When it comes to buying your blender, there are many possible manufacturers that you can choose to purchase from. Plenty of these manufactures have been making kitchen goods for well over 75 years, so there is no shortage of reputable choices. Amongst well-received brands like Oster, Ninja, Margaritaville and Blendtec, Vitamix is one manufacturer that seems to stand out a little more than others.
Vitamix vs. Other Brands
Founded in 1921, the founder of Vitamix chose the name because of the company’s motivation to manufacture kitchen products that promoted healthy living. With this noble goal in mind, Vitamix eventually ended up releasing their first blender in 1937, a whole 16 years after the company was founded. Now, 80 years later, Vitamix has become one of the largest and most reputable blender manufacturers in the world.
The main draw for Vitamix blenders is that they are designed to be professional, high performance kitchen appliances. If you care highly about the quality of your blender, and you would like to ensure that there are no corners cut during the design process, Vitamix is the perfect manufacturer for you.
When you compare a Vitamix blender to a model from another blender manufacturer, it is like comparing a luxury car to a typical, everyday sedan.
These blenders are generally manufactured for professional chefs and other customers who are very serious about their cooking experience. This means that you will find very few budget models when it comes to the Vitamix lineup. This in turn indicates that Vitamix blenders are generally more expensive when compared to the competition. You get what you pay for when you buy a Vitamix blender, as one of their blenders is likely to last you far longer than a competing model.
The most unfortunate aspect about blenders is that they tend to break far more often than other forms of kitchen appliance. In our household, our kitchen processor has lasted us for over five years, but it seems that we can’t go six months without having to buy a new blender. That was the case until we purchased a Vitamix blender. Though there have been some minor technical hiccups along the way, our Vitamix blender that we use at home has lasted us the better part of two years.
Why is Vitamix Better?
Where other blender manufacturers will use low grade steel in the creation of their blades, Vitamix ensures that they use the strongest stainless steel. This ensures that your blend will be consistent and your blades will not sharpen for a good length of time. Dull blades are one of the leading causes behind why many motors overheat, as they have to work twice as hard to get a good blend with dulled blades.
The next aspect where Vitamix blenders are often superior to the competition is in terms of the electric motors which are used to run the blender. The electric motor is what turns your raw electricity into a couple horsepower worth of blending force. As this is quite a bit of strain to be put on such a small machine, electrical motors tend to be somewhat unreliable in blenders.
Since it would take quite a bit of investment in terms of design and construction to be able to manufacture a highly reliable electric motor, most manufacturers tend to design them to be marginal in terms of reliability. Fortunately, Vitamix does not believe in this design philosophy. Vitamix designs their blenders and electric motors to be as reliable as possible while maintaining a comparably reasonable price.
In addition to being reliable enough to last you a far longer time than the competition, the electric motors which are used in Vitamix blenders also tend to be very powerful. You need a powerful motor inside your blender to ensure that you can blend through tougher mixes, such as ice-heavy slushies and other dense blends. Insufficient power is another reason that tends to contribute to the short lifespan of most household blenders as a weak motor will overheat trying to blend through a tough mix.
In terms of build quality, Vitamix is also near the top. While build quality can depend on several different factors, there are a few that come to mind that show Vitamix is superior to other brands. For example, when ordering a Vitamix blender, you will find that it is very rare for the blender to be damaged in transit or feature any manufacturing errors. Vitamix has very good quality control when compared to other manufacturers who pay less attention to the products coming out of their factories.
The sum of all of these points is that Vitamix simply manufactures blenders that are meant to be an investment. When you purchase a Vitamix blender, you are ensuring that you will not have to order another blender for quite some time. The fact that these blenders tend to last you for such a good amount of time coupled with their effectiveness while in use allows you to make sure that you have the best appliance possible for your kitchen.
Choosing the Right Vitamix Model Series
There are several blender series that Vitamix currently sells. There are many differences between these series, varying between differences in terms of layout, price and design. This section of the guide is intended to help you understand the fundamental differences between these different series and to help you find the right series for your specific needs.
While there is some overlap between the three different blender series, you will find that they tend to have rather distinct applications and features.
The three series will be arranged in terms of typical price in descending order, beginning with the most expensive and ending with the least expensive. Do keep in mind, however, that some of the higher quality offerings in the lower priced series will certainly eclipse the lower cost products that are available in the more expensive product lines.
