Australian design · hand-made in our family workshop
The nut cracker built for macadamias.
Most nut crackers are made for walnuts and give up on a macadamia. The MaccaWakka is a hammer-action macadamia nut cracker in natural timber and stainless steel, with a red silicone cup that holds the nut, takes the hit and pops the kernel out. Designed by an Aussie macadamia grower, so ya nuts get eaten fresh.
US$49.90 on Amazon US
Other stores: Amazon Australia · Amazon US · Order direct (anywhere else)
Prefer to see it first? Watch it work, read how to crack macadamia nuts with it, or see 7 macadamia crackers compared before you buy a macadamia nut cracker.
The red cup is the secret
Hammer-action, not a squeeze
Lever and screw crackers stall on a hard macadamia. A firm tap on the stainless striker splits the shell cleanly, and with a little practice the kernel often comes out whole.
The red cup does the clever bit
Soft silicone grips the nut, takes the hit, and lets go when you press the spring-loaded pin. Load the next nut straight from the tray without touching it.
Hand-made, one at a time
Natural timber, stainless pin and strike plate. Grain and colour vary on every piece, which is the point. Wipes clean, and it looks good sitting on the bar.
How it works
Three moves, then a handful of kernels
- Set the pin. Turn the stainless button until the nut sits 3–5 mm proud of the red cup.
- Give it a firm tap. Bring the cup down on the stainless strike plate. Firm, not a hammer swing.
- Press to eject. The pin pops the nut out. Drop it in a bowl of water: kernels float, shells sink.
Full guide: how to crack macadamia nuts → · Download the printed instruction sheet (PDF)
Which nuts, and how hard to hit
Straight answers before you buy
Small backyard nuts
Wind the pin so the nut sits 3–5 mm proud of the cup, then tap. Smaller, thinner-shelled nuts often split in one or two taps.
Big, thick-shelled nuts
The large Hawaiian-type nuts sold in the US have a tougher shell. Two or three firm taps is normal, and not a sign something is wrong.
Size range
Australian macadamias in shell are graded by diameter: small 16–18 mm, medium 18–23 mm, large 23–28 mm and extra large over 28 mm. The MaccaWakka takes the lot. Small ones: tilt it on its side with the pin screwed in and strike sideways, or a rubber band around the cup squeezes it tighter. Walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts work too with the pin adjusted.
Honest note: there is a knack. Too hard makes crumbs; too soft does nothing. Most people have it inside ten nuts. And yes, it is loud, so use it on a board or take it outside. More in the guide to how to crack macadamia nuts.
The maker
Built by a grower who got sick of smashing nuts with rocks
I grew up in Australia climbing macadamia trees and cracking the nuts with a rock until my fingers bled. I have had a fruiting macadamia tree in my yard for years, and the MaccaWakka is what I built to do the job properly. Six years of tweaking later, here it is.
My inspiration is my family, so a big thanks to my Mum and my three sons, Noah, Eli and Moses.
Peter Johnson, inventor of the MaccaWakka
What buyers tell us
The things people like
“Best macadamia cracker ever invented”
“Super easy to use. Clean up is a breeze. Cracks them nuts!!!”
“Excellent quality Aussie made product. Well done!!”
“Just got a new maccawakka with the improved Red Silicon Cup. First one I had worked great, this one is even better. Great communication and service as always!”
“The Maccawakka works very well, although takes some getting used to.”
“This is a very cool, well made item. The guy who designed it seems to genuinely care about the product they put out and that's a big plus in my book.”
Themes pulled from public Amazon reviews (Australia and US). We read the critical ones too, which is why the questions below answer them head-on.
Ya nuts, answered
The questions we get asked most
How hard do I have to hit it?
A firm tap, not a hammer swing. Start with a medium tap on the stainless strike plate and add a little force until the shell splits. Too hard makes crumbs; too soft does nothing. Most people have the knack within ten nuts.
Big, thick-shelled macadamias (the Hawaiian-type nuts common in the US) often need two or three taps. Smaller, thinner-shelled nuts are usually easier and often go in one or two. The video makes it look easy because the nut is set up right: see the pin setting guide.
Will it grip small nuts? What size does it take?
Australian macadamias in shell are graded by diameter: small 16–18 mm, medium 18–23 mm, large 23–28 mm and extra large over 28 mm. The MaccaWakka takes the lot. You set the stainless pin so the nut sits 3–5 mm proud of the cup. For small nuts that want to roll out of the cup: tilt the cracker on its side, screw the pin in until the nut sits snug in the cup, and strike it sideways. Or slip a rubber band around the cup to squeeze it tighter for the small ones. Still unsure? Send us a photo and we will tell you straight whether it suits your nuts.
My red cup has split notches. Is it damaged?
No. The notches are there on purpose so the silicone can flex and grip the nut, then let go when you press the pin. If the cup is still firmly seated in the timber and it holds the nut, it is working as designed. If the cup ever comes loose, epoxy glue puts it back (see care & troubleshooting).
It is loud. Can I make it quieter?
It is a hammer on a steel plate, so yes, it has a bang. Use it on a chopping board or a folded towel rather than straight on a hard benchtop, or take it outside. Pets and small kids often do not love the noise, so pick your spot.
It costs more than a lever cracker. Why?
It does, and it is a fair question. Cheap lever and screw crackers are made with walnuts in mind and struggle with a hard macadamia. Screw types have to be wound in and out for every nut; lever types tire your hand and can nip fingers. The MaccaWakka is built for the macadamia first: one hand-made tool in timber and stainless steel, with a cup that holds the nut and catches the shell, designed to last for years rather than end up in the bin.
Can it crack other nuts?
Yes. Adjust the pin and it handles walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts too. But it was designed around macadamias, and that is what it does best.
Where is it made?
Designed in Australia by Peter Johnson, a macadamia grower. Hand-made in our family workshop in Vietnam, one at a time, so grain and colour vary from piece to piece.
Can I put it in the dishwasher?
Please do not. Wipe it with a damp cloth or wash in warm water, dry it, and keep it out of direct sun and weather. The timber does not enjoy a long soak.
Ready to crack some macadamias?
US$49.90 on Amazon US
Other stores: Amazon Australia · Amazon US · Order direct (anywhere else)