Cidermaking 101: Start Your Cider Journey This Harvest
Oct 11, 2026
Curious about how cider is made? Whether you're making your first batch at home, getting ready for your first harvest, or working at a cidery and want to better understand what happens in the production room, Cidermaking 101: Core Concepts is a place to start.
This introductory online course gives brand-new cidermakers and cider enthusiasts a practical overview of how apples become cider - from fruit and juice through fermentation and the finished product.
A Beginner's Guide to How Cider Is Made
Cidermaking can seem complicated. Apples, juice chemistry, yeast, fermentation, acidity, tannins, temperature, blending, and packaging all play a role. Cidermaking 101: Core Concepts breaks down the process into approachable, easy-to-understand lessons so you can see how the pieces fit together.
You'll learn about:
- Where cider starts: apples, orchards, and fruit selection
- What happens when apples are pressed
- The basics of juice composition and chemistry
- How fermentation turns juice into cider
- The role of yeast and other microorganisms
- How cidermakers influence the flavor and character of cider
- The basics of tasting and evaluating cider
- What happens between the press and the finished bottle, can, or keg
The goal isn't to turn you into an expert overnight. It's to give you a foundation for understanding of how cider is made.
Built for People New to Cidermaking
Cidermaking 101 is designed specifically for people who are new to cider production. It's a great fit for:
- First-time home cidermakers who want to understand the process before starting their first batch.
- Home cidermakers who have made cider but want to better understand the science and terminology behind what they're doing.
- Non-production cidery staff who want to confidently explain how cider is made to customers, visitors, retailers, or the public.
- Cider enthusiasts who want to understand more about what's in their glass and how it got there.
- Orchardists and agricultural professionals who want an introduction to what happens to fruit after it leaves the orchard.
You don't need previous cidermaking experience, a science background, or a job in a cidery to get started. Pro tip: If you're an experienced home cidermaker looking to scale up, go commercial, deepen your technical skills, or get back to the science behind cidermaking, our Cider & Perry Production - A Foundation course is the better fit.
Perfect for Harvest Season
Harvest is when the cidermaking process begins to come to life. Apples are coming in, presses are running, and cideries are turning this year's fruit into juice. It's an ideal time to step back and understand what's happening throughout the process.
If you're a new cidermaker preparing for your first harvest, Cidermaking 101 can help you understand the process before you get started.
If you work at a cidery but aren't involved in production, it can give you the knowledge you need to answer the questions customers ask: “What kind of apples do you use?” “How do you turn apples into juice?” “How does apple juice become cider?” “What actually happens during fermentation?” “What makes one cider different from another?”
Understanding how cider is made makes it easier to talk about cider, appreciate the work that goes into it, and become a more informed part of the cider community.
Start Your Cidermaking Journey
Every cidermaker starts with a first batch, a first harvest, or simply a first question. Cidermaking 101 is your place to start. This introductory course takes you through the cider-making process in clear, accessible lessons—from apples and juice to fermentation, finishing, and the cider in your glass.
You’ll come away with a better understanding of how cider is made, the decisions cidermakers make along the way, and the terminology you’ll encounter as you learn more.
And if Cidermaking 101 sparks your interest in going further, there’s a next step. Cider & Perry Production - A Foundation takes a deeper dive into the science and practice of cidermaking for those ready to develop more advanced technical skills.
Curious about cider? Start here. Learn how it’s made, then see where your cider journey takes you.