Best Cider Making Kits UK 2026 — Buyer's Guide
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A cider making kit is the easiest way to make cider at home: no fruit to press, no equipment beyond a basic fermenter, and fresh, sparkling cider in a few weeks. But the kits vary a lot, from traditional dry apple cider to fruity flavoured ciders and premium craft kits. This guide compares every cider kit range we stock at BrewCo, so you can pick the right one first time.
How to Choose a Cider Kit
- Traditional or flavoured? If you like a classic, crisp apple or pear cider, start with a traditional kit. If you prefer the fruity ciders popular in pubs, choose a flavoured range.
- Budget or premium? Budget kits make great cider for very little per pint. Premium kits use higher-quality juice concentrate and usually include extras like enhancers or dry hops.
- How sweet? Kit cider ferments dry. If you like it sweeter, see the sweetening tips at the end of this guide.
The Best Cider Kits at BrewCo
1. John Bull Country Cider – Best Budget Traditional Cider
One of Britain's longest-running cider kits. John Bull Country Cider makes 32 pints of medium-dry sparkling country cider with a clean, natural apple character. Simple to brew and excellent value.
Best for: first-time cider makers and fans of classic pub cider
2. Magnum Cider Range – Best Value Flavour Choice
The Magnum cider range covers Apple, Pear, Strawberry and Elderflower. A good middle ground if you want a few flavour options without paying premium prices.
Best for: trying flavoured cider on a budget
3. On The Rocks – Best for Fruity Summer Ciders
The On The Rocks cider range is built for serving over ice, in Apple, Pear, Mixed Berries, Peach & Mango and Blueberry. Bright, fruity and easy-drinking.
Best for: fans of fruit ciders and summer drinking
4. Bulldog Cider – Best Mid-Range All-Rounder
The Bulldog cider range includes Perfect Apple, Perfect Pear, Toffee Apple, Strawberry & Lime and Mixed Berries. A step up in quality with both traditional and flavoured styles, and the Toffee Apple is a popular autumn and Christmas brew.
Best for: a quality upgrade across traditional and flavoured styles
5. Mangrove Jack's Craft Cider – Best Premium Cider Kit
The Mangrove Jack's Craft Cider series is the premium choice, with the widest flavour range: Apple, Pear, Dry Hopped Apple, Elderflower & Lime, Mixed Berry, Peach & Passionfruit, Raspberry & Mango and Raspberry & Lime. The Dry Hopped Apple is something different: a crisp cider with a fresh hop aroma.
Best for: the best-quality result and the most adventurous flavours
Cider Kit Comparison
| Kit | Styles | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Bull Country Cider | Traditional | £18.99 | Budget, beginners |
| Magnum | Apple, pear, 2 fruit | £19.95 | Value flavours |
| On The Rocks | Apple, pear, 3 fruit | £20.49 | Fruity, over ice |
| Bulldog | Apple, pear, 3 flavoured | £24.99 | Mid-range quality |
| Mangrove Jack's Craft | 8 incl. dry hopped | £25.95 | Premium, variety |
What Else Do You Need?
Cider kits are ingredients-only. You'll need a fermentation vessel, airlock, hydrometer, syphon, and bottles or a pressure barrel. Our starter kits bundle the essentials. Always clean with VWP and sanitise with ChemSan: cider is especially vulnerable to wild yeast.
Tips for Better Kit Cider
- Upgrade the yeast. A dedicated cider yeast such as Gervin GV13 or Mangrove Jack's M02 gives a cleaner, fruitier result.
- Ferment cool. 15–20°C gives a crisper, fresher cider than fermenting warm.
- Sweeten safely. Adding sugar at bottling will just re-ferment it. To sweeten, stabilise the finished cider with potassium sorbate and a Campden tablet first, and keep it still or keg it for carbonation, or use a non-fermentable sweetener.
- Serve cold. Most cider kits are at their best well chilled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cider kit for beginners?
John Bull Country Cider is the simplest and cheapest starting point. For a better-quality first cider, Bulldog Perfect Apple is a good step up.
What is the best premium cider kit?
Mangrove Jack's Craft Cider, which has the widest range of flavours, including a dry hopped apple cider.
How long does a cider kit take?
Most cider kits ferment in 1–2 weeks, then need 1–2 weeks conditioning in the bottle. See our home brew timelines guide.
Can I make cider from my own apples instead?
Yes. You'll need a way to crush and press the fruit: see our fruit and cider presses and our guide to making cider from fresh autumn apples.
Why is my kit cider dry?
Cider yeast ferments almost all the sugar, so kit cider naturally finishes dry. Stabilise and then sweeten it if you prefer it sweeter.
For a full walkthrough, read How to Make Cider at Home, or browse all our wine and cider kits.