Which Is Better, Hot Press Or Cold Press Oil Machines?

Q: What is the difference between cold press and hot press?

The biggest difference between cold press and hot press is the temperature. Cold press uses low temperature to preserve the nutrition and flavor. While hot press uses high temperature to get more oil out of the seeds. Cold press is suitable for obtaining the highest quality oil, especially for edible oil. Hot press is suitable for large scale production, where quantity is important and oil yield is critical.

Q: Will the oil yield of cold press machine be lower than that of hot press?

Yes. Oil extraction by cold pressing gives a lower extraction yield compared with hot pressing and solvent extraction. But the cold press machine makes up for the shortage with its high quality. The process retains the nutrients and antioxidants in the seeds. The oil is more valuable in health edible oil.

The wrong method of oil extraction can reduce oil extraction profits or even ruin an oil extraction business – especially when dealing with a wide variety of crops such as peanuts, coconuts or avocados. We took money out of our wallet and invested in an oil press that was supposed to bring us unique value, but the resulting oil lacked flavor, nutrition or marketability. No one wants this to happen, but this is the reality faced by many medium-sized processors when choosing between cold oil extraction machines and hot oil extraction machines.

Both have their advantages, but without understanding how they work and where they are suitable, oil extraction novices are likely to make the wrong choice. Whether it’s to preserve flavor, increase yield, or anything else, the consequences are serious—especially as we navigate an emerging market where quality and efficiency must go hand in hand.

What is a Cold Press Oil Machine?

The cold press oil machine uses a low-temperature extrusion process to extract pure natural oils from nuts and seeds such as hazelnut oil, peanut oil and almonds. It keeps the temperature of the oil chamber below 50°C, which helps to retain vitamin E, polyphenols and omega fatty acids.Because it’s cold pressed and solvent-free, it gently removes oil from coconuts, avocados and sesame, delighting users who care about taste and high nutrients.

One of my clients has a growing oil pressing center in Indonesia that generates revenue from coconuts, peanuts and avocados. At the beginning, they only concerned themselves with making oil. Over the years, they decided that keeping the character and nutrients of every crop was important, not only producing oil. Sadly, the project was started using a method that didn’t fit with the company’s future plans. Applying high heat to make the oil affected its overall quality. They then decided to use a cold press oil machine. Having newer equipment was one aspect, but it truly marked a new era. The decision of whether to use cold or hot pressing mainly relies on a solid business approach, rather than just someone’s skills.

Best Application Scenarios for Cold Pressed Oil Machine.

Cold pressing is not for brute force or industrial-scale production, but for extracting the seed’s natural flavor and aroma. If you want to produce oils packed with flavor, aroma, and health benefits, cold pressing is the best option. Here are some high-end edible oil, which are very popular among consumers for both domestic and export sales.

Cold pressing is ideal for medium-scale production lines that target specific or health-conscious markets. If you are a small agri-business in Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, or other Southeast Asian or African countries, where coconut, olives, or cashew crops are abundant, this kind of machine helps you maintain quality without compromising on the scale of your business.

Cold oil pressed oil machine does not require large-scale commercial refining infrastructure. The machine is easy to operate and suitable for areas where electricity is not stable. In addition, the cold-pressed oil needs minimal post-processing, which is what consumers look for when they seek “natural” products.

If making oil as nature created is what you desire, then the cold press oil machine is the equipment you are looking for. It creates the highest quality oil, it retains the necessary nutrients and it gives your local crops their natural flavor. No customer will ever forget that, in the end. And that is what they will pay for. You may not get tons of oil, but you will get something equally as valuable: trust and taste. Slow and steady wins the race.

What is a Hot Oil Press?

Hot oil press machine heats the Oilseeds or nuts through roasting or by applying heat before extracting the oil. Through this treatment, the oil is more easily separated from the seeds since this process helps dismantle them. After being heated, the seeds are then squeezed through a screw press under strong pressure to get the oil. Since hot pressing is efficient, it is popular among companies producing goods in high volume. Hot oil press belongs to the ripe pressing process (also includes medium temperature pressing), so the pressed oil is darker in color and has a richer aroma. The main reason why hot pressing is popular is the high oil yield. Depending on the type of equipment, the heating step can be completed in the oil press or a separate roasting machine can be configured for frying.

A few months back, we consulted with an oilseed processor from Ghana, who discovered their number of peanuts and soybeans was huge but their production remained low. “Shutting off wasn’t an option for me.” Once we had studied his needs and what buyers would want, we advised the use of a hot oil press machine. Because heat is used in hot pressing, it is an efficient way to process tough plant seeds for high-throughput uses. Because he was operating at such a massive and fast level, he only had one viable option.

