Note: right now, Amazon has the BlendTec for only $399!! You have to click on the black model for the lower price.
A Big Decision: Vitamix vs Blendtec, Blendtec vs Vitamix
As you can probably tell, I’m shopping out blenders. Not regular blenders, mind you, but super blenders. Blenders that will potentially pulverize an ipod (more random blending destruction here).
The two options I’m considering are the Vitamix and the Blendtec. According to this comparison chart, the Blendtec has three horsepower to the Vitamix’s two, and thirteen amps to the Vitamix’s eleven and a half. While both blenders have the same warranty on the overall unit (three years for the comparable Vita-Prep and Total Blender models), the Blendtech’s blade and coupling have a lifetime warranty. The above chart also says that the Blendtec makes better nut butters and doughs than the Vitamix.
Vitamix Blender vs Blendtec Blender – Seriously, What’s the Difference?
Retail on the BT is more expensive than the Vitamix, but on Amazon they’re about the same price. See the Vitamix here and the Blendtec here.
Overall, the above cited chart claims that the Blendtec is better because:
1. Depending on where you shop, the Blendtec costs less than the Vitamix.
2. More Horsepower ( 3-Peak horsepower).
3. Shorter/Wider container fits under cabinets better.
4. The Total Blender container can be used for both wet & dry material, while the Vitamix requires you to buy a separate dry pitcher.
5. The Total Blender supposedly does not need a tamper (because of container design), though some reports I’ve read say that a tamper would be useful and is indeed sometimes necessary.
6. Automatic shut-off feature.
7. Motor does not heat up as fast as the Vitamix.
8. Microprocessor controlled – 100% solid state
9. Easier and faster to clean than the Vitamix.
…but they fail to share the most important information: which is the higher quality (read: longer lasting) product and which blends more effectively? I’m curious about the BT’s multipurpose wet/dry pitcher versus the Vitamix’s need for two seperate pitchers for wet/dry action, and I want to know if it blends less effectively due to its ‘duo’ design.
And if the BT is a better product, why do all of the raw mavens out there still cling to their Vitamixes? Sarma Melngailis, author of Raw Food, Real World and owner of Pure Food and Wine in New York City recommends the Vitamix and says she doesn’t really like the competition. Not sure what difference that makes since she doesn’t give any real info, but she’s a professional chef so her opinion carries some weight.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Which blender do you have, and why did you choose it? If you have links to other comparison resources, I’d love to see them!
Edit: One of our readers, Audrey, was kind enough to provide an interesting link in the comments that might be useful in helping people choose between the Vitamix and BlendTech.
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1 hp = 746 watts. I think both companies are exaggerating the power of their blenders.
Now that I think about it, you’re probably right. Hrmm.
If they have a current of 11.5A and in the north America we use 120V AC voltage, then the peek power is 1380W which is close enough to the advertised 2hp.
I love my vitamix 5200!!! Their is nothing like it! It does exactly what it says. I saw it online and watched a demo at a local fair. Once I saw it in person make steaming hot soup I was hooked!
I love mine too! Makes both ice cream and soup… how can you beat that?
Which blender did you decide to buy? Any follow up?
Ended up getting the Vitamix, and I love it! It’s pretty hardcore. I got the variable speed model which has been helpful for making different kinds of sauces and soups. It allows me to grind things coarsely and finely, which the full-throttle model won’t do.
Ended up getting the Vitamix, and I love it! It’s pretty hardcore. I got the variable speed model which has been helpful for making different kinds of sauces and soups. It allows me to grind things coarsely and finely, which the full-throttle model won’t do.
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your useful comments. Just want to share my experience Vitamix 5200 vs Blendtec. Two weeks ago I went to Costco and they were demonstrating Vitamix so I purchased it. Didn´t take it out of the box because I had been too busy. This weekend I went to Cosco again and they were demonstrating Blendtec which I had never seen before. I was so impressed about the style of the Blendtec and the shorter design that would fit better in the kitchen and the 3hp I thought I had made the wrong purchase a couple of weeks earlier. So, I bought the Blendtec too and I have spent all Sunday comparing them at home. I will return the one that I like the least.
