Cold pressed juice is made by grinding fruits and vegetables into a pulp, then squeezing that pulp under heavy hydraulic pressure instead of spinning it with a fast blade. Less heat and air touch the juice, so it keeps more of the color, flavor and delicate vitamins of fresh produce. At Sabi, we press every bottle in small batches in Venice, California, and never heat it or use HPP afterward.
The label doesn't tell you much
There is no official standard for the words cold pressed. Brands use them because they sound fresh and careful. Even many slow juicers, which push produce through a screen and never actually press it, get sold as cold pressed. So the method matters more than the word on the bottle.
Three ways juice gets made
- Centrifugal. A blade spins produce against a screen at high speed. It's fast and cheap, but it adds heat and air, so the juice browns and fades quickly.
- Slow or masticating. An auger grinds produce through a screen. It is often called cold pressed, but nothing is pressed. You get more foam, and the juice separates fast.
- Hydraulic press. Produce is ground first, then squeezed under thousands of pounds of pressure. Very little heat or air gets in. This is true cold pressing, and it's how Sabi is made.
Why the method matters
Think of extra virgin olive oil. Same olives, but the first cold press tastes different from oil pulled out with heat. Juice works the same way. A true press:
- Gets more juice out of the produce, leaving the pulp dry
- Makes a smoother juice with less foam and separation
- Keeps color and flavor closer to the fruit for longer
- Limits the heat and oxygen that wear down vitamin C and other delicate nutrients
Cold pressed is not the same as never HPP
Many bottled cold pressed juices go through a second step called high pressure processing, or HPP, so they can sit on a shelf for weeks. Sabi skips that step. Read more in Raw, Unpasteurized and Never HPP: What It Means and Why We Do It.
Three questions to ask about any cold pressed juice
- Was it really pressed, or just pushed through a screen?
- Was it heated or processed after pressing?
- How long has it been sitting on the shelf?
Sabi answers the same way every time: truly pressed, never heated and never sitting for long.
How Sabi makes it
- Sourced and washed. We start every morning with fresh produce, washed and prepped by hand.
- Crushed. Fruits and vegetables are ground into a juicy pulp.
- Pressed cold. The pulp goes under slow hydraulic pressure. No heat, ever.
- Bottled fresh. Each batch is bottled right away and kept cold until it reaches you.
Our blends lean on Latin American ingredients like nopal cactus, tamarindo, jicama, dragon fruit and hibiscus. The easiest way to try them is the Sabi Starter Pack, six signature juices in one box.
Where to get cold pressed juice in Venice and Santa Monica
- Pickup: our production kitchen inside Colony at 401 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291, one block south of Rose Ave. Open daily 10 AM to 9:30 PM. You can also pick up inside Colony at 11419 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Order for pickup.
- Delivery: local delivery on Thursdays within 6 miles of our Venice kitchen. Order by Monday night.
- Shipping: packed cold with ice packs and shipped overnight across Southern California.
- Farmers markets: find us at Southern California markets and pop ups. Our regular stops are Mondays at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) from 10 AM to 2 PM, Wednesdays at USC from 10 AM to 2 PM, and every other Thursday in the White Memorial Hospital courtyard from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cold pressed juice better than regular juice?
True cold pressed juice is exposed to less heat and air than juice made with a fast blade, so it tends to keep more of its fresh flavor, color and delicate vitamins. It is still juice, so enjoy it alongside whole fruits and vegetables, not instead of them.
Is cold pressed juice pasteurized?
Not always. Many brands use HPP or heat after pressing. Sabi is raw: never pasteurized and never HPP.
How long does cold pressed juice last?
Raw cold pressed juice has a short life. Keep Sabi refrigerated and enjoy it within 5 to 7 days of delivery. Juices treated with HPP can last for weeks.
Does cold pressed juice have fiber?
Very little. Pressing leaves most fiber in the pulp. The soluble fiber remaining allows the cells in your body to absorb the nutrients much faster because no additional energy is required for digestion. If fiber is your goal, eat the whole fruit or try our Smoothie Trio.
Where can I buy cold pressed juice near Venice or Santa Monica?
Pick up Sabi at 401 Lincoln Blvd inside Colony in Venice, or inside Colony at 11419 Santa Monica Blvd. We currently offer delivery on Thursdays within 6 miles, or you can order online for cold shipping.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
