Pros
- A very good juicer for getting maximum yield juicing wheatgrass
- A great juicer if you prefer juice with a lot of pulp
- SB version comes with a ton of bonus accessories
- The juicer is composed of mostly stain resistant parts
Cons
- Not a very good juicer for juicing leafy greens
- Not a good choice of juicer if you prefer your juice pulp free
- Cannot be used for anything other than juicing – lacks the versatility of most other juicers of the same type
- Not as durable as comparable models
- All customer service is handled not by Hurom, but by a third party
- Manual instructions and labels on juicer parts make assembly more difficult than it needs to be
Contents
Category Scores
| Assembly Diff. | 2.5 |
| Food Prep. | 3.5 |
| Soft Produce | 3.0 |
| Hard Produce | 3.5 |
| Leafy Greens | 3.0 |
| Wheatgrass | 5.0 |
| Combination | 3.0 |
| Pulp Free | 2.0 |
| Overall | 3.5 |
| Cleaning Diff. | 4.5 |
| Ease of Use | 4.5 |
| Versatility | 3.0 |
| Durability | 3.0 |
| Value | 3.5 |
| Cumulative | 47.5 |
All category scores are out of 5.
Model Notes
The HU-100 has been on the market since 2009. At the time of its release (in 2009) it was the very first juicer of its kind – the very first vertical masticating juicer – to be made available for purchase to consumers in the United States. Shortly after Hurom released the HU-100, Omega, one of Hurom’s closest competitors, released a vertical masticating juicer of their own – the Omega VRT330. The VRT330 was essentially a carbon copy of the HU-100 with very minor alterations. Omega proceeded to improve upon the VRT330’s design with the subsequent release of the VRT350HD, the VRT400, and most recently the VSJ843 lineup of juicers. Each model would turn out to be dramatically different, in terms of design, than the model it replaced (this is especially true when you compare VSJ to VRT models). Hurom also improved upon the HU-100 but kept its overall design consistent. As such, the model number associated with Hurom’s vertical masticating juicer offering has also stayed mostly the same. New iterations do add an occasional letter or two to the original HU-100 model number but the base model number – HU-100 – does not change. For example, for this review, we tested the HU-100SB which is constructed using better quality materials than the original HU-100, includes a juice cap which the HU-100 does not, and includes a variety of bonus accessories which the HU-100 also does not. Despite these differences, the overall design of the HU-100SB is essentially exactly the same as that of the original HU-100.
As such, most of the review below applies not only to the model we actually tested, the HU-100SB, but also to the original HU-100. This is especially true for the following sections: assembly difficulty, food preparation requirements, performance, and cleaning. Please note that if we’re talking about the HU-100 we are referring to both the original HU-100 and the HU-100SB. Only if it’s necessary, will we point out that we’re specifically talking about the HU-100 or the HU-100SB.
Assembly
The Hurom HU-100 can only be used as a juicer. It cannot be used as a homogenizer. There are no parts included with the juicer that would enable you to homogenize and neither are there optional parts available online for you to purchase separately. What you see is what you get when you purchase this juicer. Those parts that are included and are required parts for juicing are listed below.
Juicing – Parts List
- Food pusher
- Feeding chute assembly (hopper)
- Juicing bowl (chamber)
- Juice cap
- Spinning brush
- Strainer (fine strainer)
- Auger (squeezing auger)
- Main body (base)
- Juice container
- Pulp container
The general terms we use for vertical masticating juicer parts are listed. If Hurom calls a certain part by a different name (in the user manual included with the juicer) it is listed in parentheses.
Extra Removable Parts
The HU-100 has extra removable parts that do not absolutely have to be removed for disassembly or replaced for assembly but certainly can be removed and replaced if you find it necessary to do so. These parts include
- Silicone blades (silicone brush)
- Silicone pulp pressure plug (extraction seal)
- Sealing ring (chamber seal)
- Juice cap seal
Let’s take a look at each of these parts in greater detail, one at a time.
Silicone Blades
A very important part of the juicing process is moving the juice where it needs to go within the juicer’s juicing bowl. Food is pushed through the feeding chute assembly and into the juicing bowl where it’s crushed by the auger and pushed through the juicing strainer. On the other side of the juicing strainer it either drips down the side of the strainer to the bottom of the juicing bowl or it sprays against the inside wall of the juicing bowl. From this point forward it’s up to gravity and the spinning brush to move the juice from both locations down and out of the juice outlet.
The spinning brush spins around the outside of the juicing strainer at exactly the same rate as the auger. Attached to the spinning brush are 2 small but very important silicone blades. These blades not only wipe the inside wall of the juicing bowl but also push juice that accumulates on the bottom of the juicing bowl through the juice outlet.
Both silicone blades are easily removable but putting them back into the spinning brush frame can be somewhat difficult. The only time that you would possibly want to remove them is for cleaning and we found that it wasn’t really necessary to do so for that purpose. We could easily access the blades for cleaning while they were still attached to the spinning brush (we cleaned the juicer about 8 or 9 times during testing and we didn’t once feel that it was necessary to remove the silicone blades in order to clean the spinning brush properly).
