SKG New Generation Juicer Review 2022

Pros

• Extra wide 3 in. diameter feed chute makes food preparation much easier than it is for most other slow juicers
• Comes with lots of extras: a smoothie strainer, tofu frame, and recipe book
• Exceptional product support according to the consumer reviews we surveyed for this editorial review
• Normally priced much lower than comparable juicers

Cons

• Average to below average yields in most of our juicing performance tests
• Especially poor yields juicing softer produce
• Extracts a juice that is very high in pulp content
• Brand and manufacturer are relatively unknown and unproven at this time
• Comes with only a 2-year warranty on all parts but the motor and body
• A poor value despite its low initial price because of its ability to only garner average to below average yields

Category Scores

All category scores are out of 5.

Assembly

The SKG (new generation wide chute anti-oxidation slow masticating) juicer can be used for making juices, soy milk, tofu, or smoothies. The following parts are used for making juices, soy milk, or tofu.

Juicing, Making Soy Milk, Making Tofu – Parts List

1. Food pusher (pusher)
2. Feeding chute assembly
3. Juicing bowl (strainer base)
4. Juice cap
5. Spinning brush (rotation wiper)
6. Juicing strainer (juice strainer)
7. Auger (juicing screw)
8. Main body (motor base)
9. Juice container
10. Pulp container
11. Tofu frame (composed of tofu mold and tofu pressure board – making tofu only)

The general terms we use for vertical masticating juicer parts are listed. If SKG calls a certain part by a different name in the user manual included with this particular model juicer it is listed in parentheses.

The auger (left), juicing strainer (top middle), spinning brush (bottom middle), and juicing bowl (right).

Notes

The juice cap is removable from the juicing bowl and is not absolutely necessary for juicing or for making soy milk or tofu. Neither are the juice and pulp containers or the food pusher. As long as they fit beneath the juice and pulp outlets of the juicing bowl, you can use your own containers (large measuring cups, for example) instead of the included containers to collect the juice and pulp that exits the juicer when juicing. The food pusher is only necessary for juicing more difficult to juice produce such as root vegetables. You may very well get away with using no pusher at all when juicing easy to juice produce such as grapes and nectarines that fit comfortably into the juicer’s feeding chute.

Making Smoothies – Parts List

1. Food pusher
2. Feeding chute assembly
3. Juicing bowl
4. Juice cap
5. Smoothie strainer
6. Auger
7. Main body
8. Pulp container

Notes

When setting up the juicer for making smoothies the juice cap should be closed off, the spinning brush should be removed and the juice container can also be removed since all processed food will exit the juicer only through the pulp outlet.

Extra Removable Parts

In addition to the parts listed above, the juicer is also composed of several other smaller silicone parts. Those parts are listed below.

1. Silicone blades
2. Silicone pulp pressure plug
3. Sealing ring
4. Juice cap seal

Each of the parts listed above can be removed from the larger part that they are attached to. The silicone blades can be removed from the spinning brush, the juice cap seal can be removed from the juice cap, and the pulp pressure plug and sealing ring can be removed from the juicing bowl. Note, however, that it is not absolutely necessary to remove these parts to clean them. And therefore it isn’t absolutely necessary to assemble them each time you assemble the juicer to use it.

For more information on what these parts do please see the relevant section of our Kuvings B6000S review.

Assembly Introduction

The juicer’s manual does an excellent job of explaining each step of assembly in detail. The assembly section of the manual is composed of well written text accompanied by photos with markings to illustrate each step very well. Also included with the juicer is a quick reference assembly card that also describes assembly, but in a much different manner and using different terminology than that which is used in the manual. For example, the assembly card refers to a “cup base” when talking about the juicing bowl, a “rotary clamping set” when talking about the spinning brush, and a “spiral shaft” when talking about the juicer’s auger. On top of the fact that the assembly card’s terminology is confusing it also doesn’t describe the actual process of assembly very well. The phrasing is convoluted and the accompanying photos don’t match with the text that describe them. For example, the fourth step says to “mount the spiral shaft in the center of the juice screen by inserting and tightening it”. The accompanying photo of the auger being placed into the juicing bowl is nowhere near the text describing this step on the card.