They both make great smoothies. The Vitamix tamper helps with the big stuff and you don´t have to open the lid which I find a bit annoying. The spatula fits the Blendtec better to scrap the walls of the jar.
The size of the Vitamix jar is twice as big and that is important for me because I make smoothies for 5 people in my family. With Blendtec you have to buy the big jar separate and it costs $85 at Costco and $140 elsewhere. So, in my case I would have to buy the extra jar for the Blendtec (I don’t like doing several batches) and that is the same cost as the extra jar for the Vitamix if I ever wanted to make flour or bread.
When making hot soup the Vitamix gave me consistency more to my liking but that is a matter of mastering the Blendtec better I guess (although I am not sure). Vitamix works more like a soup maker because it boils your soup very quickly.
Also I don´t worry as much about the cap blowing off in the Vitamix when you fill it up quite a bit because the jar is way bigger that that of the Blendtec.
I made hummus and the Blendtec did fine but I had to open the jar 8 times and use the spatula to get the stuff to go to the center so that it would continue blending. With the Vitamix I didn´t even have to use the tamper once! That completely sold me on it.
One thing that bothered me about the Blendtec was that it has a display that tells you at all times how many times you have used it. I wondered why it would give you that info and I read in Robin´s blog that when you use it 10.000 times the warranty will be cancelled and that that is done to prevent commercial use with it. It also says that you hardly ever use it so much in 7 years.
Anyway, after thinking that the Blendtec was like the Rolls Royce of blenders I think now that the clunky design of the Vitamix may actually have a purpose?.
Anyway, I will be in touch.
-Monica
Monica,which blender did you go with?I bought a Vita Mix 5200 and I am very happy with it, but,to be honest,I didn’t know that there is another model,with more powerful motor.
I have my blender just for couple of days.I’m sure that both models work great for smoothies,but did you compere them on nut butters?Mine makes a very good hazelnut butter,but it’s somehow hot,when is ready.Did you make any nut butter with Blendtec?Thank you in advance for your response.
Desi, Monica didn’t leave her email, so she might not see this. One thing I’d say about the 5200 is that it’s plenty fast enough for home use, so making nut butters should be a similar experience across the board. The reason your food gets hot is because there is a lot of friction involved with blending, and a faster motor might actually increase that heat. Both blenders offer the “feature” to boil soup, when in reality it’s an unavoidable side effect of fast moving blades.
Hope this helps – let me know if you have any other questions (or if I didn’t answer this one to your satisfaction)!
Thanks, Steph!Your answer was very helpful!Maybe I overdid my hazelnut butter, but it was delicious anyway.Next time maybe I will let the hazelnuts cool down before I put them in the blender.Last time they were hot and that probably shorten the time in the instruction.Thanks again!
One thing that works for me is to put them in the refrigerator before blending. Or if they get too hot in the middle of the process, I stick the pitcher (nuts and all) in the fridge for fifteen minutes to chill. If they get too hot the oil will separate from the nuts and make a huge mess!
Thanks, Monica! That’s all great information. I really appreciate you reporting back.
Thanks, Monica! That’s all great information. I really appreciate you reporting back.
I just bought a Blendtec HP3a with the newly designed BPA-free carafe ($320 w/no tax and free shipping). Here is my evaluation after running it for 65 cycles and experimenting with different types of processing.
So far, I have not been too successful making ice cream, but I need a lot more experimentation. (I do not use most of the recipes in the book provided because they are not all that healthy — use a lot of creams and sugar.)
1) New carafe is a big improvement. Has large opening through which to insert food stuffs and is reportedly a little quieter than the old carafe.
2) The square, short carafe with a single integrated blade is much easier to clean and use than older-style carafes such as those found on Vita-Mix.
3) Noise volume of the 3hp motor is intense at highest settings, but Vita-Mix is also noisy if left on at highest setting. I wear ear protection if utilizing highest speeds.
