which blender/smoothie machine?

llibrm · Apr 8, 2014

Ive got a Breville and its great. A lot cheaper too. Its quite enough I can make a smoothie and not wake the boys in the morning

coffeesnob · Apr 8, 2014

14TACO4X4 said: ↑

My wife and I bought the Vitamix 6300 from Costco for $499.

https://secure.vitamix.com/6300.aspx

Yes... it will blend pineapple and anything else you throw in there. 1/4 cup water, 2 cups frozen strawberries, and a couple tablespoons of agave nectar... BAM! Strawberry Sorbet.
Click to expand...

do you know what the difference is between yours and the 5200

BigBenOC · Apr 8, 2014

TRICOMA said: ↑

Expensive but the best...Vita Mix

http://www.vita-mix.com/
Click to expand...

I agree, if you're going to buy a good working one then get a vita-mix. the kind of thing that you only need to buy once, versus buying several $150 machines that don't get the job done right...

Screw the Ninja and get the Vita-Mix...

14TACO4X4 · Apr 9, 2014

coffeesnob said: ↑

do you know what the difference is between yours and the 5200
Click to expand...

It has presets for smoothies, frozen desserts and hot soups. It shuts itself off when the cycle is done. It can also do whatever the 5200 can do and you can use presets or manual mode.

If you have a Costco nearby, go to the demo. Costco sells the $650 6300 series for $499. Why would you not get it?

coffeesnob · Apr 9, 2014

14TACO4X4 said: ↑

It has presets for smoothies, frozen desserts and hot soups. It shuts itself off when the cycle is done. It can also do whatever the 5200 can do and you can use presets or manual mode.

If you have a Costco nearby, go to the demo. Costco sells the $650 6300 series for $499. Why would you not get it?
Click to expand...

I just joined Costco online. I hope to make it out there Friday and check the things out. I looked up vitamix demos for costco and wouldnt you know it about all of them are having one except for....you guessed it the ones nearest me.

gearcruncher · Apr 9, 2014

The best .....http://vimeo.com/3294275

I looked for the video where the guy does the demo with hockey pucks but couldnt find it

Chipskip · Apr 9, 2014

14TACO4X4 said: ↑

It has presets for smoothies, frozen desserts and hot soups. It shuts itself off when the cycle is done. It can also do whatever the 5200 can do and you can use presets or manual mode.

If you have a Costco nearby, go to the demo. Costco sells the $650 6300 series for $499. Why would you not get it?
Click to expand...

The 6300 is also 20% quiter than the 5200.

Williams-sonoma just got the new Vita-mix S30 personal blender. It's still $299, but comes with a 32oz carafe for normal blending and a 20oz travel carafe with travel lid. It's base unit is small too.

Found this on Joyofblending.com, show the different V-M models and the difference between the Costco and W-S models.

www.joyofblending.com said:

Which Vitamix to buy? A comparison of current models

by Adam Nov. 23, 2012 12 min read original
Vitamix blender lineup

Last Updated April 3, 2014

April 2014 Update: Vitamix just released a new significantly different model: the Vitamix S30. I will eventually work it in to this page, but for the time being you can read my take on it in my Vitamix S30 post. The S30 does not eclipse the machines on this page, but if you are looking for a smaller blending package you should check it out.

Update for January 2014: When I first wrote this post over a year ago my goal was to clarify the differences between the confusing array of Vitamix machines. I based it on reading published specifications of the different machines and talking to Vitamix representatives. Since then I have done hands-on testing of the different types of Vitamix machines, and I have also fielded hundreds of questions from people trying to decide which machine to buy. With this experience I will try to improve the recommendations on this page.

The most common question is some variant of, “I want to get a Vitamix to make smoothies and soups and to help my family eat more healthy whole foods. Which one would be best for me?” The answer is that all Vitamix machines would work great for those purposes; which one is best for you comes down to whether you want to pay extra for various features.

There are four main decisions to make:

Variable Speed?
Preset Programs?
Next Generation?
Reconditioned?

Everyone has to weigh the options for themselves to decide which ones are worth it. If you don’t want to go into all the detail I recommend choosing a variable speed, no preset, reconditioned machine. The question of Standard vs Next Generation is more of a toss-up: I recommend the Next Generation if you can afford it, but the Standard is also perfectly good.

