Create Artisan cheese with ease
The Nest Press
The cheese press that’s every bit as handmade and beautiful as your homegrown wheels of cheese. Designed with intention to hold up the rigors of regular cheesemaking and homestead life. Each press is handcrafted in Phoenix, AZ.
I noticed a gap in the market for a simple, affordable, high quality cheese press
SO WE SET OUT TO MAKE OUR OWN
A cheese press designed
with you in mind
- Handmade from high quality materials to hold up to regular cheesemaking and homestead life
- Simple and straightforward to use
- Heavy duty springs and sturdy red oak bars that can handle up to 90lbs of pressure
- An easy-to-read pressure gauge so you never have to guess how much poundage you're using or whether your curds have shifted and require more
- Compact design and easy to fit on the counter or in a kitchen cupboard when not in use
- A thick plywood base with a food grade epoxy coating protecting it from the whey and making cleanup a breeze
- Rubber feet on the bottom to hold the base up out of the whey
- Simple enough for beginners to use, and sturdy and effective enough for advanced cheesemakers
Introducing
The Nest Press
Handcrafted, heirloom-quality cheese press made from red oak and thick, durable plywood. This press features heavy-duty springs and a food-grade epoxy–coated base designed to withstand years of regular cheesemaking.
The Nest Press delivers up to 90 pounds of pressure, easily measured using the etched plexiglass pressure gauge. Its small footprint fits neatly on a shelf or in a cupboard, and its simple, intuitive design makes pressing cheeses a breeze for both beginner and experienced home cheesemakers.
The sturdy 9″x12″ base accommodates cheese molds up to 8″ in diameter, making it perfect for everything from Gouda to Alpine-style cheeses to Cheddar.
Each press is carefully handcrafted by Jerry Withers in Phoenix, Arizona.
Are you ready?
let's go press some cheese!
Bundle & Save
Get The Nest Press AND Goat Cheese Academy for $335.00 USD (normally priced at $385.00) plus shipping.
meet Sarah
Sarah Withers is the milkmaid and flower farmer behind The Nest in the West. She lives on a two-acre homestead in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband Zack and their four beautiful children—Charlotte, Beatrice, Theodore, and William.
Sarah teaches goat milk cheesemaking to homesteaders in her signature online course, Goat Cheese Academy. She also writes for homestead print publications such as The Homegrown Sourcebook and Homestead Mamas Magazine. Currently she is writing a book all about raising dairy goats holistically for Lyon’s Press. You can find her book in stores when it releases in spring of 2027.
meet Jerry
Jerry Withers is a retired school principal, who now works for a nonprofit that connects schools with the local community. He and his wife Koni have nine beautiful grandchildren. He is also Sarah’s father-in-law 
Jerry has a passion and talent for woodworking, and makes all kinds of amazing creations in his shop – from custom tables and chandeliers, to charcuterie boards, to handcrafted Christmas decor. He and Koni spend their summers traveling the United States in their trailer, and love taking their family camping and fishing for fun.
You can find more of his work at Woodcrafts by J&K, LLC.
Frequently asked questions
Any pressed cheeses can be made with The Nest Press!
With the capacity to press up to 90lbs, even the firmest cheeses are a breeze to press.
The adjustable weight system works for semi-firm cheeses like Gouda and Jack too.
Soft cheeses like chevre, brie, and feta do not require a cheese press to make.
Absolutely! The Nest Press is designed to be simple and intuitive, so beginners can start pressing cheese right away. At the same time, it’s sturdy and precise enough for more advanced cheesemakers.
The Nest Press is handcrafted in the USA from stainless steel posts, high-quality red oak bars, with a sturdy, thick plywood base coated in food-grade epoxy. All materials are safe for contact with cheese and designed to last for years of use.
The Nest Press can handle up to 90 lbs of pressure, and can fit a cheese mold up to 8″ in diameter – perfect for making wheels of cheese up to 6–8 lbs.
The base measures 9″x12″, with a compact, upright design. The stainless steel rods stand 17″ tall. It’s small enough to sit comfortably on a counter or shelf, making it ideal for home kitchens or small cheesemaking spaces.
Cleaning is simple — just wipe down the wooden parts with a damp cloth. You may also use a food safe sanitizer such as StepOne.
Avoid soaking the press in whey or water. The heavy-duty springs and sturdy materials are designed to hold up beautifully with regular, normal use.
Yes! The Nest Press works perfectly for goat, cow, or sheep milk cheeses, giving you consistent pressure for a wide range of milk types and cheese styles.
Absolutely! The Nest Press is a thoughtful and beautiful gift for any cheesemaker, beginner or seasoned, and it’s perfect for holidays, birthdays, or special occasions.
If you need help figuring out how to send a press as a gift, please reach out to sarah@thenestinthewest.com.
Can't find your answers?
Email sarah@thenestinthewest and I’ll be in touch asap.