4) Can use programs or manual, digital variable speed. Can create presets just like on a car radio.
5) The biggest disappointment is that a tamper is definitely necessary for many applications, especially thick spreads and nut butters. In this respect, the “vortex” property of the blade in conjunction with the square carafe design is, for the most part, Blendtec hype that does not really deliver. Blendtec should provide a safety tamper (one with a collar) designed especially for the new carafe.
6) On the other hand, it crushes ice and makes extra-large smoothies very well.
7) It mills in the same carafe with no additional equipment.
Marc, thanks for this! I can see how a tamper would be necessary, even with the Vortex feature – sometimes you just need to move the food around to get it to blend evenly. Hopefully Blendtec will add one soon.
And I do like the Blendtec carafes over the VitaMix. I’d love to get my hands on a BlendTec someday to do a head-to-head comparison.
$320…you beat me by $15!! Where’d you get that price?
I purchased my Blendtec HP3a at http://www.2-life.com. They were running a special for $320, including the new BPA-free carafe, which is easily distinguished from the old carafe by the larger lid opening and small plastic fins molded onto the sides of the carafe. I think they are now charging $5 extra for the new carafe made without bisphenol-a. I really appreciate how easy it is to clean and maintain compared to other designs, which require that the blade unit be unscrewed from the carafe and that have switches and dials that get covered with goo. If I had to spend more time cleaning between uses, I’m sure that I wouldn’t use it as much as I do.
I’d say that’s my chief complaint about the Vitamix – the base doesn’t come off. Not only is it a pain to clean manually, since the blades don’t dismount, they completely destroy any spatula I stick down there trying to get out the rest of the food I’ve blended. And those blades hold a lot of food stuck at the bottom of the carafe… sometimes as much as 30% of whatever you’ve made. That’s a lot to say goodbye to unless you sacrifice a spatula!
Re: cleaning, though whirring some hot water with soap works really well to clean the carafe, I still occasionally want to open everything up and scrub it out. Unfortunately that’s not possible with a Vitamix.
Hmmm — I think you’ve got this backwards, don’t you? The Vita-Mix blade assembly can be removed. In fact, it’s required by law because Vita-Mix employs a two-blade assembly and all multi-part blade assemblies must be able to be removed from the carafe due to their tendency to promote bacteria build-up (i.e., bacteria between the blades). Vita-Mix provides a special wrench for removing the blade assembly, which should be done periodically for a thorough scrubbing. The Blendtec, on the other hand, has a single-blade design, which is not required by law to be removed for cleaning. The Blendtec blade is permanently fused into the carafe and cannot be removed. For this reason, the Blendtec carafe is health-certified by NSF International, whereas the Vita-Mix is not. The Blendtec assembly, however, does have an exposed rubber seal on the underside of the carafe and it is extremely important that this be dried after each use with a cloth or paper towel to prevent moisture from penetrating and eventually corroding the seal. The downside of the Blendtec design is that, if you break the carafe, you must purchase a new carafe plus the blade because they are integrated. You cannot buy just a new carafe without the blade and then attach the old blade to it, which is something you can do with a Vita-Mix and other similar blender designs.
Nice discussion…I was debating these two also.
Just ordered the Blendtec HP3A…here’s why.
COST: Everythingkitchens.com has the HP3A @ $335, shipped/no tax (click on their “Daily Special” when looking @ the unit)!! That’s a full 25% less than the $429 5200, and far & away the best price I found after LOTS of searching.
I’ll say it again: $335, free-shipping/no-tax (save for MO residents)!!!!!!
I could stop there, but…
Blendtec offers a special milkshake-blade jug that makes shakes lighter & airier…Vitamix does not
Std. stuff you hear in these debates; it’s shorter, more powerful, the control plate is sealed to spills, I like the automated settings (30 of em!) and it’s 4 presets for your favorite options, the blade can come off the Vitamix if/when the nut loosens (see http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/blog/?p=157 ), you can already get a tamper for it on ebay, albeit wood…which is fine for the limited times you’d need it (search there for blendtec), the jars have three pouring positions, not just one.
