The Best Cider Making Kit in 2026: Top Homebrew Cider Kits Reviewed
Compare the best cider making kits for 2026, from just-add-water 40-pint concentrate sets to press and crusher kits for working with real fruit.
The Best Cider Making Kit in 2026: Top Homebrew Cider Kits Reviewed
If you’ve ever fancied turning a glut of apples (or a simple supermarket juice) into your own crisp, sparkling cider, a dedicated cider making kit is the easiest way to get started. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned homebrewer looking to expand your repertoire, the right kit saves you time, reduces guesswork, and delivers consistent results.
In this guide, we’ve researched the best cider making kits available in the UK for 2026. We’ll look at everything from all-in-one starter sets that need only water, to more advanced press-and-crusher combos for those who want to work with real fruit. Below, you’ll find our quick picks for the top three kits, followed by detailed breakdowns, a comparison table, and an FAQ to help you choose the perfect setup for your budget and skill level.
Quick Picks: Top 3 Cider Making Kits at a Glance
| Product | Best For | Key Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Ciderworks Superior Pear Cider Kit | Beginners & flavour-focused brewers | Complete 40-pint kit with only water to add; exceptional pear taste. |
| Vigo Presses Cider Making Kit – Superior | Intermediate & advanced homebrewers | Includes a quality press and crusher for real fruit; scalable for larger batches. |
| Ciderworks Superior Apple Cider Kit | Value & reliability | Similar simplicity to the pear kit; classic apple flavour with consistent results. |
How We Chose the Best Cider Making Kits
Before diving into individual reviews, it’s worth understanding what separates a great kit from a mediocre one. We analysed manufacturer specifications and compared owner-review aggregates across dedicated homebrew retailers including Love Brewing, The Home Brew Shop, and Amazon UK, as well as community discussion on The Homebrew Forum (thehomebrewforum.co.uk) and Reddit’s r/Homebrewing. We focused on the key factors that matter most to homebrewers:
- Yield: How much cider does the kit produce? Most kits range from 20 to 40 pints.
- Completeness: Does it include everything you need — fermenter, airlock, finings, priming sugar, yeast — or will you need to buy extras?
- Ease of use: Is it a “just-add-water” concentrate kit, or does it require pressing real apples?
- Technical suitability: For concentrate kits, we checked whether the kit supports accurate specific gravity (SG) monitoring via a hydrometer — an essential tool for confirming fermentation is complete before bottling. For real-fruit kits, we considered compatibility with demijohns and glass carboys for secondary fermentation, and whether the instructions address the use of Campden tablets (potassium metabisulfite) for sterilisation and pectic enzyme to improve juice clarity and yield.
- Vessel and packaging options: Whether the kit supports PET bottles for carbonated cider or glass bottles for still varieties.
- Flavour quality: Based on owner-review consensus across retailers and forum sentiment, how does the final cider taste?
- Price: We’ve noted approximate costs, which can vary between retailers.
The following three kits stood out as the best in their respective categories for 2026.
Ciderworks Superior Pear Cider Kit – Best for Beginners Who Want Exceptional Flavour
Approximate price: around £27 at the time of writing (Love Brewing)
If you’re new to cider making and want a reliable, delicious result with minimal fuss, the Ciderworks Superior Pear Cider Kit is an outstanding choice. This is a complete, all-in-one kit that makes a full 40 pints of pear cider (perry) — all you need to add is water.
What’s in the box?
The kit includes everything required for fermentation and conditioning:
- Concentrated pear juice (cold-filled and preserved using state-of-the-art evaporators)
- Brewing sugar
- Finings (to clear the cider)
- Priming sugar (for carbonation)
- Yeast
- Full instructions
There’s no need to source additional ingredients or equipment — the kit works well whether you plan to bottle or barrel the finished cider. For best results, homebrewers typically pair this kit with a basic hydrometer to track specific gravity (SG) and confirm fermentation is complete before bottling, though this is not strictly required for a first batch.
Flavour and quality
The Ciderworks range uses high-quality cold-filled fruit concentrate, which preserves more of the fresh fruit character than heat-processed alternatives. On Love Brewing’s product listing, the Ciderworks Superior Pear Cider Kit holds a strong aggregate rating from verified purchaser reviews, with buyers frequently highlighting the fruity pear aroma and clean finish. Community sentiment on The Homebrew Forum similarly reflects a positive consensus around the Ciderworks Superior range, with members regularly recommending it as a starting point for concentrate-based cider making.
Who is it for?
This kit is ideal for:
- Complete beginners who want a foolproof first batch
- Homebrewers who prefer a fruit-forward, sweet-ish cider over a dry, tannic traditional style
- Anyone looking for a reliable gift for a friend interested in homebrewing
Pros
- Truly complete — only water required
- Large yield (40 pints) for the price
- Safe for coeliacs — all Ciderworks kits are gluten-free
- Quick turnaround — ready in approximately 2–4 weeks
Cons
- Not suitable for those who want to press real apples
- Limited to pear flavour (though an apple version is reviewed below)
- Can finish slightly sweet for those who prefer bone-dry ciders; this can be mitigated by allowing fermentation to run a few extra days and confirming a stable final SG with a hydrometer
Where to buy: The Ciderworks Superior Pear Cider Kit is available from Love Brewing, The Home Brew Shop, and Amazon UK. Pricing and stock levels vary between retailers, so it’s worth checking all three for the best current deal.
