I Got a First Look at Vitamix’s First Juicer, and I’m in Love

When a company enters a new product category, I’m always skeptical. As a Vitamix fan, a brand known for its blenders, I had reservations when I heard it was releasing its first cold-press juicer. Yet, I got a first look at the product and can safely say that this juicer lives up to the Vitamix name. Announced on Monday and available for purchase on Oct. 15, the MaxExtract Cold Press Juicer uses slow-masticating technology to extract juice from fruits, veggies and leafy greens. The MaxExtract is easy to operate Assembling the juicer took less time and effort than I expected. Then, all you have to do is chop your produce into 2-inch pieces, throw them into the juicer’s 5.3-inch hopper (which can hold a surprising amount of ingredients) and let the MaxExtract handle the rest in minutes. The light-up front dial makes it extra simple. Turn it to the on position to start the juicing process, to the off position when it’s done and reverse it when there’s a clog. However, I haven’t experienced a clog after making several batches of juice. The dial has a light behind it. A nice touch.Anna Gragert/CNET It comes with everything you need The MaxExtract includes a pusher to push ingredients down, a cleaning brush, pulp and juice containers and two strainers: a fine-mesh for less pulp and smoother juice and an easy-clean for more pulp but an easier clean, as the name suggests. I especially appreciate that the juice container includes measurements on the side. The juice container also has a handle, making it easier to pour the liquid into a glass. Anna Gragert/CNET All detachable parts are dishwasher-safe I love that all the detachable components are dishwasher-safe on both the top and bottom racks. The pulp outlet can also be opened to make removing pulp and cleaning even simpler. As someone who has never used a juicer, I have to say that the MaxExtract has converted me. It creates a smooth, fresh-tasting juice and takes any effort out of the process, including cleanup. One of the most satisfying parts is watching the pulp emerge.Anna Gragert/CNET Size is to be expected The user manual lists the MaxExtract as 17.7 by 8.5 by 7.7 inches and 8.14 pounds. However, you can remove the hopper and chamber from the base if the full unit is too tall for your cabinets. By comparison, the MaxExtract is narrower and shallower than the $599 Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer, which measures 17.7 by 9.8 by 9 inches and weighs 12.1 pounds. CNET’s best budget juicer, the 11.14-pound Hamilton Beach Easy Clean, is shorter but wider and deeper, measuring 15.31 by 13 by 9 inches. Before purchasing any juicer, make sure it will fit in your space.Anna Gragert/CNET Vitamix MaxExtract availability and price Available in black or white with a glass front on Oct. 15, the MaxExtract will be $500. You can buy it on Vitamix.com or Amazon and it comes with a five-year limited warranty. Anna Gragert (she/her/hers) was previously the lifestyle editor at HelloGiggles, the deputy editor at So Yummy and the senior lifestyle editor at Hunker. Over the past 12 years, Anna has also written for the LA Times, Elle, Bust Magazine, Dazed, Apartment Therapy, Well+Good and more. At CNET, she's a senior editor on the Healthy Home team, and her coverage includes health, wellness tech, meal kits and home and kitchen tech with a focus on the technology that aims to help us live our healthiest, happiest lives. See full bio The Latest from Anna I Got a First Look at Vitamix’s First Juicer, and I’m in Love I Tested Vitamix’s First Personal Blender. Here’s Where It Missed the Mark Cycle-Tracking Apps Bring Substantial Risks to Users, New Analysis Finds