Silicone Pulp Pressure Plug
The juicer’s pulp pressure plug is a very important part in terms of allowing the juicer to operate as efficiently as possible while still making proper cleaning of the juicer a reasonable task. We’ve already discussed how juice sprays or falls on the outside of the juicing strainer where it collects on the outside perimeter of the juicing bowl. On the inside of the juicing strainer pulp falls down and is pushed through a small hole at the bottom of the inside perimeter of the juicing bowl, into the pulp outlet. This hole has to be very small as making it too large would offset the balance of the juicing process in which just the right amount of force pushes only properly dried pulp into the pulp outlet.
The problem is that the small size of the hole makes it difficult to gain access to the back side (the juicing bowl side) of the pulp outlet for cleaning. In order to resolve this problem, manufacturers have implemented a pulp pressure plug into the juicer’s design. We already know that the back side of the pulp outlet has a small hole that connects to the bottom of the juicing bowl. But in addition to this small hole there’s a much larger hole that’s accessed not from the inside of the juicing bowl (like the small hole), but from the bottom of the juicing bowl. This large hole is plugged up with the pulp pressure plug. The plug is plugged into the hole while juicing. When it comes time to clean the juicing bowl and pulp outlet, the pressure plug is unplugged from the hole – you now have easy access to the back side of the pulp outlet.
Why is this important? Because without this design the only way to access the pulp outlet from the juicing bowl side would be through the small hole on the inside of the juicing bowl. The large hole allows for much better access which is crucial for cleaning. It allows you to be able to push accumulated pulp through the juice outlet from one side to the other quite easily. See the photos below for an example of how this is done using the handle of the included cleaning brush.
The pulp pressure plug itself is easily cleaned alongside the juicing bowl as it’s semi-permanently attached to it with a screw. You can unscrew it from the juicing bowl if you want to but this shouldn’t be done unless the plug is damaged and needs to be replaced.
Sealing Ring
The sealing ring fits inside the juicing bowl creating a seal between it and the main body of the juicer. It can easily be removed for cleaning although it isn’t necessary to do so. We didn’t remove it even one time when repeatedly cleaning the juicer during testing.
Juice Cap Seal
The juice cap is itself composed of two separate parts – a black plastic molding and a silicone seal, the juice cap seal. Like the aforementioned silicone blades and sealing ring this seal can be removed for cleaning purposes although we found it sufficient to keep it in place and simply wipe it clean during our testing.
Assembly Introduction
How Long Does It Take?
The HU-100 can be assembled in under 1 minute by a skilled hand. You will only be able to acquire that “skilled hand” after getting some experience using the juicer. New users will take at least several minutes to fully assemble the juicer from start to finish. If those same users continue to use the juicer on a frequent basis they will be able to assemble it in under a minute after a few uses. Infrequent users, however, will find that the juicer’s assembly is complex enough to not be able to rely on memory to help them through the process. They will have to rely on the user manual or trial and error to get through the assembly process and will therefore, like new users, take several minutes to complete assembly from start to finish. The bottom line – yes, assembly can be quick and painless but only after you’ve gotten some experience with and only if you continue to use the juicer frequently. If you end up using the juicer once a month or even less infrequently assembly will take you several minutes to accomplish each time you want to set up the juicer for juicing.
How Difficult Is it to Complete Assembly?
During our testing we found that masticating juicers were definitely more difficult to assemble than centrifugal juicers and within the masticating juicer category, vertical masticating juicers were somewhat more difficult to assemble than their horizontal counterparts. Since the HU-100 is a vertical masticating juicer, right out of the gate was one of the more difficult to assemble juicers we tested.
Markers and Guides
Since vertical masticating juicers are more complex to put together than all other types of juicers except perhaps for twin gear juicers, manufacturers have implemented markers and guides on the parts required for their assembly to help make the process go a little bit smoother than it would otherwise. Parts such as the main body, the juicing bowl, the juicing strainer, etc. have labels, arrows, and/or dots (depending on model) that show which way to turn certain parts during certain steps of assembly (labels) or how to align certain parts with other parts before and/or after fitting them together. Not all manufacturers have implemented these guides and markers equally well and so assessing how well or not so well they have been implemented will often determine whether one vertical masticating juicer is easier to assemble than another. We’ll discuss how well Hurom has implemented these guides as we discuss each step necessary for assembly in detail below.