The bottom line is that we absolutely recommend that you use the included manual, NOT the included quick reference assembly card, when attempting to assemble the juicer for the first time. In fact, we’ll end up docking a few tenths of a point from the SKG’s assembly score just because of the inclusion of this very confusing and unnecessary extra guide. Why? Because we expect many users to do the same thing we did when we first assembled the juicer and that is to use the quick reference guide instead of the manual to attempt to assemble the juicer. The extra assembly card stands out from the included literature and appears to be the go-to guide for assembly when you first take the juicer out of its packaging. In using the guide, we were needlessly frustrated because it was written so poorly and illustrated so badly. We expect many new users will experience the same completely unnecessary frustration. Why does the manufacturer include this completely unnecessary guide with the juicer? Our assumption is that this guide was the only included literature with the juicer upon its initial release and that the manual was added later on. However, with the inclusion of the manual there is absolutely no reason for this confusing guide to be included any longer.

Markers and Guides

Before we briefly go over the steps required for the juicer’s assembly we need to make mention of the fact that the manufacturer includes different markers and guides on many of the juicer’s parts to make assembly easier. This is something that’s not unique to the SKG wide chute juicer. All of the vertical masticating juicers we tested have parts with markers and guides to aid their assembly. What percentage of the juicer’s parts have these guides and how well they are implemented is often the only way we can differentiate the assembly difficulty of one vertical masticating juicer compared to another, just because everything else regarding assembly is so similar when comparing two juicers of the same type. Sure, it’s easy to say that horizontal masticating juicers are slightly easier to assemble than vertical masticating juicers and that twin gear juicers are more difficult to assemble than even vertical masticating juicers. However, it’s much more difficult to say that one vertical masticating juicer is easier or more difficult to assemble than another vertical masticating juicer. Hence why we take such a close look at their markers and guides. With that disclaimer out of the way let’s take a quick look at each step required for the SKG’s assembly.

Step 1

Step 1 of assembly involves fitting the juicing bowl to the main body of the juicer. There is a clearly marked upside down white triangle on the bottom of the juicing bowl that should be matched to the right side up, same sized, same colored white triangle on the top of the main body of the juicer to fit the juicing bowl properly in place.

Step 2

The second step requires that the juicing strainer be fitted into the spinning brush. There are no markers or guides to help you with this step but they wouldn’t work for this step anyway, since the strainer will fit into the spinning brush in a wide variety of different configurations. The strainer properly fitted into the spinning brush.

Step 3

Next, the assembled spinning brush/strainer needs to be fitted into the juicing bowl. There is a red dot on the top of the strainer that should be matched with a same sized, same color red dot on the top of the juicing bowl. With these two dots matching the spinning brush/strainer should fit into the juicing bowl without issue.

Steps 1 (left), 2 (middle), and 3 (right) of assembly.

Step 4

The next step involves placing the auger into the juicing bowl. There are no markers or guides for this step, but again, their inclusion wouldn’t work for this step either because of the way that the auger actually fits into place. The auger is fitted onto the motor shaft extending from the main body into the juicing bowl. It can initially be placed on the shaft in any orientation (it has to be right side up of course) and then it should be rotated until it clicks in place.

Step 5

The penultimate step required for assembly involves fitting the feeding chute assembly to the juicing bowl. Again, there are clear markings on both pieces to help you complete this step properly. Simply align the white dot on the feeding chute assembly with the red dot on the juicing strainer (the same red dot used for step 3). Once their aligned, rotate the feeding chute in the clockwise direction to lock it into place. There is an arrow next to the white dot on the feeding chute assembly that shows which direction and how far to rotate it to secure it in place.

Step 6

The final step is really not so much a step required for assembly as it is a step required to begin juicing. This step involves placing the juice container under the juice outlet and the pulp container under the pulp outlet while also making sure that the food pusher is within arm’s reach or even placed inside the juicer’s feeding chute so that it’s ready for use when juicing begins.

Steps 4 (left), 5 (middle), and 6 (right) of assembly.

Notes

The SKG’s manual mentions checking that the silicone pulp pressure plug is properly fitted into the juicing bowl when describing the first step of the juicer’s assembly. Therefore, our step 1 is the SKG manual’s step 2. The juicer’s manual also combines our step 2 and 3 into one step.