OH…Monica…you’re dead-wrong on the size of the vitamix jar being 2x as big; the Vitamix MARKINGS only go to 32oz, but it holds a full 64 oz….same as the Vitamix. Blendtec doesn’t make a jar less than 64 oz.
Seems like it’s a case where they’re both great, and people defend/tout whichever one buy. I don’t claim to be any different, but all of these comparisons start with the idea that they’re both the same price, and as I said, you can get the Blendtec for over $100 less these days!!
[darn...wish I could edit vs. replying...]
of course I mean the measurement markings on the BLENDTEC jars create the impression it holds only 32 oz instead of it’s true 64 oz capacity.
Hrmm, really? This I didn’t know. I did think that the pitcher old held 32 ounces. Maybe they need to reword what’s on their site…
Wow! This is awesome! You did a ton of research and it shows.
I didn’t know about the milkshake jug… does it come standard with the set or do you have to order it separately?
my bad, I said the $5200 is $429 when it’s actually $449.
N o, the milkshake jar is extra, and it’s like $80-95 cuz it’s a ‘commercial’ jar. Dunno what the differences are, but Blendtec makes diff. jars for the home machine & commercial ones. They look identical (all are BPA free), but the part numbers are different, as is the price! The home ones are really affordable, like $50-60, while the commercial ones are like $80 (milkshake is more…probby cuz the blade has a lot more metal).
MOST of the commercial jars fit the home machines, but I don’t think the ones labeled “sound enclosure only” do. Here are the commercial jars…they only make one home one & this site has it on the home blender sectionhttp://www.everythingkitchens.com/blendtec-blenders.html
BTW…I changed my mind & got the commercial Spacesaver model instead of the HP3a!! It’s like $200 more, but it has 2 commercial jars instead of one home one (there’s $80 back), and there’s a deal where you get 3 CASES of Jet smoothie mix for FREE! http://www.everythingkitchens.com/jetpromo.html I looked it up, those cases are about $75 each, so that makes up the price diff. by itself. Finally, w/this unit, you can take the motor out of the base & mount it under your countertop, so only the control panel & drive base show!! Dunno if I’ll do that right away, but it’s a GREAT option if/when you get the nerve to cut a hole in your countertop
Hello! You said you got the commercial model – how is it working for you, now that you’ve had it a few months?
Put the two side by side and what to you see? The Vitamix base is huge compared to the Blentec. Bigger fan, gears etc. The Blentec is the size of an average blender. Okay if that’s not enough, watch Iron Chef America and guess which blender they put there reputation on. That’s right Vitamix. I ask the guy at the Blend-tec demo if they use these at Jamba Juice. He said no they used to and now they use a cheaper model. Yeah that makes sense. You start out small and grow huge (learning from mistakes) and now have 640 locations. Ok let start using a cheaper inferior product. It is only the backbone of our business. I laughed in my head and kept walking. If you really want a great blender I recommend the 1005, which is the Vita-prep 3 (3hp) I know some people will say you need the 20 amp Blend-tec. Right there says it all 20 amp. Alot of people do not have a dedicated 20 amp outlet, which is recommended. Besides you don’t need that. Please. Yeah, yeah cell wall mumbo jumbo. Come on the Vitamix will do all that and for less money and trouble, than the 20 amp. There it is.
Yeah, Starbucks has no idea what they’re doing using all those Blendtecs.It’s not like they all install custom SS counters with spaces designed to drop in 3-5 Blendtec drop-ins. No way mfgs provide product and or $$ to have their stuff on Food Network.
Didja notice how Vitamix’s newest commercial machines are now using SQUARE containers with single, wide blades, and spillproof flat/soft touch controls in a unit that can be dropped into a counter & programmed with a variety of mixing profiles?
I did: http://www.everythingkitchens.com/vita-mix_touch_and_go_2_commercial_bar_blenders.html
I love my 11 lb Blendtec Spacesaver. If I want a plunger, they’re available on ebay or I can make my own, but I haven’t needed it once in 3 mos.