Ciderworks Superior Apple Cider Kit – Best Value for Classic Apple Flavour
Approximate price: around £27 at the time of writing (Love Brewing)
If the Pear kit appeals but you’d rather start with a more traditional apple cider, the Ciderworks Superior Apple Cider Kit delivers the same beginner-friendly, all-in-one format with a classic crisp apple character. It shares the same production process and kit architecture as the Pear variant — making it equally straightforward to brew — but produces a 40-pint batch of apple cider with a clean, refreshing finish.
What’s in the box?
The Apple kit contains the same comprehensive set of ingredients as the Pear version:
- Concentrated apple juice (cold-filled using the same state-of-the-art evaporator process as the Pear kit)
- Brewing sugar
- Finings
- Priming sugar (for carbonation)
- Yeast
- Full instructions
As with the Pear kit, the only addition required is water. The concentrate is produced from quality apple varieties and cold-filled to preserve fresh fruit character.
Flavour and quality
The Apple variant is the more classically styled of the two Ciderworks Superior kits. Owner-review consensus across Love Brewing and The Home Brew Shop points to a well-balanced, medium-dry apple cider with good clarity after fining. It’s broadly comparable in quality to many commercial mid-market ciders, which makes it a satisfying result for the price point. Reddit’s r/Homebrewing community frequently recommends the Ciderworks range as a reliable entry point for concentrate cider, with the apple flavour noted as approachable and consistent batch to batch.
For those wanting to influence the final dryness, adding a small dose of pectic enzyme before fermentation can improve clarity further, and monitoring specific gravity (SG) with a hydrometer allows you to bottle at your preferred sweetness level.
Who is it for?
- Beginners who prefer a traditional apple cider over a pear or flavoured variant
- Homebrewers wanting a reliable, repeatable recipe they can adjust over time
- Those buying a first kit as a gift, where a classic apple flavour is the safer crowd-pleaser
Pros
- Truly complete — only water required
- 40-pint yield at an accessible price point
- Gluten-free — suitable for coeliacs
- Consistent, repeatable results batch to batch
- Ready in approximately 2–4 weeks
Cons
- Not suitable for those wanting to press real apples
- Concentrate-based kits will not replicate the complexity of a traditionally pressed cider
- May finish slightly sweeter than expected without SG monitoring
Where to buy: The Ciderworks Superior Apple Cider Kit is stocked by Love Brewing, The Home Brew Shop, and Amazon UK. As with all homebrew ingredients, pricing can vary between retailers and may shift with availability, so checking all three is recommended.
Vigo Presses Cider Making Kit – Superior – Best for Real-Fruit Enthusiasts
Approximate price: typically around £250 to £350 at the time of writing (Vigo Presses direct)
For the homebrewer who wants to move beyond concentrate and press real apples (or pears), the Vigo Presses Cider Making Kit – Superior is a serious step up. Vigo Presses is a well-respected UK manufacturer based in Devon, and their Superior kit is designed for intermediate to advanced users who want to process whole fruit from scratch.
What’s included?
This is a comprehensive press-and-crusher combination. According to Vigo Presses’ published product specifications, the Superior kit typically includes:
- A cross-beam or spindle press with a capacity of approximately 12 to 20 litres per pressing (exact press model may vary with current stock — confirm the specific press included when ordering, as Vigo offers multiple press sizes in this range)
- A Vigo Hobby Mill hand crusher (or equivalent electric mill option at higher price points) to pulp apples before pressing — the crusher features stainless steel rollers designed for durability and consistent pulping
- A heavy-duty stainless steel pressing basket, which is more durable and easier to clean than nylon or plastic alternatives
- A 30-litre plastic fermenter with lid and airlock for primary fermentation
- Tubing, siphon, and basic sundries
- A recipe booklet and instructions covering the full process from fruit selection to bottling
The press is supplied with a stand in most configurations, though this should be confirmed with Vigo directly at point of purchase, as kit contents can vary. For full and up-to-date specifications, Vigo Presses publishes a detailed product catalogue on their official website (vigopresses.co.uk).
Technical considerations for real-fruit cider making
Working with whole fruit introduces additional steps and equipment considerations that concentrate kits do not require. Homebrewers using the Vigo Superior kit should be aware of the following:
- Campden tablets (potassium metabisulfite): Used to sterilise the juice immediately after pressing, killing wild yeasts and bacteria before a controlled yeast strain is pitched. This is standard practice in traditional cider making and is referenced in Vigo’s own recipe guidance.
- Pectic enzyme: Added post-pressing to break down pectin in the apple juice, improving clarity and juice yield. Particularly important when pressing high-pectin apple varieties.
