I bought one and returned it to the store before using it. I also have a Champion (a single masticator type), a Greenstar (a twin gear type), an Acme (a centrifugal type), and a cheap GE that is similar to the Jack LaLane juicers. I returned the Hurom because the instructions said you have to chop up things like carrots, celery, beets, etc. before they can go in the juicer. Also, the feed tube is very small. I bought the Hurom specifically because it claims to be very good at juicing greens. But considering the time I'd spend chopping stuff and cleaning up, I think the Greenstar is still best for things like spinach and kale. All in all, too much time and work compared to my other (very old and reliable) juicers. Just my 2 cents. -hald

Breville makes good appliances that are made to last. Rare these days. It seems the design team and the tecs actually speak to each other, form and function. First is to determine what type of juice you like and if you will actually take the time to make it and what produce you have access to locally. I've been using my old Acme in my vacation home. It is an old tank clunker compared to my Breville. (though i would not know the difference if i did not have both to compare) The Acme is a good juicer and i've used it for 20yrs but it does not do volume as it hold the pulp inside and needs to be stopped and cleaned. Fine for a 1-2 cup morning delight. The veggies need to be cut up much smaller, so extra time as well. The top blenders will also make a good beverage but the pulp stays. More combinations are possible...frozen berries, green leafy veggies, etc. Much better health-wise to have all that good fiber and a total 'meal'. I do like pure juice without pulp. Celery, carrot, apple/pear, beet, ginger, a handful of greens and i am happy. (always stocked in my fridge). Fresh juice does not freeze well or fridge. Once you've broken down the cell wall of produce it starts to deteriorate quickly. I was lucky to find one on ebay from a single young gym rat who didn't like grocery shopping and the trouble of making and cleaning. Juice bar on the corner offering ten ingredients... Blendtec or vitamix is initially expensive but will last for years and good customer service if ever needs fixing is a good purchase. They will make many more things overall but not 'juice' extraction. For a family it is more valuable since custom blends can be made and you can sneak in some veggie hiding them with the sweetness of fruits.

Raw vegan has amazing health benefits but I find it really difficult to stick with long term. I've tried it and I strive for it but I've never made it more than a few weeks before I eat something cooked. But even a week showed me a profound difference. I had SO much energy, and it was clean energy, not jittery. I was able to stay more focused at work and didn't feel sluggish after meals. My skin cleared up and I dropped 10 pounds in a week and I didn't gain it back afterward. I think the role of nutrition in our society is horribly downplayed. I'm not particularly religious but I believe the earth is intelligently designed to support all life to not only survive but thrive and if we use it as we should, a lot of the rampant diseases and health problems would disappear. Look at scurvy, which killed so many people and is caused by a deficiency of a vitamin that is contained in so many fruits and vegetables. It's a deadly situation that can easily be treated by eating oranges. And I don't think it's limited to just one health condition. These things exist to nourish our bodies and protect them from damage and disease and most people don't eat nearly enough. I know some people where their only vegetables of the day is the lettuce on their cheeseburger and they wonder why they have so many health problems. Juicing is an awesome way to consume many times more produce than you would eat whole.

Snidely, Chi83 just said in her first paragraph what I was about to say in my response to you. But your post describes how I feel about fruit. I almost never drink fruit juice because I'd much rather eat the whole thing. And there's no danger of me not getting enough fruit--but there could be a danger of me eating too much of it. :-) Rgreen, I agree with you about ease of cleaning. A few years ago I bought a Jack LaLanne juicer as a gift, but ended up not giving it after I learned how difficult it is to clean. Your Breville is a step or two up from the one I had. I found mine a pain to clean after the Acme, which uses disposable filters--so you just peel off the solids, leaving a (large) screen that needs only to be rinsed. Before I bought the Omega, I read a lot of reviews and watched several YouTube videos. (Has anyone else noticed how many "instructional" YouTube videos are made by people who don't know what they're doing? LOL) In the consumer reviews and the useful videos, many people stressed that the unit is exceptionally easy to clean. "Two minutes" is what I heard more than once. After my one experience this morning, I would say they're right. I'm sure it took me more than two minutes, but this was my first time. The screen is small, and cleaned up easily with the brush they provide. The auger was a snap. The chute, end cap, and tray (on top, not visible in my photo) were equally easy. All can go in the dishwasher, I think (top rack), but I wanted to clean up and move on. Reassembly is very easy. No clogs, and no problem with the romaine and leaf lettuce. The 8004 (white) also comes in a chrome version (8006).