemade product.

It is a good idea because you have a perfect container in a suitable material, and there is no need to worry about the beverage going bad. Additionally, recycling enables you to save money as a first-time at-home cider producer. You can store and flaunt your home-made cider to friends as you invite them for a tasting session.

Ensure cleanliness at all stages 

The entire process of cleaning the apples, juicing them, fermenting, and pasteurizing will sound like a lot of work for a first-timer. But as you handle the tasks, you must go the extra mile with cleanliness. It is crucial if you want the drink to be good enough to share with friends and family. The initiative may take some time and effort, but it is worthwhile because it can make all the difference to the quality and integrity of cider.  

Cleanliness starts at stage one when you wash your apples. You must follow it, as a rule, checking the accessories and containers throughout the next stages as well. Pay attention to the glass bottles you want to use for storage. Sterilizing them is crucial if you want to be extra sure about the final outcome. Use soapy water to wash the bottles thoroughly and dry them in an oven heated to 140ºC. These steps ensure cleanliness, and you must follow them every time you prepare food or drink at home, whether it is jams, sauces, or cider. 

Making hard cider at home is easier than you imagine, provided that you have the right equipment and a good understanding of the technique. If you follow the steps, you will probably master the skill and get better with time. Just go the extra mile with hygiene, and you will have a perfect-tasting beverage to share with fellow cider-lovers.