I think both are great blenders and each one does some things better.
This review helped me to decide:
http://gotgreensrevolution.com/Vitamix-versus-blendtec-review.html
I went with the Vitamix because I love green smoothies, don’t like noise, and prefer the 7 year warranty.
Thanks for this! Definitely useful.
I love my Vita-Mix and I make a green smoothie every morning. My wife and I make all of our own almond and peanut butters. Making nut butters in a Blend Tech is a nightmare. Blending whole foods in a blend tech is a disaster. The VitaMix tamper makes things so much easier. Vita Mix has a 3 hp motor called VitaPrep. Don’t spend the extra money for 3 hp, it works just like the VM 5200 2.1 hp. It is much faster and circulates better than the Blend Tech. That is why all of the commercial smoothie shops use Vitamix. Vita-Mixer for life!
Hi Ryan! Did you get the dry pitcher as well? Have you used it yet? I just bought it and it doesn’t work very well for hard grains, like rice. Meh.
I managed to pick up a vitamix pro recently for the same price as the retail 5200, it can do both wet and dry in the same container. Not sure what the limitation of the 5200 is exactly.
Oh, and I loooooove my vitamix but I haven’t owned both. I found a few reviews of people who had and just went with my gut, from what I hear you won’t be disappointed either way.
Really! I had no idea such a model existed. Wet and dry in the same pitcher? Hrmmm. That sounds really nice.
Where did you get it from?
Great comments. I bought the Vita-Mix 5200 at a demo at Costco in Seattle. Was $399.00. Pretty good price since I’m from Canada. Too expensive to buy here. I have never heard of Blendtec before reading this post.
I have to say that I am impressed with the Vita-Mix. I’ve bought a $100 blender to make smoothies and it did not do the job. After 30 secs I would smell burnt, like the motor could not mix well my smoothies. It never blended properly and we always ended up with lumps in smoothies which I hate.
No more with the Vita-Mix. I love making Green Smoothies, I sneak those veggies in, and nobody knows what veggies they are drinking. They love my smoothies. This is such a healthy way of living.
I have been experimenting and did not have success with ice cream. Hope someone can tell me how to do it properly.
I did make the Tortilla soup. Did not turned out like the Costco lady the first time. The second time I did use only 2 cups of liquid and it worked better. I did not buy the Blend It Up spice mix, it was really expensive. Do you guys bought it?
Overall I give a 10 for my Vita-Mix 5200. Cannot believe I lived that long without it.
Hi Hélène, Thanks for this information. I’ve never used the Blend It Up spice mix, but I’m curious. I might have to track some down.
What sort of issues were you having with the ice cream? I might be able to help.
I just got a new food processor and have been using it to make my smoothies. Is there a reason I should get a blender as well?
If your food processor works for you, then I’d say stick with that. For me, though, I like ultra-fine smoothies and sauces, and for that, these pro blenders are second to none. Not a lump to be found in the finished product!
I haven’t heard much chatter about blending leafy greens. It seems most of the online video demos show blending fruit smoothies. Any thoughts on leafy green blended drinks and which performs better for this purpose, Vita-mix vs. Blendtec?
The reviews are very helpful but so far, neck and neck. I’m attracted to Blendtec by the under cabinet size, computerized display, and auto shut-off but the Vitamix brand has the “feel” of an old Maytag branded washer; strong and reliable. I suppose my next move is to watch a live demo of both at Costco, but then I’ve got to buy the dang membership. What to do…
Which brings up another question: how do the prices compare at convention center home shows vs. online or Costco? Thanks everyone.
In my experience, the Vitamix works better to blend greens into smoothies – perhaps it’s the shape of the carafe? It also has a tamper, which comes in handy (even though the Blendtec supposedly doesn’t need it).
I don’t have a Costco card, though I’ve heard people mention time and time again that they’re cheaper there. Might be worth a look-see! I bought mine online, refurbed for like $250. It’s been running perfectly for two years now!
