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[no_toc]As an amateur, or whatever comes before amateur, cidermaker, I had to start somewhere. Not many individuals go all in on a super expensive system for making cider as one builds to the point where they need better equipment for better control. For me, I was just getting my feet wet in the cidermaking world.
If you are like me, you may want to start the process of making cider. There are a lot of products out there. A lot! Here are just a few of the most popular cidermaking kits in the market:
BrewDemon Hard Cider Kit Plus
This was the kit that my family ended up purchasing for me. Has a ton of nice features and a proprietary conical fermenter. Different packages include different elements, but I will describe the features that I have included in mine.
Includes: fermenter, adjustable spigot, stick-on temperature gauge, venting plug, bottles, caps, labels, apple juice concentrate, and cidermaking yeast.
Positive: Small batch conical fermenter
Negative: Complaints of device breaking easily, especially around the spigot.
Price: $72
Purchase here.
Crooked Apple® Hard Cider Starter Kit
For a very similar price, I could have received a few extra elements for my humble cidermaking start! Just look at all those goodies in the picture.
Includes: one-gallon cider recipe kit, primary fermentor, bung & airlock, secondary fermenter, caps, airlock, temperature strip, paddles, siphon & tubing, bottle filler, cappers, caps, and cleaner.
Positive: A system that will produce better results from your first couple batches.
Negative: Instructions or complexity of the system may not be for all beginners.
Price: $77
Purchase here.
Brewer’s Best Cider House Kit
This kit comes from a business that has been making brewing and cidermaking kits since 1992. Experience can go a long way in making a quality product.
Includes: one-gallon cider recipe kit, primary fermentor, bung & airlock, secondary fermenter, caps, airlock, temperature strip, paddles, siphon & tubing, bottle filler, cappers, caps, and cleaner.
Positive: Makes up to 6 gallons of hard cider
Negative: Not much feedback on the kit itself online. You are buying at your own risk in many ways. Seems like it would have the few instructions.
Price: $89
Purchase here.
Brooklyn BrewShop Hard Cider Kit
This kit seems to be the cheapest kits on the market and very simple. Is that a good or bad? You decide.
Includes: one-gallon reusable glass fermenter, 3 packets yeast, vinyl tubing & clamp, racking cane & tip, chambered airlock, 3 packets cleanser, and screw-cap stopper.
Positive: Pricepoint is amazing.
Negative: Vague instructions and a smaller kit overall. Stripped down experience.
Price: $40
Purchase here.
Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit
Another very affordable kit that users seem to have success with, likely due to thorough instructions. This is a no-nonsense kit.
Includes: glass jug, tubing/clamp, rubber stopper, airlock, funnel, racking cane
Positive: Pricepoint is amazing, too.
Negative: Stripped down experience. I saw reviews for missing or expired ingredients.
Price: $43
Purchase here.
Mr. Beer Archer’s Orchard Hard Cider Kit
This kit looks very similar to the BrewDemon kit I currently have, but it comes at a cheaper price point.
Includes: fermenter, adjustable spigot, stick-on temperature gauge, venting plug, bottles, caps, labels, apple juice, and yeast.
Positive: Looks like a happy medium between volume, price, and equipment.
Negative: Similiar issues with the spout or easily damaged pieces.
Price: $48
Purchase here.