Assembly Summary

All of the SKG’s parts that can benefit from being marked are in fact properly and clearly marked, which makes assembling this juicer just about as easy as it can possibly be. For this reason, the SKG slow masticating juicer is ever so slightly easier to assemble than many other juicers of the same type that we tested. However, as we’ve already briefly mentioned earlier, assembling vertical masticating juicers, in general, is slightly more difficult than assembling most horizontal masticating juicers – a trend that continues with the SKG and one that it cannot rid itself of because of its complex design (more complex than horizontal masticating juicers). Add in our complaints regarding its needlessly confusing included quick reference assembly card and the SKG receives only a 4 out of 5 for assembly difficulty.

Food Preparation

All of the slow juicers we tested required that most types of produce be cut into smaller pieces before they could be juiced. The horizontal masticating juicers we tested required the most cutting while the vertical masticating juicers we tested required the least. Of the vertical masticating juicers we tested, the SKG and the Kuvings whole slow juicer required the least cutting of all. Why was this so?

Three different factors dictate how much cutting is required for any particular juicer. The first is the size or dimensions of the juicer’s feeding chute. The larger the feeding chute, the larger the size of the produce that can fit inside of it. The SKG and aforementioned Kuvings juicer have very wide 3 in. diameter feeding chutes which are much larger than the feeding chutes you’ll find on most other vertical masticating juicers on the market and almost twice as large as the typical feeding chute you’ll find on a horizontal masticating juicer. It is mostly due to their oversized feeding chutes that food preparation requirements for these two juicers are much less stringent than they are for the other 12 slow juicers we tested for review.

The two other, less obvious factors that impact food preparation requirements are juicer type and produce type. A certain type of produce may fit into a certain type of juicer’s feeding chute whole, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it is optimal to juice it whole. Celery stalks, for example, can easily fit into even a horizontal masticating juicer’s feeding chute whole. However, the fibrous strands of the celery can very easily wrap around the juicer’s auger and cause it to jam. To prevent this from happening it’s recommended to cut celery stalks into smaller at least 2 in. pieces. For more information on how produce type and juicer type impact food preparation requirements please see here.

Food Preparation Results

The table below shows how much cutting was required for each of the 4 different types of produce we tested that actually required cutting at all (oranges, carrots, celery, and apples). Note that in addition to cutting size, the table also shows specific cutting time (in seconds) and average cutting time. Specific cutting time is the time it took us to cut a particular type of produce to a particular size, specifically when cutting it to that size for the SKG wide chute juicer. Average time is the average time it took us to make the same type of cut for the same type of produce for all of the juicers we tested that required that particular type of cut. The specific time it took us to cut apples into quarters for the SKG was only 14 seconds. However, it took us slightly longer to cut apples into quarters for most other juicers we tested that also required apples to be cut into quarters. Thus, the average time it took us to cut 1 lb. of apples into quarters was 18 seconds.

Fruit/Veg.	Size of Cuts	Time to Cut	Avg. Time to Cut
Oranges	no cutting required
Grapes	no cutting required
Carrots	no cutting required
Celery	1″ to 2″ pieces	102	66
Apples	quarters	14	18
Spinach	pre-cut
Wheatgrass	pre-cut
More Information
Chute Size	3″ diameter
Type	Vertical Masticating

Food Preparation Summary

Not surprisingly, the SKG did very well in this category, mostly because of its wide feeding chute but also because of its design – it’s a vertical masticating juicer (as opposed to a horizontal masticating juicer that requires more food preparation simply because of its design). The total average time it took us to prepare produce for juicing with the SKG was only 84 seconds (1 minute, 24 seconds) which puts it in a tie for first place in this category with the Kuvings B6000. Compare this average total time to the 3 minutes+ it took us to prepare the same quantity of produce (1 lb. each of oranges, carrots, celery, and apples) for all of the horizontal masticating juicers we tested and the 2 minutes+ for all of the other vertical masticating juicers we tested. The SKG wide chute juicer had the exact same average overall food preparation time as the Kuvings and earns the exact same almost perfect score in the category – a 4.5 out of 5.