Step 1
To begin assembly, the juicing bowl needs to be fitted to the main body of the juicer. Both the juicing bowl and main body have labels that read “Open” and “Close” but these labels and markers do not apply to fitting the juicing bowl to the main body. Instead, you will have to rely on the instructions outlined in the manual that simply read “Place the chamber (juicing bowl) on the base (main body) and turn it clockwise properly”. You are instructed to place the juicing bowl on the main body with no direction as to which way the juicing bowl should be orientated. You are then instructed to “turn it clockwise properly” which means that you need to turn it clockwise (easy enough) until it clicks into place and cannot be turned any further (more difficult as you will have to rely on trial and error to determine just how far to turn it until it’s secured in place and will have to continue all the way to step 5 until you’re absolutely sure that you’ve fitted it correctly).
Step 2
The second step of assembly requires that you fit the juicing strainer inside the spinning brush. It’s much easier to complete this step with both parts still outside of the juicing bowl but you’d be hard pressed to know as much by following the manual’s directions. The manual actually combines our step 2 and step 3 into one step which, unfortunately, points new users in the wrong direction in terms of going about these steps in the easiest most straightforward manner possible.
In any case, step 2 as we outline it here requires that you press the juicing strainer firmly into the spinning brush until it cannot be pushed any further. Our recommendation (and the way that most other user manuals for similarly designed juicers outline this step) is that you do so outside of the juicing bowl as is demonstrated below.
Step 3
The third step of assembly entails taking the assembled juicing strainer and spinning brush and placing these combined parts in the juicing bowl. Here we see the first implementation of markers and guides to aid you in carrying out assembly correctly. There’s a large white arrow on the top edge of the juicing strainer pointing outward. This large white arrow should be aligned with a matching white arrow next to the “Open” label on the juicing bowl. The problem is that there is another matching white arrow exactly the same size, color, and shape as the white arrow next to the “Open” label which is also on the juicing bowl. This arrow is next to the “Close” label. Now, intuitively you won’t be inclined to try to match the juicing strainer’s arrow to the arrow next to the “Close” label when you first place the juicing strainer/spinning brush into the juicing bowl, but you may be confused thinking that you should turn the juicing strainer/ spinning brush from its initial position matching its white arrow to the white arrow next to the “Open” label until it matches the white arrow next to the “Close” label.
The bottom line is that the way in which Hurom has chosen to label the juicing bowl actually makes fitting the juicing strainer into the juicing bowl even more confusing than it would be without any arrows or labels. We’ll see why they’ve implemented this confusing design in step 5.
Step 4
The fourth step of assembly involves placing the auger into the juicing bowl so that it’s properly seated on the motor shaft. The auger is just the right diameter and just long enough for you to intuitively know that it should be fitted inside the juicing bowl inside of the juicing strainer, and that it should probably be seated so that the top of the auger doesn’t extend past the top edge of the juicing bowl. After you first place it inside the juicing bowl you’ll probably have to turn it back and forth and push down for it to fit securely in place but the whole process, for the reasons outlined above, is a fairly straightforward and simple process.
Step 5
Step five involves fitting the feeding chute assembly to the juicing bowl. For this step the manufacturer has implemented two different sets of labels and markers to help you along the way. There are two labels – “Open” and “Close” – on the top of the main body that extends upwards past the side of the juicing bowl. To make sure that you’re absolutely sure what each label signifies there is an open lock symbol next to the “Open” label and a closed lock symbol next to the “Close” label. On the lid of the feeding chute assembly there is a black arrow that should be matched to the “Open” label on the main body when first placing the feeding chute assembly on the juicing bowl. To secure the feeding chute assembly in place turn it until the same black arrow matches with the “Close” label on the top of the main body.
To further aid in this step there is a second arrow on the lid of the feeding chute assembly. This arrow is white and should be matched to the white arrow next to the “Open” label on the juicing bowl – the same white arrow and “Open” label we discussed in step 3 – when first placing the feeding chute assembly on the juicing bowl. The feeding chute assembly should then be turned clockwise until the white arrow on the feeding chute assembly lid matches the white arrow next to the “Close” label on the juicing bowl.
It’s only necessary to use one but you certainly can use both sets of labels and markers to help you complete this step successfully. The problem is that having two sets of labels and markers for this step doesn’t really make things any easier while it does introduce unnecessary confusion into step 3.
Assembly Summary
The HU-100 follows exactly the same steps to complete assembly as we had to follow to assemble every other vertical masticating juicer we tested. The truth is that we found it was just as easy to assemble (or difficult to assemble depending on how you look at it) as every other vertical masticating juicer we tested. This was so because we were hands on with these juicers conducting hundreds of tests over the course of just a few days and had to assemble and disassemble them well over a hundred times to do so. For each fruit or vegetable we tested we had to clean the juicer before testing the next. This required complete disassembly and assembly of the juicer each time. Needless to say we were experts in juicer assembly after just a few tests were completed.
Here comes the rub – our experience with assembling this juicer is not representative of what the average user experiences after they unbox it and try to set up and use it for the first time. We tested over 30 juicers. The average user is probably buying their first. We therefore have to assess assembly difficulty not in terms of our own experience but in terms of what a new user will experience when trying to assemble this juicer for the first time. We also take into account what a user might experience should they juice with this juicer very infrequently. Those users who have plenty of experience with this type of juicer or those users that will use the HU-100 frequently really shouldn’t be concerned with assembly difficulty in the first place and so they are not taken into account when we assess how difficult the HU-100 is to assemble.
