Anybody ever use a juicer for Kava?

[kl.Jerome]

I was thinking of getting a juicer and wondered if anyone had used one to extract Kava?

 

[Ed!]

I was thinking about doing the same thing. I have a juicer, but it's the kind that spins the juice out rather than crushes it out. I'm going to be getting a masticating juicer in the future that I intend to try out exactly as you've said. The masticating juicers are pricier though.

 

[Buddhacide]

I would not assume this would work, at least not with dried root. How much moisture does fresh root have?

 

[kl.Jerome]

My plan was to soak the Kava powder then pour it through the centrifugal juicer. I bought one any ways for the juice, so I'll give it a shot and report back. I wish i could afford both a masticating juicer and fresh Kava....but I'm a teacher!

 

[Ed!]

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. If it works for you I might try it out in my centrifugal juicer too.

 

[The Kap'n]

This is a pretty neat idea. I can't see how it wouldn't work in theory. If you give it a good 2 hours or so to soak and then pull the water out of it you are essentially doing the same thing as kneading and squeezing. I'm very interested to see how this turns out. I'd really like to see what you could get out even after manually squeezing to see what you're missing. I feel another project in the works here.

 

[mos3z]

I read that champion juicers can work, I have one but I haven't tried it yet. I think u really need to commit to it as I doubt I'd ever be able to clean the resin off of it.

Maybe ill give it a shot. Doesn't one of the nakamals in the US use one? I thought I read that somewhere

 

[kl.Jerome]

Well with the centrifigal juicer I used, it was a huge failure. Don't bother if you ask me! Still the reigning champion of kava extraction is my fijian strainer.

 

[The Kap'n]

Whew, glad I held off. I sent an e-mail to Judd from Bula Kava House and asked him if he used a juicer. He uses an industrial press. You know, the kind that instead of a "buy" button there's a "request a quote" button.

Ted, you're so close, you should definitely stop in.



Our prep method is very similar to traditional prep methods except that we use a machine instead of our hands. Of course like I said, we don't have the manpower to work the mixture around before squeezing it so we make up for that by letting it soak longer, mixing and squeezing twice, and using a machine that squeezes with 1800 lbs. of pressure. The machine itself is a commercial juice press. It's big (about 4 ft. tall, takes up 9 sq. ft. of floor space, and weighs well over a hundred lbs.), and expensive. Definitely not made for consumer use. It's made by a U.S. company called Good Nature which is located somewhere on the east coast. Come check it out sometime.

The press is most likely this model based on his description. 
http://www.goodnature.com/Juice_Equipment/Juice_Presses/goodnature-x1-commercial-juice-press.php

 

[Ed!]

I still think a masticating juicer might work... mash juice out instead of spin it out. My father has an old-timey one sitting in his basement. I'll see if I can't swipe that from him and give it a shot.

 

[kl.Jerome]

I was thinking of what might have the leverage to squeeze out every last drop.  If I used a Fijian strainer and a tortilla press, maybe that might have the pressure necessary?  I just don't think I can justify spending two and a half grand on a juicer!!

 

[krunkedout]

Well if i ever get a chance to start a kava bar I will be getting one of those!

 

[The Kap'n]

Alright guys its time to make my own press. Lets see if I can trade a solid state drive and data transfer for a custom welded juice press. Maybe I'll install the heating plate below it so you just put kava powder and water in the top and out comes instant at the bottom! We'll see. I may end up just purchasing one of the basic ones off amazon.

 

[mos3z]

what about something like this?

http://www.juicepressfactory.com/juice-press.html



only $335

 

[kl.legbuh]

I'm gonna give it a try one day with my root (but not Fu u, it's too fine). I think it should work excellent. I have one of those spinny deals. I was thinking maybe even running it through 2 or 3 times to get every last ounce out.



The only reason I just thought of this and searched was I just came home with a juicer and a buttload of veggies and fruit to try it out. Worked out ok. Not nearly as bad tasting as I thought it would be (hey, i like kava, what WOULD taste bad! lol). I did a whole bunch of celery, 2 radishes, 3 carrots, a cucumber, a stalk of broccoli, 4 pieces of pineapple, a bunch of spinach and some parsely.



IT was actually kinda watery. I think I'll throw in a little apple next time. IT actually made a LOT more juice that I thought it would and what was left resembled kava root (in texture only, and it was pretty dry).