Performance

In addition to the 4 different fruits and vegetables that we mentioned in the previous section on food preparation, 3 other fruits and vegetables were also tested for this review. Those 3 fruits and vegetables did not require to be cut prior to being juiced. They were grapes, spinach, and wheatgrass. The grapes didn’t require any cutting because they were small enough to fit into the juicer’s feeding chute whole. The spinach didn’t require cutting because it was bought pre-cut from the store. And the wheatgrass didn’t require any cutting because we already cut it from flats in the exact same way for each of the juicers we tested well before testing started. It was kept pre-cut in the fridge for a few days before we juiced it for testing.

We already alluded to the fact that we juiced 1 lb. each of oranges, carrots, celery, and apples. We juiced the same weight (1 lb.) of grapes and spinach as well. However, we juiced only 4 oz. of wheatgrass. Finally, we juiced 2 lb. of produce for our combination test in which we juiced 1 lb. of oranges and 4 oz. each of carrots, celery, apples, and spinach in combination – alternating feeding each fruit and vegetable into the juicer for the test.

Our Testing Methodology

In order to accomplish our goal of giving each juicer we tested the best possible chance to do as well in our tests as it possibly could, we had to employ certain testing methods which we outline here. In the same write-up we also talk about the thought process behind selecting the particular fruits and vegetables we chose to juice with each juicers we tested for review. In addition, we clarify what we mean by out of juicer, after sieve, and percentage yield. Here, we will simply say that out of juicer yield was the initial yield and after sieve yield was the yield recorded after pouring the initial yield through a sieve. For more information on these yields, why we chose them, and how we went about recording them see here.

After sieve orange juice yield being measured.up

Juicing Performance Results

This table in our general buyer’s guide shows the yields we mentioned above for each type of produce for not only the SKG, but also for the other slow juicers that we tested.

Juicing Performance Summary

The SKG’s performance in our juicing performance tests was, for the most part, quite disappointing. Its yields mostly varied from below average to only average compared to the 13 other slow juicers we tested. The only test in which it garnered an above average result was in our carrot juicing test. Its out of juicer carrot juice yield of 7.2 oz. was good for 4^th best among the slow juicers we tested.

The juicer’s performance was especially below average in our orange and grape juicing tests where its orange juice out of juicer yield of 9.5 oz. and after sieve yield of 8.3 oz. were both second worst and its grape juice after sieve yield of 11.3 oz. was the absolute worst of all of the slow juicers we tested. The SKG is therefore NOT recommended for juicing these fruits or any other fruits like them (produce high in water content).

The juicer’s performance improved somewhat in our carrot juicing test as we already discussed. However, it disappointed once again in our celery juicing test. Its after sieve yield in the same test of only 9.7 oz. was second worst among the slow juicers we tested.

Its performance stabilized in the final 4 tests as it garnered average results in those same tests. Its results in the final 6 tests tell us that the SKG is a reasonable choice for juicing carrots, apples, spinach, wheatgrass, or a combination of fruits and vegetables but it is NOT recommended for juicing celery or similar vegetables.

Compared to the Kuvings B6000, the SKG slow masticating juicer did slightly worse in our orange, celery, and apple juicing tests, just about the same in our grape juicing test, and slightly better in our carrot, spinach, wheatgrass, and combination test. In most tests both juicers garnered very similar results (within a few tenths of an ounce to each other) but in some tests they did not. To see how each juicer did in those produce categories that are the most important to you please see here. Do we recommend one juicer, in general, over another based on these results? Absolutely not. Their overall test results are too similar for us to do that. We’ll have to look at other characteristics of each juicer to do so instead.

Cleaning

Cleaning Method and Tools

After each juicing test we washed the SKG much the same as you would go about washing it at home (remember we had 8 total tests so we needed to wash it 8 different times during testing). First we pre-washed all of the juicer’s parts by feeding water into its feeding chute with the juicer running, much the same as we fed fruits and vegetables into the feeding chute when juicing (we used this same “pre-wash” technique for all of the vertical masticating juicers that we tested). Next, we washed all of the juicer’s parts individually in the sink. Most parts could be cleaned very easily by washing them with warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Some parts required that we put them under running water to help rinse out extra residue (pulp). The juicing bowl and the strainer required that we use the included cleaning brush to clean them. We used the handle of the brush to push pulp out of the juicing bowl’s pulp outlet and then washed the inside of the bowl clean with a microfiber cloth. We used the brush end of the brush to scrub both the inside and outside of the juicing strainer. Both parts were cleaned while keeping them under running water.