That all being said, we give the HU-100 a well below average 2.5 out of 5 for assembly difficulty for three reasons. First, it’s a vertical masticating juicer which, as we’ve already discussed earlier, makes it more difficult to assemble than other types of juicers right off the bat. Second, it’s manual explains certain steps necessary for assembly in a way that makes those steps more difficult than they need to be – in a way that is likely to confuse new users. Third, the markers and guides implemented with this juicer, like its manual, are also unnecessarily confusing. There are two sets of markers and guides that aid with fitting the feeding chute assembly to the juicing bowl. This redundancy wouldn’t necessarily be a negative except for the fact that the second set of guides makes step 3 of assembly – fitting the juicing strainer/spinning brush inside the juicing bowl – more confusing than it would be otherwise. These mistakes show that the manufacturer hasn’t put nearly as much thought into these markers and guides and for that matter assembly, overall, as they should have. Hence, the below average score in this category.
Food Preparation
For almost all of the juicers we tested, most produce needed to be cut (prepared) before it could be juiced. Different juicers required that produce be cut to different sizes. Most often, what size the produce needed to be cut to was dictated by the juicer’s chute size. The HU-100’s feeding chute is only 1.25 in. by 2.5 in. large and so most fruits and vegetables cannot fit into it whole. Note that the Hurom’s small feeding chute is not a unique aspect to its design. Most other slow juicers we tested have similarly sized feeding chutes. Most horizontal masticating juicers we tested have even smaller sized feeding chutes. Most other vertical masticating juicers we tested have chutes almost exactly the same size as the Hurom’s. The Tribest Slowstar, Omega VSJ843, and Breville BJS600XL all have feeding chutes that are about 1.375 to 1.5 in. wide and 2.5 in. long. The two exceptions in this category (vertical masticating) were the Kuvings and SKG whole slow juicers. Each has a perfectly symmetrical much larger 3 in. diameter circular feeding chute. As such, they did not require produce to be prepared for juicing nearly as much.
In addition to feeding chute size, two other factors dictate food preparation requirements. They are juicer type and produce type. For more information on how these two factors make an impact please see here.
Food Preparation Results
The tables below show how much each fruit and vegetable we tested needed to be cut prior to juicing it with the HU-100 and some other top rated slow juicers that we tested. They also show the time (in seconds) that it took us to make these cuts for preparing each fruit and vegetable for juicing with each model juicer, specifically. In addition, they show the average time that it took us to cut the same quantity of the same particular fruit or vegetable to the same size for all of the juicers that we tested that required the same size cut. For example, oranges needed to be cut to eighths for six different juicers that we tested. It took us only 49 seconds to cut oranges to this size in preparation for juicing with the HU-100. However, it took us slightly longer to cut oranges to the same size for all of the 5 other juicers we tested that required that oranges also be cut to eighths. As such, the average time that it took us to cut 1 lb. of oranges to eighths was 59 seconds.
HU-100
| Fruit/Veg. | Size of Cuts | Time to Cut | Avg. Time to Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges | eighths | 49 | 59 |
| Grapes | no cutting required | ||
| Carrots | no cutting required | ||
| Celery | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 48 | 66 |
| Apples | eighths | 41 | 46 |
| Spinach | pre-cut | ||
| Wheatgrass | pre-cut | ||
| More Information | |||
| Chute Size | 1.25″ by 2.5″ | ||
| Type | Vertical Masticating |
Tribest Slowstar
| Fruit/Veg. | Size of Cuts | Time to Cut | Avg. Time to Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges | quarters | 27 | 24 |
| Grapes | no cutting required | ||
| Carrots | no cutting required | ||
| Celery | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 54 | 66 |
| Apples | eighths | 51 | 46 |
| Spinach | pre-cut | ||
| Wheatgrass | pre-cut | ||
| More Information | |||
| Chute Size | 1.5″ by 2.5″ | ||
| Type | Vertical Masticating |
Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer
| 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 | 121 | 66 |
| Apples | quarters | 23 | 18 |
| Spinach | pre-cut | ||
| Wheatgrass | pre-cut | ||
| More Information | |||
| Chute Size | 3″ diameter | ||
| Type | Vertical Masticating |
Omega 8006
| Fruit/Veg. | Size of Cuts | Time to Cut | Avg. Time to Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges | eighths | 62 | 59 |
| Grapes | no cutting required | ||
| Carrots | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 53 | 50 |
| Celery | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 59 | 66 |
| Apples | sixteenths | 100 | 99 |
| Spinach | pre-cut | ||
| Wheatgrass | pre-cut | ||
| More Information | |||
| Chute Size | 1.5″ diameter | ||
| Type | Horizontal Masticating |
Food Preparation Conclusion
The HU-100’s feeding chute is ever so slightly smaller than the BJS600XL, Slowstar, and VSJ843Q’s feeding chutes and for this reason oranges needed to be cut into eighths for juicing with the Hurom compared to only quarters for juicing with the Breville, Tribest, and Omega juicers. For all other fruits and vegetables we tested, the produce needed to be cut to exactly the same size for the Hurom as for the previously mentioned juicers. Of course, much less cutting was required for the Kuvings and SKG whole slow juicers, but this was expected due to their larger feeding chutes. On the opposite side of the spectrum, much more cutting was required for most of the horizontal masticating juicers we tested.