Ascent Series
The Ascent series is Vitamix’s flagship line of blenders and also the most expensive product line that they have available. The least expensive Ascent series blender starts out at around 450 dollars, so it is evident that these blenders are made for professional chefs or customers who want a high quality blender.
The Ascent series has very high standards when it comes to construction quality, with individual components being checked and rechecked in the factory for any possible defects.
Ascent series blenders are some of the highest quality blenders that are available to your typical consumer. While there are certainly professional blenders that are more powerful, these are typically only manufactured for restaurants, and these can cost up to and over 1000 dollars.
If you want the most effective blender you can reasonably find, invest in an Ascent series model. They feature amenities such as touch screen control, wireless connectivity, cutoff timers and excellent quality.
Legacy Series
The Legacy series is the next mainline series of blender manufactured by Vitamix. While it is slightly less costly than the Ascent series, you will find that Legacy blenders do not give up quality or usefulness in any form to achieve this lower price.
The main meaningful difference between the Legacy series and the Ascent series is in their aesthetic value and in their user accessibility.
Where the Ascent series incorporates touch screens and other modern features, Legacy blenders have a more retro aesthetic with durable knobs and buttons instead. The interior components used in the construction of Legacy series are still of the highest quality. As Vitamix prizes themselves on excellent construction quality and durability, you can rest assured that it is still a primary concern when it comes to the production of the Legacy series.
Personal Series
The Personal series from Vitamix is perhaps the most unique blender series that they offer. This product line combines the usefulness and reliability of other Vitamix blenders with smaller containers and improved usability if you are on the go.
These blenders tend to be optimized for users who prefer to make smoothies and shakes with their blender more than anything else. They typically feature less speed options than the other forms of blenders, as smoothies and shakes tend to have a limited range of speeds required in order to be made.
Reviews
Product 1 – Vitamix 5300 Certified Reconditioned
Specifications:
- Features variable speed and pulse controls
- Features a low profile, 64 ounce container which is BPA free
- Features a commercial grade 2.2 horsepower motor
- Features laser cut stainless steel cutting blades
- Features a 5 year warranty and a 30 day return policy
The Vitamix 5300 Reconditioned blender is a previously owned Vitamix 5300 which has been returned to Vitamix and worked on so it is exactly like new. All parts which show signs of wear and tear are either repaired or entirely replaced, meaning that besides the name, this product is as good as new.
Along with the inclusion of a five year warranty, this allows you to rest assured that your blender is of good quality, even if it was previously owned.
The 2.2 horsepower motor is strong enough to blend almost anything you desire. If you need a blender which is effective at crushing large amounts of ice, you will find that the reconditioned Vitamix 5300 is an excellent choice, as the motor will not overheat or suffer any issues. While there is a limit to how much you can blend with this product, it is typically far beyond the reasonable limit of what you would want to blend, so it is easy to use this blender for many applications.
From making smoothies to blending up entire meals, you will find that this product will get the job done quickly and effectively. The inclusion of a 64 ounce container allows you to blend more foods at once and to make larger smoothies and shakes. The low profile design of the container ensures that this blender will be able to fit in your cupboards easily, as many blenders tend to be difficult to store.
Product 2 – Vitamix 6500
Specifications:
- Features a low profile 64 ounce container
- Includes a New Savor cookbook
- Includes a low profile tamper
- Feature three pre-programmed settings
- Features 10 speed control
- Features a 2 horsepower motor
The Vitamix 6500 is where Vitamix’s product line truly starts to enter professional blender territory. While all of Vitamix’s blenders are certainly high quality products, this model is the least expensive option you have that would be likely to show up in a restaurant kitchen. While this model does not feature all of the accoutrements of more modern options, such as wireless connectivity and touchscreens, you will find that the components and functioning are certainly up to par.
The inclusion of ten speeds allows you to choose the ideal speed that you may require for no matter which recipe you are making. Speaking of recipes, the included cookbook is actually quite helpful if you do not have a diverse number of recipes in mind when making your purchase. From new ideas to things you may have once tried and forgotten about, the New Savor cookbook is an excellent inclusion to an excellent product.
The three pre-programmed settings allow you to more easily make the three most common meals that you will typically be enjoying. These settings have provisions for smoothies, soups and frozen desserts, which are by far the most common meals which are usually made with a blender.