Also, Mary Beth replied to your comment, so come take a peek at what she says!
Rick! I’m riding the fence like you are between the Blendtec and the Vitamix. I really want something for the green smoothies I want to try. I like the idea that the Blendtec is slightly smaller and therefore more portable (+). right now I travel with a magic Bullet blender for my protein smoothies and it works great for that. but it wouldn’t stand up to tough fruits or veggies that’s for sure. I even bought the Ninja to do the ice grinding for me since the ice is really tough on the smaller blenders. I’ve read that the VM is a tad less noisy (+). We don’t have Costco here, and have not seem either blender demonstrated (-). I’ve also read the Blendtec is easier to clean (+) but that the VM blade CAN be removed from the pitcher if needed. The Blendtec does not need a separate dry container, but I don’t plan to grind my own flour etc, and I have the dry pitcher from my other VM which seems to have disappeared when we remodeled our house a few years ago. this is a tough DECISION! …ooh, and I read the VM produces the ultra smooth smoothie, and the BT is just smooth. Hmmm. love reading all the comments. maybe the answer will appear for me!
Hi Mary Beth,
I have the Vitamix with the dry pitcher and I tried to grind rice flour and it didn’t work very well. So, I think it’s only works well on softer grains, like wheat or barley. I know you said that you weren’t making flours, but I thought this was worth mentioning.
Also, the Vitamix is easy to clean with hot water but not being able to remove the blades is annoying. I feel like I waste the food that gets trapped in there. Other than these two things, though, I love my VM!
I was thinking of getting a Magic Bullet for travel. You like it overall?
After a good deal of research, it became clear to me that the Blendtec and Vitamix were both great machines capable of making green smoothies, whole juices, etc. So, the deciding factor for me was: which one would I be more likely to use frequently. I chose Blendtec because it was short enough to fit on the counter and because it was reportedly easier to clean. I couldn’t be happier with the choice of Blendtec. I’ve had it for about three weeks and have used it every day to make super-healthy green smoothies. I’ve never needed a tamper…just load it with good produce, frozen fruit and ice, push the smoothie button, and walk away. And clean-up is a snap! Rinse immediately with hot water, then put a couple cups of hot water and a drop of dishwashing liquid in and run it through the smoothie cycle again. Rinse and it’s clean as a whistle. Nothing to disassemble or assemble. I don’t think you can go wrong with Blendtec or Vitamix, but if like me your counterspace is at a premium and quick clean-up is important, I recommend the Blendtec.
Hi Will, thanks for this. I wish my VM was smaller – as it is now, it’s so tall that I have to stash it away because there’s not enough room under my cupboards to fit it on the counter. Perhaps someday VM will come out with a smaller pitcher? Here’s to wishing.
Glad you’re enjoying your purchase. Any great recipes you’d like to contribute to the discussion?
Will! you are going to share some of your favorite recipes with us, right?? (please!)
I really appreciate all the info. I am trying to decide between the Blendtec and the VitaMix also. Tough decision. I have seen the VitaMix demonstrated at Costco and am waiting for them to demonstrate the Blendtec next month. I heard that Costco extends the Blendtec warranty….does anyone know anything about that? That is my biggest hesitation about the Blendtec….the warranty. It also looks like the Blendtec is less expensive, which is definitely an attractive point. Ultimately though, I want the best machine and one that will last. Has anyone had a Blendtec for a long time? Thanks for the help.
Hi Pamela, I don’t know people who have have the BT for a long time, only those with the VM. I know the VM has a great warranty, but no one I know has used it yet.
That said, the BT is smaller and more compact. I think that both are good machines, and like Will said above, perhaps logistics are a good tie breaker when it comes to making a decision. Like, which will fit on your countertop?