Performance
To test the Hurom’s performance we tested how much juice it could extract from 7 different fruits and vegetables. For the first 6 tests we juiced 1 lb. of each fruit or vegetable. For the 7th test we juiced only 4 oz. of wheatgrass (this is still a lot of wheatgrass). And for our 8th and final test we juiced 2 lb. of a combination of fruits and vegetables – 1 lb. of oranges and 4 oz. each of carrots, celery, spinach, and apples.
Going into testing, we wanted to apply a certain “juicing methodology” that would allow for consistent test results no matter what type or model juicer we tested. We also wanted to test in a way that would make our test results as beneficial as possible to potential buyers. That methodology is outlined in detail here.
Out of Juicer Yield vs After Sieve Yield
For each test the initially collected juice was the out of juicer yield. This juice was then poured through a sieve. The juice collected after pouring the initial out of juicer yield through a sieve was the after sieve yield.
Juicing Performance Results
This table, a part of our general buyer’s guide, shows results for the HU-100 and the other juicers that we tested.
Juicing Performance Summary
Our test results show that the HU-100 is only an adequate option for juicing most types of produce. It is not recommended for juicing spinach but highly recommended for juicing wheatgrass. What is perhaps most unique to the Hurom’s test results is the fact that this juicer produced much pulpier juice than most other slow juicers we tested. This occurred despite the fact that we used the finer of the two juicing strainers (the part inside of the juicing bowl that strains the juice while it’s still inside of the juicer) included with our purchase of the juicer. In our orange juicing test the difference between the juicer’s out of juicer and after sieve yield was a whopping 1.8 oz. – that’s 1.8 oz. of pulp collected in our test sieve. Compare this result to the 0.5 oz. to 1 oz. of pulp collected in the same test for 7 out of the 13 other slow juicers we tested. Our grape juicing test garnered a similar result, although, due to the nature of grapes, less pulp was collected – only 0.8 oz. This was still 2 to 8 times more pulp than what was collected for 8 of the 13 other slow juicers we tested. What about hard produce? The same pattern persists. The HU-100 ranks in the top 5 for pulp weight in all 3 hard produce categories (carrots, celery, and apples).
The bottom line is that the HU-100 is a great option if you like juice with a lot of pulp and just as much a poor option if you prefer juice without pulp. Note, however, that just because it makes juice with a lot of pulp does not mean that it necessarily makes more juice than most other slow juicers we tested. In other words, the fact that it introduced more pulp into the initial out of juicer yields does not necessarily mean that those yields were greater for the Hurom than they were for most other slow juicers we tested. Recall that we called the HU-100 only an adequate option for juicing most types of produce, in terms of yield. Despite its out of juicer yields being consistently high in pulp content, it only garnered average out of juicer yields in most tests. It did rank in the top 3 for out of juicer yield for oranges. However, it ranks only 9th in out of juicer yield for grapes and 7th for carrots, celery, and grapes. It ranks a dismal 10th for spinach and 11th in out of juicer yield in our combination test. Again, the HU-100 is an adequate option for juicing most fruits and vegetables and is recommended if you like juice that has a lot of pulp. However, it is far from the best option in terms of yield. Many other juicers we tested make more juice and with less pulp.
Cleaning
Cleaning the HU-100 is fairly straightforward. We recommend first pre-washing the juicer (fully assembled) before washing parts individually in the sink. To pre-wash, the juicer should be turned on and water should be fed into its feeding chute in the exact same manner in which produce is fed into the juicer when juicing (the juicer is turned on for this procedure). We recommend closing the juice cap to allow water to fill the juicing bowl to maximize the efficiency with which the water can rinse the interior of the bowl and the parts inside of it (the auger, strainer, etc.). Next, the juicer needs to be disassembled. All of its parts can be disassembled in exactly the reverse order in which they were assembled although we found it easier to remove all of the parts located inside the juicing bowl while the juicing bowl is held over the sink instead of removing them individually on the countertop in the same way they were assembled on the countertop.
The juicer’s manual instructs that each part should be cleaned with the included cleaning brush. We found it easier to wash most parts using a microfiber cloth although any cloth dish rag will do. Before washing each part with the cloth we first soaked it (sometimes even just a few seconds) in warm soapy water. We also made sure to first remove excessive pulp buildup from parts that required it before placing them in the sink to soak. In any case, most parts were washed cleaned using a cloth and then placed under running water (under the faucet) to rinse. The only parts that required some extra attention were the juicing bowl and strainer. We used the tapered handle of the included cleaning brush to scrape pulp out of the juicing bowl and the brush end of the brush to scrub the strainer clean.
