Custom Pressing for the Cider Lover in You!

We will happily press your apples into cider, by prearranged appointment. Please note the following important conditions before you consider booking a custom pressing. We need these rules and conditions in order to have an efficient, orderly and clean operation and thus to best serve you.

Booking:
Please book by email unless you have no access to a computer. This gives us and you a record of our communication and your appointment day and time. Our email is sewall@midcoast.com and we check email daily.

Minimum amount required:
Five bushel minimum. You need to be certain you have at least 5 bushels for a press. Use bushel baskets to measure or fill 10 paper grocery bags with apples to get to 5 bushels.

We have to know your exact amount before we can book you:
We have to know the exact amount of apples you have. “About 15 bushels” is not helpful, as often a person thinks they have 15 and actually has 11 or 20 and this seriously hampers our ability to schedule you and keep to a schedule that respects all customers.

Apple quality and condition:
Apples must be unsprayed, with no pesticides at all. They must be washed clean, free of gravel, sand, rot, mush. If the apples have gravel (which can break the grinder) or manure or rot (contaminates the grinder) Bob will not press them.

Please come on time or a little early.
We sometimes book 8 or 9 people in a day and if you come late we cannot keep to our schedule. We are rigid about this in order to respect everyone’s time and weekend schedules. Coming 15 minutes early and getting in place to back up to the barn is okay.

Please be clear who is coming. We press for the people who have booked the appointment. Sending unknown people in your place at the last minute, (especially those who have not read the conditions/parameters) inviting 3 more families to come to make your minimum, etc. etc. cause confusion and generally results in a chaotic experience.

Please assure us via email when you book that the cider is for you, family, friends, not for resale. We do not want our operation jeopardized by pressing for people who plan to re-sell the cider.

Containers and Pricing
You may bring your own containers, such as carboys or glass or plastic jugs. If you need to buy containers from us let us know when you book, and we can let you know what the price per container is. Due to rising fuel costs container price is rising more often than usual so we will happily notify you of the price when you book.

Children and friends always welcome to help press (though Bob will limit the amount of people in the barn at one time) and they can hike or picnic or play while the pressing is being done. We will be happy to see you take the first sip of your very own cider!