Cleaning Methods Outlined in the Included Manual

The juicer’s manual lists four points regarding juicer care. The first is that the juicer should be turned off, unplugged, and disassembled before cleaning. The second is that the included cleaning brush should be used to clean the strainer and that the user should make sure that the fine mesh holes of the strainer are not blocked after cleaning. The third is that the juicer’s parts are not dishwasher safe (more on this later). And the fourth is that the main body of the juicer should be wiped with a damp paper towel or microfiber cloth – that it should not be submerged in water.

What’s missing from these instructions are specific directions for cleaning all of the juicer’s other parts, such as the juicing bowl, auger, etc. The manual also doesn’t specify the temperature of the water (extremely hot water could possibly damage the juicer’s parts) or the type of detergents that should be used for cleaning (it fails to warn that abrasive cleaners can permanently damage parts). And finally, it makes no mention of the pre-washing technique we described above – a technique outlined in the manuals of most other vertical masticating juicers that we tested and one that makes cleaning the juicer much easier.

We mention the fact that these instructions are missing because their absence will add to the difficulty with which new users will be able to clean the juicer. Most new users won’t know how to go about cleaning most of the juicer’s parts in an effective and efficient manner – what cleaning tools to use, what temperature water to use or which detergents to use or not use. Most new users are also unlikely to know that they can pre-wash the juicer to make cleaning all of its parts much easier. The included manual failing to make mention of these techniques only makes it harder for new users to learn how to clean the SKG properly and efficiently.

Cleaning Difficulty and Pulp Accumulation Compared to Other Juicers

On some of the vertical masticating juicers we tested we noted an excessive amount of pulp buildup in their strainers, augers, and juicing bowls. Those juicers with extra pulp buildup in those parts required a bit more time and effort to clean than those juicers that did not. The SKG wide chute juicer was one of the few vertical masticating juicers we tested that did not have any extra pulp buildup in those parts and thus it was slightly easier to clean than most of those vertical masticating juicers we tested that did (the one exception was the Kuvings B6000 – we’ll get to why it’s an exception in just a bit).

Compared to other types of juicers the SKG is slightly more difficult to clean than horizontal masticating juicers and slightly less difficult to clean than centrifugal juicers.

Staining and Deposits

All of the SKG’s parts are made of highly stain resistant materials. Its food pusher, auger, and juice cap are made of black plastic. The plastic components of its strainer and its juicing bowl are made of a darkened clear plastic. And its spinning brush and all of its silicone parts are a bright orange. The SKG’s parts being made of these stain resistant colors is par for the course as far as vertical masticating juicers are concerned. Most other juicers of the same type on the market also have parts made of stain resistant materials like the SKG.

Dishwasher Safe Parts

The SKG’s manual states that none of the juicer’s parts are dishwasher safe because some if its silicone parts can get damaged in the dishwasher. Since many of the juicer’s parts are not made of silicone this statement seems a bit nonsensical. Nonetheless, we advise that you do not wash any of the juicer’s parts in a dishwasher, regardless. The heat generated in a dishwasher can melt and deform even non-silicone parts (though the included manual neglects to mention this).

The fact that the SKG’s parts cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher is not unique. The parts making up the majority of slow juicers we tested are also made of materials that cannot withstand the extreme conditions generated in a dishwasher – only 2 of the 14 slow juicers we tested were made of dishwasher safe parts.

Cleaning Summary and Overall Score

The SKG was slightly easier to clean than most other vertical masticating juicers we tested, mostly because very little pulp was left over in its juicing bowl, auger, and strainer compared to the quantity of pulp left over in those same parts on those other vertical juicers we tested.

Compared to the Kuvings B6000, the SKG was slightly more difficult to clean, however, because it only comes with one cleaning brush. The Kuvings comes with three – two brushes and one scrubbing tool to clean the strainer. As we wrote about in our Kuvings review, the scrubbing tool wasn’t too helpful but the extra cleaning brush certainly made cleaning the juicer easier. The Kuvings did have more pulp build up in some of its parts but the inclusion of extra cleaning tools is a bigger positive than the negative of having to clean out slightly more pulp.