Note
All silicone parts except for the pulp pressure plug can very easily be removed from the parts to which they are attached and cleaned separately. The juicer’s manual does an excellent job of explaining how to install and remove these parts and clean them separately. However, we did not feel it necessary to clean these parts separately during testing. The silicone blades were easily cleaned while still attached to the spinning brush, the juice cap seal could easily be wiped cleaned while it was still attached to the juice cap, etc.
Pulp Accumulation
For some vertical masticating juicers that we tested we observed excessive pulp buildup within the juicing strainer, auger, and juicing bowl. We did not observe such excessive buildup with the HU-100. Yes, it did have plenty of pulp accumulation within the pulp outlet of the juicing bowl, but it did not have pulp buildup within any other part of the bowl – something we observed with the Omega VSJ843, for example. The Hurom’s auger and juicing strainer barely showed any signs of pulp buildup at all.
Staining
Staining is a major issue with masticating juicers and for this reason masticating juicer manufacturers have taken certain steps to make their juicers more stain resistant. This often involves making certain parts less aesthetically pleasing in their dry, unused state for the sake of reducing the likelihood of their staining after coming into contact with colorful stain inducing produce.
Such is the case with most of the HU-100’s parts that actually come into contact with produce during juicing. The juicing bowl is constructed using a clear but darkened almost yellowish plastic. The pusher, feeding chute assembly, auger, the plastic part of the juicing strainer, and the juice cap are all black. The silicone parts including the silicone blades of the spinning brush, the pulp pressure plug, the sealing ring, and the juice cap seal are all yellow. The colors of these parts individually and collectively are far from pretty but they do go a long way ensuring that the same parts don’t get stained by produce over time. The only part that we would at all be concerned about staining is the white spinning brush although we didn’t observe it staining at all during testing.
Dishwasher Safe Parts
The juicer’s manual clearly states: “Do not wash the parts in the dishwasher or a dish dryer.” Note that the vast majority of slow juicers we tested also are not composed of dishwasher safe parts.
Cleaning Summary and Overall Score
Not including pre-washing, disassembly, and filling our test sink with warm soapy water, it took us approximately 5 minutes to clean the HU-100 and most other vertical masticating juicers we tested. Similar models take about the same amount of time to clean as they are composed of essentially all of the same types of parts. That being said, some models are slightly more difficult to clean because of extra pulp buildup in certain parts. Such was not the case for the HU-100. Some models are also not composed of as stain resistant parts as the Hurom is. Taking those two strong positives for the HU-100 into account we give it a 4.5 out of 5 for cleaning difficulty.
Cleaning difficulty compared to other types of juicers
Compared to other juicer types the time and difficulty associated with cleaning vertical masticating juicers is about average. Horizontal masticating juicers, for the most part, were slightly easier to clean while centrifugal juicers, for the most part, were slightly more difficult to clean.
Ease of Use
Each slow juicer we tested had an initial learning curve. We had to learn how to assemble, prepare food for, juice with, and clean all of the slow juicers we tested. All slow juicers also were more or less difficult to use after we had become comfortable using them – after we had broken through the initial learning curve. This is what we refer to as the continued difficulty of using the juicer. In other words, we define continued difficulty as that difficulty which persists after becoming comfortable with a juicer.
Initial Learning Curve
A slow juicer is not just an appliance that you plug in and use. It requires that you become familiar with several techniques before you can use it efficiently. Quick and efficient assembly, disassembly, and cleaning of the juicer and proper food preparation and use of the juicer are skills acquired and perfected over time. You won’t be able to juice nearly as efficiently when you first use this type of juicer as you will be able to after several months of frequent use.
Of all of these techniques perhaps the most difficult to master (and the technique that has the greatest impact on the juicer’s learning curve) is proper food preparation. We discuss how food preparation differs for each type of juicer we tested in this part of our general buyer’s guide. In the same portion of the guide we also discuss what about food preparation is unique for vertical masticating juicers.
Continued Difficulty
Some difficulties of using a juicer become less difficult over time (assembly, food prep, etc.). Other difficulties do not. These are discussed below.
How Hard Is It to Push Produce into The Juicer?
Again, we advise that you read our general buyer’s guide for more information on this topic. Here we will simply say that it is easier to push produce into a vertical masticating juicer than all other types of juicers, including centrifugal juicers – a strong positive for the HU-100’s ease of use.