Important note for visitors from outside the United States: The model availability described on this page is for the USA only. Vitamix does not sell refurbished machines outside of the USA, and they block web browsers based outside the USA from viewing them. However, if you have access to a USA shipping address (e.g. friends or family) you can place a phone order: the Vitamix phone number is 800-848-2649, and you can use promotion code 06-007021 for free shipping.

Summary of Differences
The following comparison chart shows the relations between the different machines. The machines within each box of the chart are identical, but they come with different accessories and cookbooks. Generally I would say that the differences in accessories/cookbooks are pretty marginal, so I’d recommend going for the lowest price model within the box. The main exception is if a vegetarian/vegan/raw cookbook appeals to you, look at the TurboBlend VS, which comes with one as well as a nutmilk straining bag.

Variable Speed?
(Vitamix Two Speed vs. 5200 and Vitamix 6000 vs. 6300)
The variable speed control found on all Vitamix machines except for the Two Speed and the 6000 is useful for when you don’t want fully liquify your blend. Examples are pesto, salsa, or chopping vegetables. If you don’t have variable speed you can get away with quickly pulsing, but you won’t have as much control over the final texture. The variable speed also makes the “bubble removal trick” work a bit better.

Preset Programs?
(Vitamix Two Speed vs. 6000, Vitamix 5200 vs. 6300, Vitamix Professional Series 200 vs Professional Series 500, and Vitamix Professional Series 300 vs. Professional Series 750)
The preset programs on the 6000, 6300/Pro 500, and the Pro 750 allow you to select a program, turn it on, and then the machine will automatically ramp up the speed and then shut off after a certain amount of time. There are a few reasons that people appreciate this function: you can turn the machine on and “walk away.” Also, if you strictly follow a recipe the presets can give you more consistent results, and can give new users more confidence with the machine.

However, the presets do not always work perfectly. Sometimes ingredients require tamping to start circulating past the blades, so you can’t actually “walk away.” Also, the preset time might not be the optimum blending time if you modify a recipe. You may find that your smoothie is not fully blended after the smoothie program runs, so you have to run it again. A commercial coffee or smoothie shop makes the same recipes over and over, so in that setting presets are extremely useful. If you constantly make new combinations and of differing amounts, as many home users do, the settings may be less useful. It’s not too hard to tell when something is sufficiently blended, and after a few trials anyone should be able to figure it out. For these reasons I personally would not pay extra for the preset settings, but I know many people who have the presets and love them.

Next Generation?
(Vitamix 5200 vs. 7500 and Vitamix Professional Series 500 vs. Professional Series 750)
Vitamix released the “Next Generation” models in 2012. Both the base and the pitcher have an updated design. The base has slightly better sound muffling and also has better airflow which means that it can work a bit harder before it overheats. To go with the better-cooled motor, the updated pitcher has a 4-inch blade instead of the Standard 3-inch blade. The 4-inch blade is in a shorter and wider container that has the same capacity as the classic Standard container (64 oz).

Advantages of the wider design:
• less need for the tamper (ingredients fall into the blades more easily)
• better chopping capability (you can course-chop more ingredients at a time)
• slightly easier to scrape thick mixtures out
Advantage of shorter design:
• potentially easier storage (at 17.5” tall, the container with lid on the base fits under standard kitchen cabinets)
Advantages of the 4-inch blade:
• slightly faster processing time
• under some circumstances marginally smoother blends

The one disadvantage of the new container is that for small volumes of under ~2 cups it does not work quite as well as the Standard narrow container. The wider design causes two things to happen. First, there is more splashing up to the inside of the lid and the upper walls of the container, which means you lose a small amount of your blend unless you carefully scrape off the lid and walls. Second, you need slightly more volume to cover the blades and get good circulation going. The minimum volume to blend depends on what you are blending, and also on how much effort you are willing to spend pushing ingredients back into the blades. For example, for best results, the narrow containers can make nut butter easily by starting with 3 cups of nuts, whereas the wider Next Generation containers do best with 4 cups of nuts. For easier, more liquidy, blends, you can go below 1 cup in either container, but Next Generation containers will splash around much more.