Compared to other types of juicers, cleaning the SKG wide chute juicer is of average difficulty. Its slightly easier to clean than centrifugal juicers and slightly harder to clean than horizontal slow juicers. All things considered we give the SKG a 4 out of 5 in the category.

Ease of Use

The ease of using a juicer varies mostly by type. Some types of juicers are more easy to use than others. In contrast, the ease of using a juicer varies very little between different models of the same type. Since the SKG is a vertical masticating juicer it is more easy to use than most twin gear and horizontal slow juicers (for reasons we outline in the relative section of our general buyer’s guide here). At the same time, it is for the most part just as easy to use as every other vertical masticating juicer we tested.

Notes

In our other reviews we note several of the juicer’s specifications that may contribute or detract from its ease of use. Those specifications for the SKG wide chute juicer are listed in the table below.

Assembled Weight	14 lb 3.2 oz
Body Only Weight	10 lb 9.1 oz
Carrying Handle	Yes
Power Cord Length	49 in.
Juice Container Volume	36 oz.
Pulp Container Volume	36 oz.
Juice Cap	Yes
Feet	4 small rubber

*our measured weight is less than what the manufacturer specifies

Versatility

The SKG comes with a few extra parts that can be used to make a several different foods and beverages other than juice. It comes with a smoothie strainer for making smoothies or sorbets and a tofu frame for making tofu. One or both of these extra parts are not included with many other vertical masticating juicers we tested. The Kuvings B6000 comes with a blank strainer but does not include a smoothie strainer (it can be purchase separately). The Kuvings also does not include a tofu frame for making tofu. The Hurom HU 100SB comes with a tofu frame but doesn’t include either a blank strainer or a smoothie strainer. The non-SB version, the HU-100 comes with neither an extra strainer or a tofu frame. The Tribest Slowstar comes with an entirely different “juicing bowl” AND “strainer” for homogenizing. It is perhaps the best option in the vertical masticating juicer category if you’re looking to do a lot of food processing. However, it does not include the tofu frame included with the SKG. Both Omega vertical juicers we tested, the VSJ843 and VRT350, and the Breville Juice Fountain Crush rank worst for versatility among the vertical slow juicers we tested – not one of them includes any type of homogenizing strainer or a tofu frame.

Durability

Build Quality and Materials

Unlike most other slow juicers on the market, the SKG slow masticating juicer is NOT made in Korea. Instead, it’s manufactured in China. We’ve noted in other reviews for slow juicers manufactured in Korea that they are, for the most part, very well made using very high quality parts. Is the SKG less well built using lesser quality parts, only because it’s made in China? The answer to that question is yes, the parts composing the SKG are definitely of substantially lower quality than those same parts that compose most Korean made juicers such as the Omega VSJ843 or the Kuvings B6000. The juicer is also less well built. We had hands on experience with a wide variety of Korean made slow juicers (juicers from Omega, Kuvings, Hurom, Tribest, etc.) and the SKG and our observations were that while the SKG was a very good imitation of those juicers (especially the Kuvings B6000), it was still an imitation – and as such the quality of workmanship and the quality of the parts composing the SKG are definitely of lower quality than they are for most Korean made juicers (at least those that we tested and had hands on experience with).

Consumer Feedback

The SKG slow masticating juicer has been very well received by consumers thus far. Only 5% of the 100+ consumer reviews we surveyed at the time of this editorial review rated the SKG less than 3 stars out of 5. The caveat here is that the SKG has only been on the market since 2015. As such, the reviews that have been left for it thus far are not indicative of the juicer’s long term durability and reliability. A contrasting example is the Omega J8006, a juicer that’s been on the market since the early 2000s. At the time of this review, the J8006 has a slightly higher percentage of negative (1 and 2 star) consumer reviews than the SKG. However, the decade plus that the J8006 has been on the market and the fact that it still has a very low rate of negative consumer reviews means that the J8006 is a tried and tested product that has been well reviewed by consumers even after several years of use. Something that cannot be said of the SKG – at least not yet.

