I got my grinder and press (too small for this orchard we live in but might be better suited to future homesites) at
http://www.vigoltd.com/index.asp not cheap for US but a UK/Eur source
In England cider is the fermented juice. I've made some, and a few more gallons vinegar by accident, for fun (and vinegar) but I'll leave that to my neighbor who's more scientific about it (actually uses special yeast and Camden tabs).
We grease the threads of the press with crisco to protect from acidic wear (from the juice). The grinder we use is great (used the small drill op. one before- uuurgh!)- neighborhod kids have contests on how many seconds it'll take them to demolish one large apple in it- but when I do my apple pressing days (in the driveway) have to watch it all day or lock in garage to keep kids safe from it. ANd the press is too small- once did well borrowing an extra larger one (but that guy is too friendly to ask any more favours from)
Anyway I gather a few wbful windfall apples, ask visitors to bring some more if they want to take home any juice, rinse apples in running water (almost no deer get into our housing area low risk infection but I tell folk not for babies under 1 or immunocompromised- HIV+, leukemia, on chemo- because of risk of bacterial contamination from ground tho I suppose they could take theirs home and boil it), chop up through chopper balanced between two chairs over large ice cooler (some chunks are still as big as 1/2" across), wash hands (keep a bucket soapy water outside), scoop goop into press, screw down press (which I suppose I can use for cheese someday) but have had to add several large blocks above the 3" of semicircles (covers whole surface apple pomace) and one level fancy sanded wood blocks to press the 10" high pomace into a 3" block (screw won't go inside press with long handles needed to turn it when it's getting tougher, so blocks added as level drops let me screw press tighter without needing to do it without lever arm).
That makes such glorious apple juice- cider we'd call it in US- goes off after a few days in fridge so I got a deep freeze and have collected a few dozen 1 pint milk cartons to store some for later. Won't bother with cider this year- gave 2 gal glass carbouys to neighbor. I also throw in a few blackberries with some of it for yucks (just into press- no need to grind!) Apples falling alreeeady- thought I had until next month!
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