This disadvantage is a non-issue if most of your blends are over 2 cups, or if you are willing to spend a bit more to buy a spare narrow container, which will give you the best of both worlds. I like the 32-oz container for this purpose, although the 48-oz container has the same narrow bottom so it works just as well. The 48-oz container is just a bit bulkier on the outside because it sits outside the centering posts instead of inside of them, and its top is wider as well.

If you decide that you’d rather not spend the extra money on a Next Generation machine, but you still want to have a shorter container, consider a Standard machine with compact (48 oz) container instead of the full-size (64 oz) tall container. The compact container with lid on the base is 17.4” tall, whereas the 64-oz narrow container with lid on the base is 20.5”. This combination is currently only available new and is not available reconditioned.

Reconditioned?
Buying reconditioned is a great way to save money. For more details on deciding about buying reconditioned, see my refurbished Vitamix page.

The original post follows.
In my previous post I outlined some key differences between Blendtec and Vitamix blenders, and now I’d like to compare differences within the Vitamix line to help you make the best choice.

The array of different Vitamix blenders is a bit confusing, but it turns out that there is a lot of redundancy between the different models. I am only discussing models made for consumer/home use. Their commercial blenders are not ideal for home use because they are generally more expensive and have shorter warranties (3 years vs 7 years for home use; they are warrantied for constant use—think of how many times per day a blender at Jamba Juice runs compared to at your home).

The Vitamix website currently lists 12 different home models, but they are all variants of two main designs: “standard,” and “next generation” (they used to all be variants of a single design, but Vitamix released a new one in 2012). For each of the two main designs there are a few different options, to make a total of 6 different machine types. The rest of the models are identical bases, but come with different pitchers and/or accessories.

Quick Recommendations
If you don’t want to go through the nitty-gritty of the comparison, here are my quick recommendations: tight budget: reconditioned Standard ($329)
mid-range: 5200 ($449)
latest & greatest: Pro 750 ($689) (possibly less on Amazon)
UPDATE: I think my previous recommendations unfairly passed over the 7500, and I just noticed that Vitamix has dropped its price to $529. If I were buying a new machine now, this is the one I would be looking at. It’s not that much more than the 5200, and the presets are the only feature the Pro 750 adds. UPDATE II: The reconditioned 7500 is now available for $439.

Standard Motors
There are three types of bases of the standard variety. The differences are in the controls. The dimensions of the base of these machines are 8.75″ deep x 7.25″ wide x 8.25″ tall. There are three different container size options: 32 oz, 48 oz, and 64 oz, which result in height of base plus container/lid of 16.9″, 17.4″, and 20.5″ respectively.

Standard no variable speed (Vitamix TurboBlend Two Speed)

Vitamix Turboblend Two Speed baseTurboBlend Two Speed ($399), aka Vitamix 4500. This machine comes with a 5-year warranty and lacks the variable speed knob. Variable speed is useful for cases where you want to have finer control over the texture (i.e. if you don’t want a totally smooth purée). However, you can accomplish some non-liquefying chopping tasks by quickly pulsing the machine. Another task I use variable speed for is this trick to remove bubbles. While this is the most affordable new machine, I’d highly recommend looking at the reconditioned 5200, which has the same warranty and adds variable speed for $70 less.

Standard variable speed (Vitamix 5200 et al.)

Vitamix 5200 baseUntil recently this was Vitamix’s bread and butter, and they have a lot of models to show for it: 5200 ($449), TurboBlend VS ($449), CIA Pro ($529), Pro 200 ($479), Creations II ($449), and Creations GC ($499). These machines are essentially identical. The Creations GC comes with a marginally more powerful motor. The aesthetics of the switches and dial are slightly different between the different models. Also, the handles on the TurboBlend VS and Creations II containers are not rubberized, while the others have rubberized handles. The Creations models come with a 5-year warranty, while the rest are 7 years. The 5200 comes with their “whole foods cookbook,” the TurboBlend VS comes with a vegetarian/vegan/raw cookbook and a nutmilk straining bag, the Pro models come with a cookbook with restaurant-oriented recipes (the CIA one—that’s Culinary Institute of America—comes with an additional recipe book), and the Creations models come with a cookbook that I cannot find any details on. Given the shorter warranty on the Creations models, it does not make sense to buy these from Vitamix; QVC sometimes runs deals on them that make them more attractive. In my opinion the best Vitamix bang for the buck is the $329 reconditioned Standard, which comes with a 5-year warranty and unused container/tamper. Note that if you buy reconditioned, you cannot choose which of the Standard models you are getting; Vitamix will choose for you based on availability, but remember that functionally they are identical.

