This post was originally published in September 2009 and has been updated with more current information in 2026.
Back when I first wrote about the Omega Vert, vertical masticating juicers were brand new. I mean truly brand new. There were maybe two of them on the market. If you wanted the nutrition of a slow press masticating juicer, you had to make peace with having a large, machine taking up a serious chunk of your counter. The Omega Vert changed that.
It was one of the first upright slow juicers ever made and the concept was unprecedented.
What Makes the Vertical Masticating Juicer Special
Before the vertical design came along, slow masticating juicers were horizontal. They were long, bulky machines with a feed chute on one end and pulp coming out the other. They did produce outstanding juice, but they required a lot of counter real estate and a bit of commitment to use daily and keep clean.
The Omega Vert (modelVRT330) flipped that concept, literally. By orienting the auger vertically, Omega created a machine with a small footprint that still delivered everything people loved about slow juicing: minimal heat, minimal oxidation, and juice that was noticeably richer and more vibrant than what a high-speed centrifugal machine could produce.
Here’s what I’ve always appreciated about the Vert:
It works slowly and that’s the whole point. The single auger spins at just 70RPMs which is a crawl compared to centrifugal juices that spin at thousands of RPMs that slow crush-and-press process keeps your juice cool, which means the heat sensitive enzymes and nutrients in your fruits and vegetables stay intact. You can actually taste the difference.
The two stage extraction process is thorough. First the auger crushes the produce, then it squeezes and presses the pulp through the juicing screen. Silicone brushes on the outside of the screen keep it clean as you go, which reduces clogging and makes cleanup much easier.
Greens are no problem. This is where centrifugal juicers tend to fall short – leafy greens, wheatgrass, spinach. The slow auger style handles them with ease, pressing out juice that a fast spinning blade would just shred and waste.
The footprint is genuinely small. For anyone who has shared a kitchen or lived by the rule that a tool only earns counter space if it gets used, this matters. The vertical design means it tucks in next to your coffee maker without dominating the space.
It’s quiet. There’s a low hum, but it’s nothing like the roar of a centrifugal machine. To me the sound is comforting, like a gentle chewing noise. Ultimately, that means early mornings, sleeping partners, and shared walls are not longer obstacles to your green juice habit.
A Note on Availability
The Omega VRT330 has been around for a long time, and while it’s still available, stock can be inconsistent on Amazon. If you find it, it’s worth grabbing. But if it’s out of stock or the price has climbed, the good news is that the vertical slow juicer category has grown considerably since Omega pioneered it. There are excellent options now at a range of price points.
You Might Also Like These Vertical Slow Juicers
The Omega Vert sparked a whole category. Here are some of the best current options that carry on that same upright, slow-press tradition:
Ninja NeverClog Cold Press Juicer (JC151)
A highly popular choice with over 3,000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating. Ninja’s version of the vertical masticating juicer features pulp control settings, a diswasher-safe design, and an XL juice jug. It’s a solid everyday machine
Omega Cold Press 365 Vertical Juicer
Omega’s modern vertical juicer – the successor to the VRT330. Same berand, updated mechanics. It runs at a quiet 65 RPMs with a 3-stage auger and automatic pulp ejection. Compact, reliable, and very much in the tradition of what made the original Vert worth talking about.
Hurom H400 Cold Press Slow Juicer
Hurom has been refining the vertical slow juicer for years (I wrote about the very first Hurom slow juicer) and the H400 is their best work yet. It’s strainer free (which means genuinely easy cleaning), self-feeding with a wide hopper, and nearly silent! If you’re ready to invest in a machine you’ll use for a decade, this is the one. Award winning design with a 15-year motor warranty.
Kuvings AUTO10 Cold Press Juicer
A premium, hands-free vertical juicer with a 240W motor and a 100 oz capacity. It’s ideal for families or anyone who batch juices for the week. Very low pulp output and a quiet, powerful motor make this a workhorse that’s still elegant enough for a nice kitchen.
Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer
The Nama J2 has built a devoted following for one reason: it wastes almost nothing. Its wide mout hopper fits whole produce, operates hands-free, and delivers an impressively dry pulp, meaning more juice in your glass. Easy to assemble and clean, and the zero-waste design makes it satisfying to use. There is also a J3 version that is even more compact and costs less.
Whatever machine you choose, the principle of the Omega Vert (slow, vertical, space saving) remains one of the best ideas in home juicing. It’s held up for 15+ years, and the category it helped start is better than ever.
Happy juicing! 🍏
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