Best Cider Making Kits
Updated How we research
Cider is the fastest of the home ferments, which makes batch size the decision that matters most, because you will be making it again before you have finished the first lot. The sizes on offer run from a 1 gallon kit, which is about ten bottles and fits on a kitchen counter, through 5 and 6 gallon kits, up to 23 liter kits that fill fifty bottles or a corny keg. A gallon is the right place to start if you have never fermented anything; anything above 5 gallons needs somewhere cool to keep a full fermenter for a couple of weeks. The second question is whether hardware is included, since some kits ship with a reusable glass fermenter, airlock and siphon and are genuinely complete, while others are recipe kits that assume you own a bucket. Read the contents list rather than the word starter. Ingredients split into concentrate and fresh juice, and the difference is real: 100 percent concentrate is shelf-stable, consistent and slightly one-dimensional, while kits built on pressed juice or that ask you to add your own carry more apple character and vary by batch. Either way, look for a kit with no added preservatives, because potassium sorbate in supermarket juice will stall the yeast. Expect primary fermentation to finish in one to two weeks and the cider to be drinkable within a month. Berry and other flavored variants are a preference, not a quality signal.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 6.3 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:Mangrove Jack's Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit 6 Gallon. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit Complete Starter Home Brewing Kit 1 Gallon. Value score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Solid build:Mangrove Jack's Mixed Berry Cider Craft Series Kit 23L. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Feature-rich:Craft A Brew 5 Gallon Hard Cider Brewing Kit for Beginners. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Mangrove Jack's Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit 6 Gallon
Mangrove Jack's hard apple cider recipe kit for 6 Gallon batches.
Our score8.4/10Budget
Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit Complete Starter Home Brewing Kit 1 Gallon
Craft A Brew hard cider complete starter kit for 1 Gallon batches of homemade cider.
Our score8.2/10Budget
#1Mangrove Jack's hard apple cider recipe kit for 6 Gallon batches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Mangrove Jack's kits include matched yeast and concentrate
- + 6 Gallon batch yields a large supply of cider
- + Simple process, just mix the concentrate, pitch yeast and ferment
- - Equipment is not included, so a large fermenter is needed
- - Sweeter kit ciders may not suit dry cider fans
#2Craft A Brew hard cider complete starter kit for 1 Gallon batches of homemade cider.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Complete kit includes equipment for a first cider batch
- + 1 Gallon size keeps juice costs low while you learn
- + Cider is one of the easiest fermented drinks to learn with
- - Apple juice is usually not included, so buy preservative-free juice
- - Small batch yields only a handful of bottles
#3Craft A Brew 5 Gallon hard cider brewing kit for beginners who want a larger first batch.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 5 Gallon batch makes plenty of cider to share
- + Beginner-focused instructions guide each step
- + Larger volume lowers the cost per bottle of finished cider
- - Needs more juice and bottles than small kits
- - Takes more space to ferment, bottle and store than small kits
#4Mangrove Jack's Craft Series mixed berry cider kit for 23L batches.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Mixed berry flavor adds a fruity twist to standard cider
- + 23L batch size matches common fermenter volumes
- + Craft Series kits are straightforward to brew
- - Fruit-flavored cider is sweeter than traditional dry cider
- - Requires a full size fermenter and bottles
#5Brooklyn Brew Shop hard cider making kit with reusable glass fermenter for small batch cider.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Reusable glass fermenter supports many future batches
- + Brooklyn Brew Shop kits are known for clear, friendly guides
- + Glass vessel does not hold odors from previous batches
- - Check the fermenter volume needed before ordering this kit
- - Juice is not included, so buy fresh apple juice separately
#6HomeBrewStuff One Gallon hard apple cider recipe kit made with 100% concentrate.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 100% concentrate gives consistent apple flavor
- + Recipe kit removes guesswork on sugar and yeast amounts
- + One Gallon size suits small jugs and apartment fermenters
- - Ingredients only, so fermenter and airlock are needed
- - Concentrate-based cider can taste less complex than fresh juice
#7A hard apple cider brewing kit with natural ingredients and reusable equipment.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Reusable equipment supports multiple cider batches
- + Natural ingredients appeal to brewers wanting simple recipes
- + Kit format simplifies the first cider attempt
- - Compare the brand, batch size and contents against other kits before buying
- - Vague listing makes comparison with other kits hard
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Equipment is not included, so a large fermenter is needed (Mangrove Jack's Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit 6...)
- Apple juice is usually not included, so buy preservative-free juice (Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit Complete Starter...)
- Needs more juice and bottles than small kits (Craft A Brew 5 Gallon Hard Cider Brewing Kit...)
- Fruit-flavored cider is sweeter than traditional dry cider (Mangrove Jack's Mixed Berry Cider Craft...)
- Check the fermenter volume needed before ordering this kit (Brooklyn Brew Shop Hard Cider Making Kit with...)
- Ingredients only, so fermenter and airlock are needed (HomeBrewStuff One Gallon Hard Apple Cider...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among cider making kits?
Mangrove Jack's Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit 6 Gallon is our top overall pick. Mangrove Jack's hard apple cider recipe kit for 6 Gallon batches. It earns our score of 8.4/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit Complete Starter Home Brewing Kit 1 Gallon is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Craft A Brew hard cider complete starter kit for 1 Gallon batches of homemade cider.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span $ price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Home Brew Craft independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
Popular right now
- How to Store Hops and Grain ProperlyArticle
- Best Brew in a Bag (BIAB) Bags for Homebrewing (2026)Buying guide
- Cleaning and Sanitizing KitCollection
- Fermentation Temperature ControlCollection
- First Extract Brew KitCollection
- Reading Original and Final Gravity to Calculate ABVArticle
Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.