- Hydrometer and specific gravity (SG) monitoring: Essential for real-fruit cider, where the sugar content of the juice varies by apple variety and harvest. Taking an original gravity (OG) reading before fermentation and a final gravity (FG) reading before bottling allows you to calculate ABV and confirm fermentation is complete.
- Secondary fermentation vessel: Many experienced cider makers transfer to a glass carboy or demijohn after primary fermentation to condition the cider away from the yeast sediment, producing a cleaner final product.
- Bottling: PET bottles are recommended for carbonated cider as they allow you to monitor carbonation build-up by feel; glass bottles are suitable for still cider.
Who is it for?
The Vigo Superior kit suits:
- Intermediate to advanced homebrewers comfortable with a multi-stage process
- Those with access to a supply of fresh apples — either from their own trees, a local orchard, or a pick-your-own farm
- Homebrewers who want a scalable, durable setup they can use season after season
- Anyone interested in producing a genuinely traditional, terroir-driven cider rather than a concentrate-based product
Pros
- Real-fruit process — produces a genuinely traditional cider with complexity that concentrate kits cannot replicate
- Durable, reusable equipment — the press and crusher are built to last multiple seasons
- Stainless steel basket — hygienic, easy to clean, and resistant to staining
- Scalable — the press can be used for multiple batches through a single apple season
- Vigo is a specialist UK manufacturer with dedicated customer support
Cons
- Significantly higher upfront cost than concentrate kits (approximately £250 to £350)
- Requires access to fresh apples — not suitable for year-round brewing without sourcing juice separately
- More complex process requiring additional consumables (Campden tablets, pectic enzyme, hydrometer)
- Larger physical footprint — the press and crusher require storage space between seasons
Where to buy: The Vigo Presses Cider Making Kit – Superior is available directly from Vigo Presses at vigopresses.co.uk, where the full product catalogue and current specifications are listed. Vigo also sells through selected homebrew retailers; availability on Amazon UK and third-party sites varies. Purchasing direct from Vigo is recommended to ensure you receive the current kit configuration and access to their customer support team.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Ciderworks Superior Pear | Ciderworks Superior Apple | Vigo Superior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | Around £27 | Around £27 | Around £250–£350 |
| Yield | 40 pints | 40 pints | Varies by batch size |
| Fruit source | Concentrate (just add water) | Concentrate (just add water) | Fresh whole fruit (required separately) |
| Skill level | Beginner | Beginner | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Gluten-free | Yes | Yes | Depends on process |
| Hydrometer recommended | Optional but useful | Optional but useful | Essential |
| Campden tablets needed | No | No | Yes |
| Pectic enzyme needed | No | No | Recommended |
| Reusable equipment | No (ingredient kit) | No (ingredient kit) | Yes |
| Best for | Pear/perry flavour | Classic apple cider | Traditional real-fruit cider |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to add sugar to a cider making kit?
It depends on the kit. Concentrate kits such as the Ciderworks Superior range include brewing sugar as part of the package, so no additional sugar is required. When making cider from fresh-pressed apples with a kit like the Vigo Superior, the sugar content of your juice — measured as original gravity (OG) using a hydrometer — will determine whether chaptalisation (adding sugar to boost fermentable content) is needed. Many UK apple varieties produce juice with sufficient natural sugar for a 4–6% ABV cider without any addition.
How long does homemade cider last?
Still, unflavoured cider stored in sealed glass bottles in a cool, dark location will typically remain in good condition for six to twelve months. Carbonated cider in PET bottles is best consumed within three to six months, as carbonation can continue to build over time. Cider made from fresh-pressed juice using proper sterilisation with Campden tablets tends to have better shelf stability than unprotected batches.
Can I use supermarket apple juice for cider?
Yes — this is one of the most accessible routes into cider making without a press. Supermarket apple juice (ideally a pure, not-from-concentrate variety with no added preservatives) can be fermented directly using the yeast from a concentrate kit or a dedicated cider yeast. Check the label carefully: juices containing potassium sorbate will inhibit or prevent fermentation. Adding a small amount of pectic enzyme can improve clarity, and a hydrometer will help you track fermentation progress and confirm completion before bottling.
What equipment do I need to bottle cider?
At minimum, you’ll need sterilised bottles (PET bottles for carbonated cider, glass for still), a siphon or auto-siphon to transfer the cider without disturbing the sediment, and a bottle capper or crown capper if using capped glass bottles. For carbonated cider, priming sugar is added before bottling to create carbonation in the bottle — most concentrate kits include this. A hydrometer is strongly recommended to confirm fermentation is complete before adding priming sugar, as bottling too early can result in over-carbonation. A basic bottling wand attached to your siphon tube makes the filling process significantly cleaner and faster.
Where is the best place to buy a cider making kit in the UK?
The main specialist retailers for cider making kits in the UK are Love Brewing, The Home Brew Shop, and Vigo Presses (for press equipment). Amazon UK also stocks a range of concentrate kits, often at competitive prices, though availability of specialist items like the Vigo Superior kit is more reliable through Vigo direct or dedicated homebrew retailers. Prices across retailers can differ meaningfully, so comparing all available options before purchasing is worthwhile.