Brand Reputation

Who is SKG? We don’t know. If you go to omegajuicers.com you can click on the about us link and go to a page where Omega describes how their company was founded and the history of their company since that time. The same is true when you go to the manufacturers’ websites for Tribest and Kuvings. Each of these companies also have contact page on their website where they list local US and/or toll free numbers you can call and physical addresses where their US offices are located.

The manual included with the SKG lists us.skg.com as being the manufacturer’s US website. If you go to us.skg.com you’ll find no about us page and no contact page. You’ll find no toll free or US phone number and no physical address. The site only lists a “business contact” email and a “customer service” email in the footer of the website.

We don’t know how long SKG has been selling juicers. We don’t even know how long SKG has been a brand. For comparison, Omega and Tribest have been selling juicers for several decades. They’ve been established businesses for a very long time and because their juicers are so popular we are very confident that they will be around for decades to come – something that’s very important when you consider that most of their juicers come with 10+ year warranties. We cannot say the same for SKG. We don’t know anything about them and they have no history. We therefore cannot make any logical deductions as to how long they could possibly exist as a company in the foreseeable future.

Quality of Support

We mentioned above that SKG doesn’t provide phone support and neither can you contact them by snail mail. However, those consumer reviews we surveyed report that they offer absolutely outstanding email support. The number of consumers commenting on SKG’s outstanding customer service is much greater than it is for most other slow juicers we tested. Most other slow juicers also have at least a few consumer reviews complaining about poor customer service. We did not find one such review in our survey of the SKG’s consumer reviews. The bottom line – if you’re comfortable only being able to receive customer service via email you’ll be more than satisfied with that customer service which SKG provides.

Warranty

The SKG comes with a 2-year warranty that covers all of the juicer’s parts and a 10-year warranty that covers the main body of the juicer and its motor. This is a substantially shorter warranty than what you receive with similar juicers from Omega and Kuvings. The Kuvings B6000 comes with a 10-year warranty and most Omega vertical juicers come with 15 year warranties.

Claiming Warranty Coverage

SKG allows you to claim warranty coverage through an online form on their website at us.skg.com. You can do the same (claim warranty through an online form) with the Kuvings B6000 on the Kuvings website. Warranty claims for most other manufacturers are carried out through the phone.

Summary and Score

The SKG wide chute juicer receives a well below average score in this category for several reasons. First, it’s simply not as well made using as high quality parts as similar juicers from other manufacturers. Second, SKG is an unproven brand that lacks the track record of other brands that have manufactured and sold juicers for a much longer period of time (examples are Omega and Tribest). We also don’t like the fact that SKG isn’t as transparent about their history and their current condition as a company as those other manufacturers. Third, the full coverage warranty included with the SKG is not nearly as long in duration as those warranties included with juicers manufactured by the proven trusted brands we just mentioned (once again, examples are Omega and Tribest). SKG’s excellent customer service is the only bright spot for their juicer in the category. The SKG wide chute juicer receives a 3 out of 5 for durability.

Value

Bonus Accessories

The SKG, in addition to all of the parts required to set it up for juicing, also comes with a recipe book, a smoothie strainer, and a tofu frame. These extra accessories add to its value.

Initial Cost

The SKG slow masticating juicer normally retails for just under $300. At this price point it’s one of the least expensive vertical masticating juicers on the market. The Hurom HU-100 can occasionally be found under $300 also but otherwise, all of the vertical juicers we tested retail for well above $300 at most online retailers. The Tribest Slowstar retails for about $380, the Omega VSJ843 for about $430, and the Kuvings B6000 for about $400. Thus, the SKG is about $100 less expensive than the Kuvings.

Long Term Cost

In addition to initial cost (the juicer’s price) we also consider durability and produce cost when assessing the long term cost of juicer ownership. We’ve already discussed the SKG’s below average durability earlier in the review. We discuss produce cost in detail here.

Value Summary

The SKG wide chute juicer earns only a 2.5 out of 5 in the category. Its initial cost is low but its long term cost is definitely a major concern due to the fact that we feel it is less durable than similar more expensive options on the market and because of its well below average performance in our juicing performance tests.