Other Design Choices and Features that Improve or Detract from Ease of Use
Weight and Carrying Handle
The juicer can be more or less difficult to use depending on how difficult it is to move around your kitchen (assuming of course that you won’t permanently keep it in one place on the countertop). Two things make a juicer more or less difficult to move – its weight and whether it has a carrying handle or not. The Hurom has a large easy to grip carrying handle that makes moving the juicer around the kitchen much easier than it would be without it. It’s of average weight both fully assembled and fully disassembled. Fully assembled the juicer weighs 13 lb. 3.3 oz – comfortably within the 12 to 14 lb. range of most other juicers we tested in the same weight category. Fully disassembled the main body weighs 10 lb. 9.6 oz. – once again comfortably within the range of most other slow juicers we tested in the same weight category (most have a main body weighing about 10 to 11 lb.).
Buttons and Controls
There is only one switch that controls the juicer. It’s located on top of the black handle that extends from its body. The switch is clearly labeled “ON” to turn it on and “REV” to put it in reverse. Leaving the switch centered turns the juicer off.
Juicer Movement, Power Cord Length
We did not observe any movement of the juicer during our performance testing. Some juicers definitely had the tendency to move around the countertop while juicing. The HU-100 was not one of them with 5 very small but stable rubber feet on the bottom of the main body keeping it securely in place.
The HU-100 has a 61-inch-long power cord – quite long for a kitchen appliance. However, most other slow juicers we tested had similarly long 50 to 70 inch power cords.
Other Factors That Affect Ease of Use
Manual Quality
We tested the HU-100SB for review. The SB version of the juicer comes with a different manual than the HU-100. That being said, the HU-100SB’s manual is of exceptional quality. It contains highly detailed illustrations with comprehensive accompanying text instructions. It is also very well organized and easy to follow. The SB version of this juicer also comes with a separate recipe book that is even of better quality than the manual. The recipe book contains very helpful nutritional information regarding different types of produce and a more thorough explanation of how to use the juicer properly. It also features 30+ recipes. Both the juicer’s manual and recipe book go a long way in helping new users use and care for the juicer properly. Both forms of literature do an equally good job allowing experienced users to reference proper use and care for the juicer quickly and easily should they require it.
We were able to obtain a PDF version of the HU-100’s manual online (we didn’t have a physical manual on hand because we didn’t buy this particular model for review). All that we’ll say of it is that it is much less impressive than the SB version’s manual and accompanying recipe book in both scope and content.
Parts and Their Properties
Three of its parts can make a vertical masticating juicer more or less difficult to use. The first part, the juice cap, makes the juicer more or less difficult to use purely based on whether it’s present or not. If it’s not present then the juicer can be more difficult to use. Fortunately, the HU-100SB does come with a juice cap and so you’ll be able to enjoy its many benefits which we briefly outline below (note that from our online research it appears that the HU-100 does not).
The HU-100SB’s juice cap is completely removable although we recommend that you keep it fitted to the juicer even if you don’t think you’re going to need it. You’re probably well aware that the juice cap can be closed off to mix juice while it’s still inside of the juicing bowl. But, what you might not be aware of is the fact that it can serve two other purposes, both of which are even more useful. First, you can close the cap to pre-wash the juicing bowl (more on this later in our review). Second, you can close the cap to be able to juice a large quantity of produce without stopping.
When juicing a large quantity of produce you may find that the juice produced is greater than the capacity of the included juice container. Closing the cap allows you to remove the juice container when it fills up, empty it into a larger container, and put it back underneath the juice spout without making a mess on your countertop. Should you do this with a juicer that doesn’t include a juice cap such as all of the horizontal masticating juicers we tested and many other vertical masticating juicers on the market, you’ll have to turn off the juicer, wait for it to stop dripping from the juicing bowl, and only then be able to empty and replace the juice container.
The other two parts that can make a juicer more or less difficult to use are its juice and pulp containers. The larger they are, the easier the juicer is to use. Note that this is only true when juicing large quantities of produce. If you’re juicing only a few ounces of produce, chances are that you won’t extract more juice than what the juice container can hold and you won’t make more pulp than what the included pulp container can hold. However, if you’re juicing a large quantity of produce – say several pounds – it’s likely that you’ll need to empty and replace both containers at least one time while you’re juicing (when they fill up). The larger the containers are, the less frequently you’ll need to do so – the easier the juicer is to use.
The HU-100 comes with a 34 oz. juice container and a 52 oz. pulp container. Its juice container’s volume is about average compared to the other slow juicers we tested and its pulp container’s volume is well above average compared to the same juicers.
Ease of Use Summary and Score
Both the HU-100’s initial learning curve and the continued difficulty of using it almost exactly mirrors that of most other vertical masticating juicers on the market. That being said, most vertical masticating juicers are easier to learn how to use and easier to use on a daily basis than most other types of slow juicers on the market. For this reason and factoring in the smaller details regarding the HU-100’s ease of use, specifically, which we covered above, we give it a 4.5 out of 5 for ease of use.
