okay - I feel super on target but purely from a research point of view. The Omega VRT 350 or 330 HD, but whatever, get the HD one on the end, it is 379 just about everywhere but Amazon *may* have some used and save you about $40..tiny bit scary to me to save that much though (not enough). The discountjuicer guy's videos are linked to so many good sources of raw food (I am not raw but I am devoted to learning to un-cook the most and meal plan with it in mind a lot) that his take on juicers are way more than a salesperson. He is fun with raw and so many juicers it took me a while, personally because my family loves seeds & nut butters and mylks...but we can get by the vitamixer and deluxe cuisine art no problemo.
I watched one video of rawworld (?) that showed a greenstar compared to a hurom (?) (just like the omega but far less warranty) and the two raw foodies were juicing the same but the girl with the vertical (omega vrt 330 is the one I am trying to point at, not hurom, because I watched another video and the hurom may actually be produced in the same factory, but has a handle and far less warranty, anyway). The vertical juicer - almost the same as the non-vertical in specs, but has a larger screen, smaller on the counter, etc.. ugh.. this is my stumbling point. The two in the video were totally hip to the vertical one and seemed really silent about it, like blown away. It really gets me. I watched John (discount juicer) do some comparing juicing and an almond mylk and it seemed that when doing sunflower sprouts the 8004 won big time, but when doing mylks, the vert was better at having a full body.
Juicer is my B-day present :) and it seems I will have to save up for it too :P.. DH is a sweety, but I think we both expected much less. I am going for $40 a week as a goal for 10 weeks (give or take).
During that time I am going to have to decide. Bottom line: The Vert is about $100 more! And the Omega 8004 IS the BEST one for greens and sprouts, plus will easily do sorbets. BUT the Vert will do everything ***faster** easier, with much less force and much less slicing. Since I am thinking most always having greens AND other veggies and fruits in my juice, this juicer is much higher on my list because it really, really seems far faster, easier, and space saving, plus does mylks better. The sprouts test was an eye opener, so I don't know. Maybe the next 5 years is a reality for me to get the vrt - small kids, homeschooling, everyone drinking juice (DH too) and not at all going to start drinking greens straight. Yeah, I guess I am getting the Omega vrt 330HD. I think, hehe.
gardenmommy we just gotta squirrel away! Think though by the time you save up it will late spring and you will be happiest for it!
ETA: The vrt is just fine as a juicer as the 8004 but I think the problem is getting the greens cleared out and off the large surface of the screens, so if you add a carrot, beet, apple, cucumber, etc.. I believe it makes greens just fine and faster than the 8004, but if you are doing just greens, than the 8004 for *sure* because the vrt is too much area in the juicer for the fine leafs.
We are making carrot strawberry juice right now. So keep your eyes open for garage sales and other good deals! I've seen them in the past on Craigslist.
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