Beverage

How to Boost Profits By Adding Fresh Juice to Your Menu

Written by Hamilton Beach Commercial | May 5, 2026 at 8:08 PM

 

An apple is… just an apple.

But if you juice a few apples, throw in a carrot, add some ginger and turmeric, and give your creation a cute name? Suddenly you have a $12+ menu item.

That’s the power of fresh juice. Thinking about investing in a commercial juicer? Here’s what you need to know.

 

The benefits of a centrifugal juice extractor  

Customer experience: A centrifugal commercial juice extractor is designed for single-batch juicing. It’s made right there in the shop, so customers can see firsthand that they’re getting the freshest possible product. Cold-pressed juice, on the other hand, is typically manufactured offsite and bottled.

Pulp content: Pulp is a key element of juice flavor and appearance. More pulp means more flavor, but also creates a thicker consistency that’s not for everyone. However, low pulp levels mean juice separates more rapidly when displayed on ice, which isn’t great for visual appeal. otto™ the Juice Extractor is designed to hit the sweet spot: 3-3.5% pulp for ideal flavor, color and consistency.

Speed and ease of use: For freshly made juice, profits depend on how fast the operator can make each serving. otto™ is made to streamline each step of the process:

  • Large-diameter chute to reduce prep time
  • Ergonomic food pusher for efficient loading
  • Special spout and oversized drip tray keep counter clean
  • Stainless steel components and large pulp bin that are easily removed for rapid cleaning

Yield: Yield — the amount of juice obtained from fresh produce — is key for busy juice shops. If there’s a lot of juice left in the pulp, you’re losing money. otto™’s blades and strainer basket are designed to extract the maximum amount of juice from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. To maximize yield, one rule of thumb is to add the most fibrous produce first, such as kale, spinach, celery, and ginger. Afterward, add juicier ingredients, like apples or cucumbers.

Durability: If you read reviews of cheap commercial juice extractors, a common complaint is that they break easily or get stuck. Customers don’t have the patience to stand there and watch your staff disassemble the machine, clean it, and start again. otto™ features a brushless induction motor with dual ball bearings and dual cooling fans for long-lasting performance.

 

The health benefits of a centrifugal juicer vs. cold-pressed juicer  

Much has been said about the health benefits of cold-pressed juice vs. juice made with a centrifugal juicer. The claim: Cold-pressed juices are better for you, because the slight amount of heat generated by the spinning blades of a centrifugal juicer can reduce the bioactive compounds present in fresh produce. Because of this, cold-pressed juices are typically sold at premium prices.

However, research has shown that there is no real difference in the health benefits of cold-pressed juice vs. centrifugal juice. If you want the specifics, here’s what the researchers said: “We observed no significant differences between cold-pressed and normal centrifugal juices in terms of the contents of bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, total phenolic, and total carotenoid) and antioxidant capacity (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity).”

 

What about citrus juicing?  

There’s just no substitute for the bright, lively taste of freshly squeezed orange juice. Why does it taste so much better? Packaged orange juice is pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria, which changes its flavor. So orange juice bottlers use “flavor packs” to make their product taste better: chemical compounds derived from orange oil and orange peels.

That’s why freshly squeezed orange juice — whether served on its own, in a cocktail, or in a smoothie — is such a treat for customers. All you need is the FreshMark™ Electric Citrus Juicer. It works with all citrus fruits, filling a glass with fresh juice in less than 30 seconds.

Discover our full line of foodservice and beverage equipment for juice shops.