Versatility
We’ve already touched on the juicer’s versatility at the very beginning of this review when we discussed its assembly and how it can only be assembled for juicing. Again, no parts are included to assemble the juicer for homogenizing and neither can they be purchased separately online. The fact that the HU-100 can only be used as a juicer greatly reduces its versatility compared to most other slow juicers we tested. Not surprisingly we give it only a 3 out of 5 for versatility.
Durability
Build Quality and Materials
We observed the HU-100 to be of slightly lesser build quality built using slightly lesser quality materials than those of most other vertical masticating juicers that we tested. The plastics used for its construction appear to be ever so slightly less durable than those plastics used for the construction of similar models – at least according to our own observations.
Consumer Feedback
Most consumers are very happy with their purchase of this juicer. Very few report problems with its durability.
Brand Reputation and Quality of Support
DongAh Ind Co., Ltd is an Asian company that is, not surprisingly, much more well known in Asia than they are in the United States. In fact, chances are that, assuming you live in the United States, you’ve never even heard of DongAh until we just mentioned them in this review. That’s because they don’t sell their juicers in the USA under the DongAh name. Instead, they sell juicers under the Hurom name. Hurom is therefore nothing more than a brand – a “company” DongAh established in the United States to sell their juicers – juicers which they manufacture in South Korea.
Does this make Hurom a brand you can’t trust? Does this make Hurom a company you don’t want to buy products from? Not necessarily. Most other popular slow juicer manufacturers have similar ties to Asia just the same as Hurom. Omega, Tribest, and Kuvings juicers are all manufactured in South Korea just the same as Hurom juicers. In this regard, you’re on equal footing buying a Hurom juicer as you are buying a juicer from any other top slow juicer manufacturer.
The difference (and that which is of some concern for us) is that two of the three aforementioned companies (Omega and Tribest) have been well established in the United States for several decades. Hurom juicers have only been sold in the United States since 2009. In addition, all Omega, Tribest, and Kuvings customer service is handled by their own offices within the United States. Hurom customer service and warranty claims are handled by a third party, Roland Products, Inc. which is their sole distributor in the United States. Hurom is therefore only a brand in the United States. It is not a company with offices here.
Warranty
Both the physical manual included with our purchase of the HU-100SB and the PDF manual for the HU-100 which we obtained online state that the juicer’s motor is warranted for only 5 years and that all other parts are warranted for only 1 year. These statements contradict information we’ve found online which specifies the juicer’s warranty’s duration as being for 10 years. Depending on which source you go with the included warranty is either of average length and scope (10 years and covering all parts) or of well below average length and scope (1 year for all parts and 5 years for the motor). Most other slow juicers of the same type (vertical masticating) that we tested have at least a 10-year warranty. Popular Omega juicers such as the VSJ843 and VRT350 have an even longer 15-year warranty.
Claiming Warranty Coverage
The SB versions’ included manual instructs that the included warranty form (a page in the manual) be filled out and mailed to a “local distributor”. As we mentioned above all warranty claims for Hurom juicers are handled by Roland Products, Inc., Hurom’s only distributor in North America.
Summary and Score
The HU-100 has only very slightly a lesser build quality and the quality of its materials are of only a slightly lesser quality than those materials used to construct comparable juicers manufactured by Omega, Kuvings, and Tribest. However, buying a Hurom juicer such as the HU-100 does not come with the same level of support as juicers from those other brands because Hurom is not actually a company that is currently established in the United States. Instead, all customer support is outsourced to a 3rd party. In addition, the exact terms and conditions of the juicer’s included warranty are unknown. It is for these two reasons, that we give the HU-100 a below average 3 out of 5 for durability.
Value
Bonus Accessories
Not listed in the parts list at the beginning of this review is the extra coarse juicing strainer and tofu frame that’s also included with your purchase of the SB version of the juicer. The coarse strainer can be used instead of the fine strainer if you would like more pulp in your juice. It’s exactly the same size and shape as the fine strainer, except it has larger perforations. The tofu frame is an extra accessory that doesn’t need to be assembled to be used. In addition, our purchase of the HU-100SB also included vegetable scrubbing gloves and a “Hungry for Change” DVD.
Note that, to the best of our knowledge, none of these bonus accessories are included with the base model HU-100.
Initial Cost
The HU-100 can vary quite dramatically in price depending on which version of the juicer you buy and from which retailer you buy. The base model version of the juicer normally retails for less than $300 while the SB version cost us closer to $400. Comparable vertical masticating juicers retail for between $380 and $430.
Long Term Cost
In addition to the price of the juicer itself the cost of produce also plays a large role in determining the overall cost of juicing. How much produce is required for juicing (and the cost of buying that produce) varies depending on the juicer’s performance. We analyze the relationship between the cost of produce and juicer performance in great detail here.
Value Summary
We cannot give the HU-100 a final score in this category because its price and the accessories included with its purchase vary depending on which version of the juicer you buy. As such, we can only give both juicers a placeholder value score of 3.5 out of 5 (which is an average score that doesn’t reflect either a better or worse value for either model compared to its competition).