Best Application Scenarios.

A hot oil pressing machine is best when high yield and fast production is what’s needed. It’s used to get oil out of large volumes of seeds like peanuts, rapeseed, sunflowers, and soybeans – all crops that are extensively grown and processed in many countries, particularly Nigeria, Indonesia, and Brazil.
The method doesn’t require the same strict temperature control as cold pressing, so it’s better suited for processors who don’t need to retain all the delicate flavors and micronutrients of the final product. Therefore, the markets that use a hot oil press machine are usually focused on everyday cooking oils. Price and volume are more important than premium quality and refined flavor.

This machine is suitable for medium-sized oil mills to process oilseeds to meet local market demand or even supply bulk buyers. It’s rugged and fairly easy to operate, but it can scale up with growing demand.
Because profit margins are measured by how many barrels you can pump per day, the hot oil press machine is your best friend. It won’t give you the subtle taste of cold-pressed oils, but what it will give you is fast, furious, and consistent. It’s not about small-batch bottles. This is barrels we’re talking about. And if more is better because more money goes in the bank, then so be it.

What is the Difference Between a Cold Press and a Hot Press Oil Machine?

Seeds or nuts are ground cold to make cold-pressed oil, whereas heat is applied to the source before pressing for hot-pressed oil. It changes the flavor, the trace elements nutritional ingredients and the value of the oil. Cold press machines save the true nuts and oilseeds taste and are meant for consumers concerned with health, whereas hot press machines are right for those who need to make large quantities. If you pick the wrong approach, you can damage both your products and your company’s reputation.

Working Principle of Oil Extraction.
Cold presses press oil at low temperatures (<50°C) without heating the seeds before pressing. Cold presses use continuous slow strong pressure to squeeze oil from nuts and oilseeds. Because the process is so slow, very little heat is generated by friction.
On the contrary, the hot oil press machine heats up the press barrel or roasts the seeds at high temperature(120 – 200°C). The high temperature softens the seed’s cell and crushes the oil cells. Thus, the oil can be extracted easily and quickly. In some cases, the medium temperature press stage is also used. It works well with crops that are heat-sensitive but still require some degree of toasting to increase oil yield.
Suitable Oilseeds.
The right machine depends on the seeds you have harvested.
Cold pressing is suitable for the oil-rich and heat-sensitive seeds. The seeds include olives, avocados, coconuts, flaxseeds, sesame, walnut, almond, and sunflower seeds. These types of oils get spoiled when heated, losing their aroma and nutrients. Keeping them raw preserves their benefit.
Hot pressing is suitable for hard or dry oilseeds. The seeds include soybeans, groundnuts( Peanuts), rapeseed (Canola), castor seeds, cottonseed, etc. These crops need to be heated to soften their cell structure and get more yield of oil.
Oil Quality Comparison.
Cold-pressed oils are lighter in color, richer in flavor, and are thicker and more natural. Cold-pressed oil contains nutrients like Vitamin E, phytosterols, and polyunsaturated fats. Customers in gourmet kitchens, health consumers and customers for export markets with high requirements prefer cold-pressed oil.
Hot-pressed oil looks darker, flavor milder, and more stable when stored. Nutrients that are not heat resistant will be lost during processing. The result is clear oil that is refined and thus suitable for large-scale deep-frying, cooking, snacks and processed foods. For most commercial purposes, hot-pressed oil is preferred as customers require consistent flavor and longer shelf-life.
Yield and Production Quantity.
If you are most concerned about your oil output, hot pressing is the winner. The heating process will promote the separation of oil. It is suitable for large-scale production and continuous processing. Farmers and cooperatives with a high volume of seeds should consider this.
Cold pressing has a lower total yield, but the oil has a higher unit price. Cold pressing is suitable for medium-scale processors who want to enter the organic market, or sell to specialty stores and supermarkets or even sell directly to consumers, where quality is more important than quantity.

So what’s the better choice? It depends on what you grow and what your customers require. Cold pressing is suitable for producing natural oil with flavor and nutrients – we recommend you to choose cold pressing for avocadoes, olives and coconuts. Hot pressing is suitable for a higher total yield and faster production – We recommend hot-pressing crops such as soybeans, peanuts and rapeseed as raw materials. If you are a medium-sized oil business, calculate your seed types, market and investment. The right press machine will not only press your oil out, but also press the extra profits out of your seeds.

What is the difference between cold press and hot press?