Standard variable speed + presets (Vitamix 6300 and Professional Series 500)

Vitamix 6300/Professional Series 500 basePro 500 and 6300 ($649). This unit is now available reconditioned for $379. These are the same model; the only difference is that the 6300 comes with the “Savor” cookbook, which has a broader range of recipes than the Pro 500′s “Create” cookbook, which focuses more on restaurant-style recipes that tend to be richer.) They have 3 preset programs that run the blender for a certain amount of time and speed for smoothies, frozen desserts, and hot soups. Their switches are slightly different from the non-preset models. The non-preset models have an on-off switch, a variable speed knob, and a high-variable speed switch. The preset ones have moved the highest speed setting onto the knob and replaced the high-variable speed switch with a pulse switch. This is really a minor aesthetic difference, since you can achieve pulsing on the non-preset models by quickly flicking the on-off switch on and off. Some people love the presets because you can set it and walk away (assuming the mixture is circulating and you don’t need the tamper), and because they get more consistent results. However, the more consistent results will only hold if you always add the same quantities and types of items to the blender. For example, if you’re making a small smoothie, you can blend it for less time than if you were making a large one. One other thing is that you can set the non-preset machines and walk away—you just have to come back to stop them. I often use the blending time to rinse off the knife and cutting board that I used. You’re not likely to forget that the Vitamix is running because it’s loud enough to hear throughout the house. The variable speed knob goes to the same high speed as the previous models on high, but it’s lowest setting is a bit faster than on the 5200 et al., so you lose a tiny bit of fine control. Whether the presets are worth it is a personal question—I wouldn’t pay extra for them, but some people love them.

Standard no variable speed + presets (Vitamix 6000)

Vitamix 60006000 ($599). This is the most recent Vitamix model to be released (October 2013), but it’s more of a mash-up of existing machines than a true new one. It’s a sort of blend between the Two Speed, and the 6300. It does not have variable speed control, but it has six preset timed blending settings. These settings will automatically ramp up the speed, and then turn it off after a specified time of 20 sec, 30 sec, 1 min, 1.5 min, 4.5 min, or 6.5 min. Like the 6300, the pulse control is spring-loaded so that it only stays on as long as you hold it down, and it blends at a medium-low speed.

Next Generation Motors
This year Vitamix released a new base that is slightly more powerful and quiet than the standard one. With the extra power, the base can use a new pitcher design that is wider and has longer blades. This design makes the tamper less necessary, and makes it easier to get thick mixtures out. The longer blades reportedly process food faster and work better for chopping. The new machines are compatible with the old containers, so if you want to use the dry blade you can use the same classic dry container. These machines also have improved motor cooling so that they’re less likely to overheat. The standard design only cools efficiently when it’s on high, whereas the new models always maximize cooling. (All Vitamix machines have a thermal overload sensor that will turn off the machine before it gets so hot that it’s destroyed. I’ve never tripped it myself, but if you do set it off, it’s not the end of the world—you just have to wait for the machine to cool down before you can run it again.) Dimensions are 9.4″ deep x 7.7″ wide x 17.5″ tall (with new-style 64-oz container in place).

Next generation motor (Vitamix 7500, Professional Series 300, and Creations Elite)

Vitamix 7500/Professional Series 300 base7500 ($529), Creations Elite ($557.50), and Pro 300 ($559). Now available reconditioned for $439 (when they can keep it in stock)! These are all the same machine, but the Creations Elite comes with a 48-oz container, while the other two come with the new-style 64-oz containers. The Creations Elite also comes with a 5-year instead of 7-year warranty.

