Meet SLO Pressed: How a Cal Poly Grad’s Juice Company is Changing Lives

Briana Medvecki wasn’t always the founder of the homemade juice company, SLO Pressed. Her passion for juicing started post-grad after graduating from Cal Poly with an engineering degree, and as a Division I student-athlete on the swim and dive team. Medvecki’s love for self-care and her personal struggle with acne inspired her to seek anti-inflammatory solutions that would reward her internal health and improve her skin’s physical appearance. Discovering anti-inflammatory ingredients and creating wellness shots with ginger and turmeric was like striking gold for Medvecki. 

SLOCAL Connections  

Medvecki recalled that her spin instructor at Headstrong Fit noticed her skin’s improvement and wanted to purchase her homemade ginger shots. Word spread quickly, and in January 2025, the first in-gym fridge location for SLO Pressed was established. High demand from fellow gym-goers demanded that Medvecki innovate her juice. Medvecki started taking pre-orders for ginger shots and new large bottle juices to avoid fridge sellouts. 

Expanding from ginger shots to fruit and veggie juices was a huge leap. Maintaining consistency in the juice recipes was crucial for creating a dependable reputation. Medvecki tested a new recipe weekly from April to September 2025. The proportions of the fruits and veggies had to be perfect to balance the flavor and health benefits.  

While SLO Pressed was taking off, Medvecki still worked 40 hours per week at her full-time job as an Investment Planner for Caltrans. What began as a juice passion project grew into her second job. Medvecki credited her past experience in Cal Poly’s city and regional planning program with guiding her understanding of marketing and graphics.

The Name: Why SLO Pressed 

When asked about the name, Medvecki shared that making things simple is harder than it looks. She described how the initial versions were not as catchy, but after brainstorming with her fiancé and business partner, Emileo Padilla, SLO Pressed finally stuck. The name was originally SLO Pressed Juices, but after a customer reached out via Instagram to tell her how much she enjoys  “SLO Pressed,” Medvecki dropped juices soon after and decided on a simple name: Pressed SLO.  

Get Juicy: The Process of Juice Making

Medvecki first experimented with juice recipes using the Nama J2 Cold Pressed Juicer, which made about 10 juices an hour. As orders increased, it was important that the quality of her juices met customer satisfaction and food safety laws. Currently, SLO Pressed uses the Goodnature Cold Pressed Juicer, which Medvecki says is a huge upgrade and a high-quality juicer on the market. Switching from a standard juicer to a more expensive machine was a big jump, but it was a risk that paid off. 

The biggest learning curve in opening SLO Pressed was understanding the importance of food safety, like how to safely transport juices and obtain the right permits. Madvecki felt it was important to network with other small businesses to learn from their experience. 

Menu and How to Order 

Every week, the menu remains consistent with their signature ginger-turmeric shots, but the juice flavors rotate between four recipes every Friday of the month. Each grab-and-go juice bottle is $12.50, and there is an option to subscribe to their membership program to get 10% off orders.  

Medvecki said her favorite juice is either the Daily Detox juice or the Ginger Turmeric Shot. She described how she prefers juices with the highest health benefits and a veggie focus. The Ginger Appleade is a fan favorite, packed with simple ingredients and recommended as a mixer for summery cocktails. She described the Coastal Refresher as a mix of fruity and veggie flavors that’s not overly sweet. She focuses the SLO Pressed menu on creating recipes that satisfy every consumer’s taste.  

Upcoming Events and Collaborations 

SLO Pressed has expanded its fridge locations beyond Headstrong Fit to other fitness studios, like Sol Pilates and Ritual Reform. They will also be vending juices at the highly anticipated music festival, Shabang, in May. Their festival menu will include a seasonal menu and ginger-turmeric shots. Medvecki shared her excitement to share SLO Pressed with its largest, most demanding crowd yet. This summer, SLO Pressed will work with Buen Dia to open its first pickup location beyond a fitness studio. Previously, customers had to place weekly preorders on Instagram, but at the new Buen Dia location, they can pick up their preorders and place orders in-store. Medvecki said creating strong customer relationships is the main priority for SLO Pressed. Their dedication to collaboration shines through their Wellness Reset event series, where they partner with local small businesses, such as their recent collaboration with Tiny Café, as well as fitness studios, to combine mindfulness and health.

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