Cidermaking 101:
Core Concepts
Learn the essentials of how cider is made from the experts at the Cider Institute.
Build a practical understanding of cider and perry production through this beginner-friendly course, completed entirely at your own pace.
Start with the foundations of cidermaking
Cidermaking 101: Core Concepts introduces the foundational steps involved in making cider—from selecting fruit and preparing juice to fermentation, maturation, carbonation, and packaging.
The course is designed for home cidermakers, cider enthusiasts, and non-production cidery staff who want to understand how cider and perry are made. No previous cidermaking experience is required.
What You’ll Learn
01. Choosing Apples for Cider
Explore the types of cider apples and perry pears used in production, their flavor characteristics, and how tannins and acidity contribute to a balanced cider.
02. Turning Apples into Juice
Learn the basics of harvesting, storing, washing, grinding, and pressing apples while preserving juice quality for fermentation.
03. Preparing Juice for Fermentation
Understand essential preparation steps, including settling, racking, measuring density and pH, and making simple adjustments before fermentation begins.
04. Yeasts and Bacteria
Discover the role of yeast and bacteria in fermentation and how they influence the aroma, flavor, and character of cider.
05. Fermentation
Learn how yeast converts sugar into alcohol and aroma, along with the basic factors that can affect fermentation results.
06. Post-Fermentation and Maturation
Explore the fundamentals of clarification, aging, blending, and flavoring cider before carbonation and packaging.
07. Carbonation, Stabilization, and Packaging
Learn introductory techniques for carbonating, stabilizing, and packaging cider to help preserve its quality and shelf stability.
08. Home Cidermaking Equipment
Get practical, small-scale guidance on equipment used for pressing, fermenting, stabilizing, bottling, and making cider at home.
Who This Course Is For
This introductory course is ideal for:
Begin with confidence.
You do not need professional equipment or previous production experience. This course gives you the core knowledge needed to understand the cidermaking process and continue your learning journey.
Build your foundation in cidermaking.
Gain a clearer understanding of how cider is made and join a global community of cider lovers and professionals.
Complete your enrollment now to get started.