The smoothie setting is also ideal if you are planning on making shakes, so there are very few times where you will have to use the ten power settings in practice. The pre-programmed buttons make it far more simple.
Product 3 – Vitamix 7500
Specifications:
- Features a 2.2 horsepower motor for powerful blending
- Includes a 64 ounce low profile container
- Includes a pulse features
- Features 10 different speed settings
- Product weights 13 pounds
- Dimensions are 7.7 x 17.5 x 9.4 inches
If you are tired of every blender above a certain price point being excessively complicated, you will find that the Vitamix 7500 is an ideal choice.
The blender’s exterior features only three control options, the first being the power switch, the next being the pulse switch and the final control being the knob which controls blending speed. This blender feels exceedingly well made, with the control knob giving a reassuring click every time you rotate it and the switches having a good weight to them.
Like many other models of Vitamix blender, it features the usual low profile 64 ounce blending container, which is excellent due to being able to fit in confined spaces while still retaining a decent blending capacity.
The Vitamix 7500 is remarkably reliable when compared to other models of blender, and this is in part due to the inclusion of a very powerful 2.2 horsepower motor. We have never once had issues blending up any possible combination of ingredients which someone would typically put in a blender.
While this model of blender does not have presets, there is no actual need for it due to the simplicity of the ten speed system. Once you have a little bit of experience using this blender, you will instinctively know exactly how long you should blend certain ingredients for. There are also many guides which can help you decide on the right blending speed and time for certain recipes online. All in all, this is an excellent mid to high quality offering when looking at all of Vitamix’s other products.
Product 4 – Vitamix Pro 750
Specifications:
- Features stainless steel cutting blades
- Features 5 pre-programmed settings
- Features 10 blending speeds
- Features a 2.2 horsepower motor
- Includes a low profile tamper
This model is somewhat similar to the Vitamix 7500 in that they share many of the same components.
There are, however, a few key differences to consider between these two models of blender. The first, and most noticeable difference is the inclusion of five separate pre-programmed settings which will allow you to get your blending done quickly and easily. Where you have to fiddle with blending speeds with other blenders, with this model, you put on a preset and simply wait.
Another difference between this model and the 7500 is the exterior. Where the 7500 features a plain black exterior, the Pro 750 features a beautiful brushed metal exterior. While this may not seem like the most crucial aspect to search for in a blender, there is no doubt that the sleek brushed metal exterior of the Pro 750 is far more at home in a kitchen than the plain black of the 7500.
The next detail in which the Pro 750 differs is that it includes a guide DVD and a cookbook, both of which are published by Vitamix, as they are officially licensed. These are excellent inclusions for a blending beginner as you will be able to hit the ground running as soon as your blender arrives. While there are many recipes you can use your blender for, the cookbook provides specific recipes which the Pro 750 excels at.
Product 5 – Vitamix Pro 500
Specifications:
- Features a commercial grade 2 horsepower motor
- Features a BPA free 64 ounce container
- Features a spill proof lid which is also vented
- Includes a patented tamper
- Features 3 pre-programmed settings
- Features 10 blending speeds
While this may be one of Vitamix’s older models of blender, it is still far more reliable and useful than much of the competition. The first difference you will notice between this blender and its more modern counterparts is that it does not feature Vitamix’s signature low profile jar, which may make storing this model a little more difficult.
Apart from this, Vitamix has not exactly revolutionized their product design enough to make this model obsolete. The phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” comes to mind.
The choice of 3 pre-programmed settings makes it far easier to blend something quickly as you simply have to turn the knob the preset and then you can walk away and deal with other tasks. The inclusion of Vitamix’s patented tamper is another excellent feature. This tamper allows you to more easily blend thicker mixes without having to worry about the tamper impacting the blades due to the collar design.
The spill proof lid is another nice touch, allowing you to have a bit of peace of mind while the blender is functioning. The dread of using a blender without holding the cover down does not apply for this model as the cover stays on firmly throughout the whole blending process.
Cleaning this blender is also remarkably easy, as you must simply put a dollop of dish soap and a cup of water in the blender and run it on high for just under a minute.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best blender possible, you cannot go wrong with a Vitamix. One of the oldest blender manufacturers, they are also one of the most reliable and effective. From their product quality to their customer service, it is hard to find a reasonable manufacturer like Vitamix today. We hope our review guide has helped you make a decision regarding your next blender.