Thank you Steph. Both machines will fit on my counters…so that doesn’t help me eliminate though. I am also thinking about the controls and not sure that I would like all the preset programs. I like the idea of being able to manually control things, though the description on the Blendtec says that you can also manually control….not sure how user friendly that is though. Hard to know when I have never used either blender. I did see some really good prices on the Blendtec though….and the best I found on the Vitamix is $394 plus tax (9 1/2% where I am in CA…ugh!!). For some odd reason even if I buy the VM online somewhere else, they still charge sales tax (on the 5200 model). I don’t get that.
how much was cosco selling the vitamix 5200 for?
$394 plus tax when they were doing a demo there last month. You can check on Costco’s website for their demo schedule at the stores near you. I think the usual price for the 5200 is about $449 or so … so the Costco price is the best I’ve found.
Almost forgot to add that the deal at 2-life.com ends Monday the 9th at midnight.
Thanks for this!
———->steph´s last blog post – Martha Stewart’s Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
I was super impressed by the Vita-Mix demo last month, and from what I’ve been reading here, it sounds like they follow it up with BlendTec demo’s. I couldn’t find the demo schedule on the site . . . do you mind pointing me to it?
The Blendtec is attractive because it’s less expensive and smaller. Not to mention the 20% off coupon we got in the mail from Bed Bath & Beyond (total price would be $320). The only real hesitance I have is that a few of the comparison reviews say it doesn’t blend things as smoothly as the Vita.
I just purchased the Blentec from Costco. I don’t know if the warranty is extended because it was purchased from Costco. the sales person does give you a registration card to mail in to the Blendtec company that will extend the warranty to 7 yrs. The machine cost $379.00
i just went to a demo yesterday at costco. i bought a vitamix a month and a half ago and this was the first i had seen of blendtec. i haven’t had any complaints with the vitamix so far, but the guy selling it kept saying their product was better (not that he isn’t paid to do that). but still, i wanted to research it. if u buy it a blendtec at costco, they match the vitamix warranty of 7 yrs to answer ur question! this is a great archive. thank u for all ur information steph and others.
Hi Pamela!
From what I have heard, the BT HP3 has pre-sets that YOU set…you scroll through the options (20+) and say, that you mostly make smoothies, soup, ice cream, and grains…so you would use THOSE for your presets, and when you make something else, you scroll through the menu. you can CHANGE the settings any time…just like you would your car radio “pre-sets”. they are just there for convenience. I like the idea that there are no KNOBS to get gunked up. I dont’ know about you, but I manage to drizzle all sorts of things on my blenders and then have a clean up situation.
have fun deciding! I don’t think you can really go wrong…just a matter of what YOU like!
mary beth
Hi Mary Beth,
Thank you for your help. I think you are right, I will be happy with either one and certainly either one will be much much better than I have ever used! It’s fun thinking about it and so nice to hear about the experiences of others. I am not happy unless I have thoroughly researched before a major purchase, so I enjoy all the input from others. You bring up a good point also about no knobs to get gunked up….it’s nice to just be able to take a simple wipe with the sponge.
Pamela and all…my BlendTec arrived today (Friday) and I whipped it out of the box, plugged it in, washed the pitcher and tried to think of something to blend! LOL! I have my standard protein smoothie every am and had not had it yet so loaded it up….some water, various powder, ingredients, banana, Ice…and actually read the directions so I could program the smoothie selection into preset 1. not difficult at all. 23 seconds later I had a perfect smoothie.OK…not the best test…most blenders can do this. but,, I deidn’t have the right ingredients for a green smoothie. Bought Kale tonite at the grocery store, so will work on more testing. I love the design, it fits perfectly under my counter, was easy to use. so far so good. This sure beats having to crush my ice, then use my small blender to avoid burning it up every few months .
Stay tuned!
mb
———->Mary Beth´s last blog post – If you register your site for free at
Sounds great Mary Beth! I am going to try to go to a Costco tomorrow that is kind of a drive from us….they are having a Blendtec Demo and I want to see how much they are selling it for. Where did you get yours?
Hi Pamela!
I searched hi and low and the prices, unless you catch a great deal, are about the same. I was in a hurry and ordered my unit from Martin, at http://bit.ly/LE-BT. I am not near a Costco and only have BJs and Sams, neither of which had demos scheduled.
