Verdict

Pros

• Compact
• Squeezes up to 90% of the fruit
• All parts dishwasher-safe

Cons

• Pricey
• Narrow feed tube
• Recipe book lacks guidance

What is the Philips Avance MicroMasticating juicer HR1947?

Barely bigger than a compact pod coffee machine, and just as stylish, the Avance juicer is mini in more ways than one. It uses micro-masticating technology to maximise its yield (getting up to 90% of your fruit and vegetable into the glass), squeezing every last drop from foodstuffs from leafy greens to nuts.

If that weren’t enough to attract even the most sceptical potential juice fan, it also has a pre-clean function to leave the inside fibre-free once you’re done. All its parts can be rinsed clean in less than a minute.

Related: Best juicers

Philips Avance MicroMasticating juicer HR1947 – Design and features

Masticating juicers – those that ‘chew’ fruit and veg rather than shred and spin it – have traditionally been unwieldy machines that require dedication when it comes to cleaning. However, the Avance is different, with much of its design geared towards minimal maintenance and ease of use.

All parts of the machine that come into contact with food slot together as a single unit, which then clips into the base. This feels less like the construction kit approach, where one piece in the wrong place could result in a machine that won’t work.

Inside the juicing unit, a rotating screw shreds the fruit and vegetables, ejecting the pulp into the container below. Here the juice flows in the opposite direction, first passing through either a pure juice or fibre juice filter.

This method enables you to juice directly into a glass or the lidded jug that’s included. Since there’s no sieve, there are no parts that can become clogged. A final clever feature is the one-metre cord, which winds around the machine once you’re finished. Plus, there’s space inside the pulp container to store the tray, pusher and juice jug.

Philips Avance MicroMasticating juicer HR1947 – What’s it like to use?

Without the right supporting literature, it can be easy to lose interest in a new kitchen gadget, but the Avance has that covered.

It comes with a diagram to show how the juicing unit assembles together, and a pictorial booklet containing numerous recipe ideas. Sadly, this offers no real guidance as to the order to add ingredients. The first recipe I tried included honey, but I had no clue as to whether it should run through the juicer or if it should be added to the glass afterwards.

I started by making the ‘Green Eyecatcher’ with cucumber, spinach, water and honey. The feed tube was quite narrow, so the cucumber had to be halved to fit in the chute; even then, pushing it through required some effort. It produced a good amount of juice and minimal, relatively dry pulp. Similarly, the spinach went through well, leaving little residue inside the juicing unit – although this may have been a result of the water washing it through to finish.

The drink was quite frothy, probably down to the fact that there’s no separator to reduce the foam on top. With honey added, the drink was inoffensive but not particularly pleasant – it would have benefitted from including fruit.

The drip-stop function on the spout was handy, although juice did continue to accumulate inside the unit, making clean-up a little messier.

Next, I made the ‘Pure Citrus’ juice using grapefruit, orange, mandarin and lime – with the fibre juice filter in place. Each fruit needed peeling and cutting down into segments to fit in the chute. Again, pushing each through took some effort, with the drawback that surges of juice splashed out onto the worktop.

However, the citrus fruit resulted in a lot of juice, with only a light layer of foam. The use of the fibre filter resulted in a juice that was quite thin, with only a little pulp. The amount of ejected pulp was minimal in relation to the amount of fruit and only slightly moist, while the drink itself was intensely citrusy and refreshing. Note that the machine isn’t terribly noisy in operation, unlike loud centrifugal juicers, and it’s possible to have a conversation while it’s doing its thing.

I finished by making a ‘Cold Prevention’ juice with kale, grapefruit, honey melon and ginger root. The juicer processed the kale leaves and grapefruit without issue, but the melon required greater effort – again resulting in surges and splashes. The ginger root went through effortlessly, however, giving the resulting juice a warming kick.

Clean-up was effortless – a quick rinse sufficed, plus all the parts of the HR1947 are dishwasher-safe.

Why buy the Philips Avance MicroMasticating juicer HR1947?

If previous experiences with complicated, hard-to-clean machines have left you resorting to pre-packed juice, the Avance is the model that’s sure to lure you away from the supermarket shelves.

It’s easy to assemble, use and clean – and, above all, takes up minimal space in a kitchen. Besides a little effort to push some fruit and veg through a narrow feed tube and a recipe book that could be improved, it’s a pretty perfect juicing package for any household.

Verdict

Minimal mess, minimal fuss, but plenty of juice. If you’re leaning towards a healthy lifestyle then this juicer has you sorted.

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