Next generation motor + presets (Vitamix Professional Series 750)

Vitamix Professional Series 750 basePro 750 ($689). Now available reconditioned for $519. This machine has 5 presets: smoothies, frozen desserts, purées, hot soups, and self-washing. The presets are different from the standard presets in that instead of just being timed sequences of speeds, they use feedback from the blade resistance and a microprocessor to adjust the speed. So in principle these presets should work better because they can adjust to what’s happening in the pitcher. I haven’t found an objective source that evaluates how much better these work, but most of the opinions I’ve read of them are positive. Update: This model is currently out of stock from Vitamix, Back in stock, but you might find it for less on Amazon.

Satisfaction Guarantee
Vitamix has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so if you have second thoughts you can return a machine within the first 30 days for a full refund and they even pay return shipping.

Warranty
If your machine has any problems during the warranty period of 5 or 7 years they will repair or replace it, and they cover any shipping costs both ways.

Reconditioned Vitamix

Vitamix certified reconditioned modelsI know I already mentioned reconditioned machines, but I want to restate what a great deal I think they are. These factory-refurbished machines offer the best prices you’ll find on Vitamix: Two Speed for $299, 5200 for $329, 6300 for $379, 7500 for $439, and Pro 750 for $519. For more details, see my refurbished Vitamix page.

Free Shipping
Clicking on any Vitamix link on this page will automatically apply a promotion code, which gives you free shipping on your order of a Vitamix machine. Alternatively, if you order via phone you can get free shipping by telling the representative that you’d like to apply promotion code 06-007021. For more details, see my page about the Vitamix promotion code.

Recommended Accessory
These spatulas are helpful for getting every last bit of thick mixtures out of the container. I reviewed them here. If you get them at the same time as your machine you can save on shipping (my free shipping code only works on orders that include a machine).

Dry Container
If you’re wondering if you should get a dry container, this new post is for you: Is the dry container worth it?

Phew… so that completes my round-up. I’m looking forward to getting back to describing some actual recipes!
Click to expand...

inesshell · Apr 9, 2014

i have a blendtec....best blender ever.

2Sheds · Apr 9, 2014

I bought a Blendtec a few years ago. I did a lot of research and decided it was better than Vitamix. The Blendtec is an incredible machine but for making smoothies just for myself I use a Nutribullet. It is amazing what such a small blender can do.

coffeesnob · Apr 9, 2014

Chipskip said: ↑

The 6300 is also 20% quiter than the 5200.

Williams-sonoma just got the new Vita-mix S30 personal blender. It's still $299, but comes with a 32oz carafe for normal blending and a 20oz travel carafe with travel lid. It's base unit is small too.

Found this on Joyofblending.com, show the different V-M models and the difference between the Costco and W-S models.
Click to expand...

good information thanks!!

MrsTACO · May 2, 2014

My friend has the ninja!! She loves it. I myself love my blendtec!!

Swamp Donkey · May 2, 2014

I also have the blendtec. Use it almost every morning for smoothies for my wife and I. I did the research, and I am happy with my decision.

Tacomato · Aug 31, 2014

Never thought my first post here would be about making smoothies, but noticed that nobody was making them using their AC on their truck. Here I thought this was a Tacoma forum? Sooooo, to get you guys on track for one post even in an off-topic discussion, the mixer is a Bella running from my bed power. And while I have no idea how long it will last, its a great take along for camping trips and runs with plenty of power using the 110v bed power. This was a few weeks ago and we had wild Huckleberry Smoothies with banana, ice, and some peach. Crushes the ice just fine as well.

Life is rough...

Jeepnick · Aug 31, 2014

I'm an everyday shakeology user
I had a ninja for 3 years it worked well but got tired
Just picked this up
It kicks ass
Such a difference

$455 Waring Commercial MX1050XTX 3.5 HP Blender with Electronic Keypad Controls, Pulse Feature and a 64 oz. BPA Free Copolyester Container, 120V, 5-15 Phase Plug

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005K8NPBS?pc_redir=1409138553&robot_redir=1

scubadiver · Oct 21, 2014

Blendtec had it for 2 years and love it.

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which blender/smoothie machine?

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