The 10 Best Blendtec Blenders
Editor's Notes
September 09, 2020:
Having been a loyal customer of Blendtec for quite some many years now, I thoroughly enjoyed updating this list. While historically, the big arguments among blender enthusiasts had always been about Blendtec vs. Vitamix, there are newer players in the market today that have added models to the ranks of high-end blenders, though I still maintain the vast majority of Ninja and Oster blenders are more poorly constructed and not nearly as good as either a Blendtec or Vitamix. While both Blendtec and Vitamix were pioneering companies in this market, having introduced innovations to the market which are now commonplace among high-end blenders, I personally favor Blendtec.
Blendtec’s product line is relatively simple, and some models are quite a lot like each other, and only differ by their pre-programmed cycles.
Their commercial blenders are made for easy cleaning for restaurant inspections, and add the ability to program custom blend cycles, which can help speed up workflow in a restaurant. On the contrary, many of the so-called commercial-grade blenders you’ll find at your local appliance store may not be NSF (National Sanitation Foundation)-certified.
Their home (residential) blenders include 3 series’ – Classic, Designer and Pro, which are indicated in the names of the home blenders in our list. In terms of jars, it gets even simpler, with all of Blendtec’s jars being made from BPA-free plastic that’s so strong that you can stand on them, as well as the fact that all of the traditional jars – the FourSide, WildSide, Twister and Frothing jars - are compatible with all of their blenders, including with the Stealth 895, which was primarily designed to use directly with smoothie cups to save you a lot of time if you run a busy juice or smoothie bar. Since jars are not model-specific, I’ve removed any reference to jars in this list, so you can purchase the jar that’s relevant for your purpose.
A Few Changes to The List: I generally don’t like to include models that aren’t in a company’s current product line, unless they’re exceptional, and so I’ve removed the Pro 795. Our previous editor had already included all of the company’s 6 commercial models currently on their product line, and the only one I’ve removed here was the EZ 600. The Chef 600 and EZ 600, are fairly similar, and their main difference is their preprogramed cycles, with the set on the Chef 600 being designed for chefs, and the ones on the EZ 600 being made for juices. I find that both these models are fairly similar to the Total Classic, which I prefer, because it’s more versatile, and affordable, and I’ve therefore decided to replace the EZ 600 with it here.
Sound-Reduction Enclosures: select commercial models – the Stealth 885, Stealth 895 and Connoisseur 825 - have enclosures designed to reduce noise, and therefore make great front-of-house blenders for coffee shops and juice/smoothie bars. Of these, I believe that the ones on the two Stealth models are the most effective and offer up to 80% noise reduction, while the one on the Connoisseur can offer up to 50% noise reduction. The Stealth models are also slightly more expensive than Connoisseur models, but are also rated for slightly higher daily duty cycles.
The Pro 800 also has a highly effective sound enclosure, and it’s currently the only home model with one. The Connoisseur 825 Spacesaver, as its name suggests, is just the Connoisseur without the sound enclosure, making it a more affordable option and a great back-end model for a restaurant kitchen.
Addition of Models with Touchscreens: Aside from the Pro 800, models in the Designer series are the only ones to have touchscreen interfaces, and I’ve added in a couple of models from the series, namely, the Designer 625 and Designer 725, with the latter offering a great deal of intuitive sophistication. Touchscreens are obviously stylish and easier to press than push buttons, but, like your phone’s touchscreen, they can’t really be used with wet fingers.
January 24, 2019:
What do iPhones, iPads, camcorders, Transformer toys, whole chickens with the bones, and nachos and beer all have in common? Well, they all found their way into a Blendtec blender in the early aughts, as part of the viral "Will it Blend?" marketing campaign. True story: each of these items was pulverized, to varying degrees of success. So we know that they're some seriously powerful machines, though they do require quite an investment. As such, mid-range models like the Chef 600 are very popular, and can stand up to nearly any in-home use, as well as use in most restaurants. Of course, if you just want to add some dependability to your personal cooking routine, the Classic model isn't too costly, and should serve most consumers' needs. The Connoisseur, Pro 750, and Pro 795 all feature exceptionally high duty cycles, and can be used quite a few times daily, without worrying of burnout or malfunction. The EZ 600 is another high-volume model, and it's a great compromise between cost and effectiveness. If you're running a popular coffee or juice joint, there are a few units that come with incredibly convenient (and ear-saving) plastic noise shrouds, which both your employees and customers will greatly appreciate. The 895 is a particularly interesting selection, as it features a commercial-focused system for blending drinks in the plastic cups usually distributed in retail service. Just keep in mind that this particular model doesn't include a blender bowl, though it is compatible with both FourSide and WildSide jars. All of these are pretty easy to clean, for what it's worth, and utilize high-quality plastic that tends to resist staining from colorful foods (tomato sauce generally notwithstanding, however). Some are capable of heating soups, as well, or even preparing fresh ice cream. And if you'll be frequently swapping out the containers for different dishes or purees, take a look at the brand's proprietary rinsing system, which can really cut down on dishwashing time.