How is cider made?

Key facts

• Core path. Harvest, mill, press, ferment, rack, mature, blend, package. [1]
• Keeving. BJCP: "The French technique of défécation (keeving in English) can be used to slow fermentation by depriving nutrients." [2]
• Presses. Covered in how a cider press works.

What are the steps from apple to bottle?

The guide what is cider — how is cider made summarises mill, press, ferment and bubbles. In short: harvest and sort; mill pulp; press juice; ferment; then mature, blend and package. French keeving variants: how French cider is made. [2]

What happens during fermentation?

Yeast converts juice sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Cooler temperatures slow yeast; warmer ferments finish faster but can stress flavour. Gravity drop tracks alcohol: higher starting sugar and a more complete ferment raise ABV within the style bands listed in alcohol content of cider. Pennsylvania Cider Guild process notes describe a common commercial pattern of about two weeks in primary fermentation, then roughly another two weeks to finish and settle yeast before racking. [1] For home and style-specific timings, see how long cider takes to ferment.

What happens after fermentation?

Makers rack cider off the lees, then often rest tanks for further settling before filtration or package. [1] Maturation and blending smooth harsh edges; some styles keep haze and live yeast for bottle conditioning. Keeving and slow French paths starve yeast of nutrients so residual sugar remains — detail in French vs English cider. [2]

How is cider sweetened and stabilised?

To hold sweetness, makers may stop yeast with sulfites, sorbate, pasteurisation or sterile filtration, or they back-sweeten after stabilisation. Force carbonation and bottle conditioning are separate bubble choices after the ferment is quiet. [3] Juice percentage and concentrate rules belong to how much juice is in cider.

How do commercial and farmhouse cider differ?

Large plants often pasteurise and force-carbonate for shelf stability; farmhouse makers may bottle-condition and leave haze. Industrial lines may use concentrate within local juice rules; farmhouse makers often press only fresh fruit. [3] Home makers follow the same outline without distillation — how to make cider at home. Fresh US soft cider pressing: how apple cider is made.

Related answers: French vs English cider · how much juice is in cider

Find it on Cider Radar

• Open maker profiles for site, social and place links.

• Compare farmhouse and larger cideries on country maps.

• Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.