Spring has barely started and the days are already getting hotter. Only a few weeks ago in Atlanta we were bundling up and sipping hot tea and coffee. Now the sandals and shorts are out and to beat the heat what do you drink to stay cool? I’m betting for many of us the mental image of an iced drink with a certain green mermaid popped into mind. Did you know that in addition to cooling you off, your beverage could also have health benefits? Cold press juice has been a popular trend in the past couple of years, hopefully one to stay.
The Basics: What is cold press juice?
Cold press juice is juice made on a hydraulic press. The press can be small enough to fit on a kitchen counter or take up several square feet. The press has a chute that fruits and veggies are pushed down. At the end of the chute are grinders or blades with various lengths that shred or grind the produce into a pulp. After everything is shredded pressure plates apply thousands of pounds of pressure to squeeze the liquid out of the pulp. By the end of the process, the pulp resembles sawdust. The liquid is collected at the bottom and ready to be consumed. To get 3 liters of liquid, 25 pounds of fruit and veggies are pressed.
I did some digging and went around town to a few juice bars in Atlanta to sample different juices. I focused on juices that are meant for cooling and hydrating with the heat. Thankfully, Atlanta has a plethora of juice bars to choose from. This is great because not all juice bars are the same and this allows for people to choose what is right for them.
Juicy Jenny
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
Juicy Jenny
- 56 E. Andrews Drive, suite 25A
- 7am- 4pm
- price: $$
Juicy Jenny is an adorable juice bar. When you walk in there are colors everywhere; its very bright and happy. This was the biggest juice bar I went to. They have tables set up inside and also offer an all vegan, gluten-free lunch bar during the week. They also provide homemade snacks and cookies, smoothies and cleanses aside from cold press juices.
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
This first juice I tried was called Electric Lemonade. It’s a really refreshing lemonade with mint. It also has cayenne, agave, coconut water and propolis. Propolis is an elixir added that has antiseptic qualities. I asked the manager Melissa what was the brainchild behind Electric Lemonade. The fresh mint leaves inside really give it a unique twist on juice. Melissa contacted the owner, Jenny, who said, “Lemon is a great diuretic and great for your immune system and I love to make it spicy with a little cayenne that stimulates your immune system.”
Kale Me Crazy
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
Kale Me Crazy
- 100 6th St NE
- 7am- 8pm
- price: $$$
Kale Me Crazy has multiple locations all over Atlanta. I choose the midtown location and spoke to the owner Darlyne Johnson to learn more about the store. Their juices have a three-day shelf life with no additives or preservatives. They make their own hummus, citrus juices, salad dressings and nut milks along with their juices.
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
The first juice I sampled was the Fire Fighter. The carrot was a very strong flavor and the ginger and cayenne gave the juice a good flush of heat. Overall I found it very refreshing.
Beet’l Juice was the second juice I tried. Don’t worry; there’s no beetles in this juice! Just beets, celery, lime, ginger, apple and carrots. The first flavors that stay with you are the beets and carrots. The lime and celery in follow for a cooling taste. As an afternote, the ginger gives a sweet taste on the end.
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
I also tried two of their shots: the Painkiller and the Brain-On. The Painkiller is meant for joint pain while Brain-On is for mood elevation and focus. I could feel both working within ten minutes.
Nufit Juice Bar
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
Nufit Juice Bar
- 3535 Peachtree Rd. (inside LA Fitness)
- 5am- 9pm (LA Fitness’ hours)
- $$
Nufit Juice Bar, located in LA Fitness across from Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, was an unexpected surprise. Nufit is a smoothie bar that focuses on nutritional smoothies. They use fresh squeezed juices, gluten free and vegan protein powders. Their location inside a gym is perfect for those coming from a workout who need a little boost.
I tried their Mango Crusher. This smoothie has mangoes, strawberries, pineapple, banana and Swiig vegan protein. It was a nice pick-me-up for the middle of the day. The protein and banana gave a nice base for the fruit to bounce off of. Little bits of coconut and strawberries inside gave a nice surprise too.
Roots
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
Roots
- 3400 Around Lenox Rd. Suite 202A
- 7am- 6pm
- $$
Roots is located in a side-shopping complex next to Lenox mall. It was a little hidden and I had to ask a store clerk from a nearby store for directions, but I finally found it. Inside the shop is tiny, but it makes up for the small space with the bright mural on the wall which doubles as their cleanse menu. Their juices are used for meal or snack replacements and they have tons of options all of which are made on site.
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
The first juice I tried was Hydrate. The packaging says this is for the “relief of drama queens.” The first taste is cucumber with lime as a tart sidenote. The final notes were the sweetness of ginger and mint which sort of sat on my tongue. I had been running around a lot before drinking this one and afterwards it definitely cooled me down. Before I was halfway through the bottle I had stopped sweating!
I also tried Fat Fighter, which is not your traditional grapefruit juice! With your first sip you notice the grapefruit and orange tastes. Then comes the kicker with ginger and cayenne! I got a warming sensation in my ears from the ginger. This juice is recommended for the relief of love handles and spare tires. I can definitely see this being a metabolism boost.
Veda Juice Bar
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
Veda Juice
- 365 Peachtree Hills Ave, Suite 105
- 7.30am- 6pm
- $$
Veda Juice Bar is located right off of Lindbergh in a quiet shopping center. The inside atmosphere is very bright, clean and happy. The owners Lisa and Jackie pride themselves on using organic ingredients and are still expanding their menu. All salads, acai bowls, quinoa bowls, nut milks and juices are made in house.
Image courtesy of Chel Howard.
The first juice I tried was Pick Me Up which was very refreshing with watercress and pineapple notes. According to Jackie, this juice was also made for hydrating after a night of heavy alcohol consumption.
The second juice was I tried was Spice It Up. This is a nice kick with a little jalapeno and the grapefruit, lemon, orange and parsley all have immune boosting benefits. This juice was created for helping someone feeling under the weather.
Out of all of the juice bars I went to, I noticed a few things they all had in common. Each one was extremely nice, friendly and very informative. All of the juice bars were clean and comfortable even with the different design esthetics. All of the ingredients in each of the juices are selected for specific reasons and the care in which the recipes are developed is obvious. I think this is a great start on finding new places that are refreshing and will help in the heat this summer.