How do I make my own cider?

Of course the best way to enjoy any ciders are to make them yourself!

There are some excellent resources online and in print to help you discover the traditional craft of cider making yourself.

Whether at home, in your garden or with friends, picking, pressing and fermenting apples into cider using traditional methods, is a really enjoyable way to make use of apples that may otherwise go to waste.

As a guide, approximately 20 lbs of apples are required per gallon of cider. It may be necessary to use additional apples obtained from a different source in order to obtain a balanced taste.

Most small scale cider making methods involve Cider being made from windfall apples.

If you are unsure about apple types that you may have you can get them identified.

Two of the best online resources are actually just two webpages:

Even if you don’t have any apples, you can get involved!

Join a local networks for sharing apples or put a request on the Real Cider forum. Someone in your area maybe looking for help and usually as part of a cooperative you can share the produce when ready!

This is an excellent way to share equipment, and at the same time learn from more experienced local cider makers.

Read about cider making, before starting

Visit our Cider books page, we recommend Real Cider Making on a small scale which is how I started in cider making. It describes in simple terms the steps you need to take to make cider, and the methods for still, or conditioned (sparkling) ciders.

Watch other cider makers demonstrate how its done

There are two ways you can do this, either go along to an apple day event in the autumn, or watch people make cider.

What equipment do we need?

There is a basic equipment list for small scale cider making on Real Cider.

Ongoing support and help

Much of cider making is about troubleshooting; “what to do if” for example. Again use the Real Cider forum to reach out to other community members who will be able to help and advise.

Enjoy your cider!