I also loved all the other info on Martin’s site. I’ll be ready to make a Kale smoothie, soon! had my protein smoothie with some added greens from Martin, and am still not hungry after 3 hours. Yahoo.
keep in touch. we can exchange recipes!
mb
Ohhhhhh…..I’m envious! Please tell me how your Kale smoothie turns out. I have never made one and that is something I am looking forward to when I get my blender. I am really leaning toward the Blendtec….I like the design of their container….does it work as expected? Have you used the manual speed control part yet? Thank you for keeping in touch Mary Beth. I’m excited to get my blender! Ohh….just curious….what color did you get? I was wondering how the coffee color one looks because I saw a couple different pictures…one where it looked a light color and in the other one it looked like a dark brown.
I just posted a great deal on the Amazon site in case you decide on the BlendTec!!
http://bit.ly/1RWsIz
———->steph´s last blog post – Martha Stewart’s Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
I checked out the Blendtec at a Costco demo today…..it was $379 but it is the older model plus there is tax. The Hp3a is on sale at 2-life.com for $325 with free shipping and no tax. Also at everythingkitchens for $335 though I didn’t check that one again today. I think I will order from 2-life.com….sounds like a reputable place. Hopefully it is.
Whew!!!
Thank you all for the comments. Since the ability to grind rice and cleanup quickly are priority, those were the deciding factors for me. Blendtec it will be! My daughter is Celiac so making my own flour, etc. is my goal. Oh, and I HATE having lots of little parts to clean up, so … there it is. 
Kym, did you see my comment below on the great deal Amazon is having on the Blendtec?
———->steph´s last blog post – Martha Stewart’s Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
The Amazon price is $399 (great price) and I paid $395 at Life Enthusiast and I think free shipping and FREE Himalyan Sea Salt as a gift.
http://bit.ly/LE-BT Not bad! and great service. LOL!
Looking forward to everyone’s favorite green smoothie recipe!
Oh…update…Added Kale to my protein smoothie…yum. (can’t rave about the color…green and brown? just use an opaque mug .
and I made a Kale, banana and pineapple smoothie with some greens powder I bought from the Life Enthusiast people. caution. their website is so great and full of healthy stuff, you can easily run up your total to astronomical levels.
The smoothie was great! Lovely shade of Green, too!
I did remove the spines from the Kale, only because my two german shorthair pointers were standing there wanting their share! (salad dogs). so I cut off the spines and they chow down on them while I blend. then, to rinse the blender container I add some water, pulse for a few seconds, and pour the smoothie into their bowls. They LOVE it. had to share my smoothie with them too. just no GRAPES for dogs.
Now to experiment with more recipes!
mb
Awesome! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!
How come no grapes for dogs?
———->steph´s last blog post – Martha Stewart’s Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Steph!
Grapes are on the list of human foods that should not be given to dogs. lBefore we knew this, we used to give our other dogs grapes as treats! He loved them! but they can be VERY harmful….especially to little dogs…raisins too,, macadamia nuts, chocolate and more. easy to google for complete list. We stick to salad stuff for the most part. My guys LOVE salad..just the spiny parts, nothing too soft. They love grass too. something missing in their diet? darn if I know. I give them only top quality dog food AND supplements. Their coats are gorgeous!
mb
how much is cosco selling the vitamix 5200 anyway?
is that the best place to buy it?
Janice, check out my comment below on this sale Amazon is having:
http://bit.ly/1RWsIz
Yay!
Hey everyone… FYI, Amazon has the Blendtec for $399 right now! That’s with free shipping and NO SALES TAX – it’s a great deal. Thought I would let you know:
http://bit.ly/1RWsIz
You have to click on the black model… for some reason the white one is $20 more.
———->steph´s last blog post – Martha Stewart’s Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe
Pamela!
that is a great price! glad you found it. Happy blending!
mb
My Blendtec just arrived via UPS!! I’m so excited!! Just wanted to tell everyone that 2-Life.com is a good place to buy from. $325 and free shipping and no tax and they have been glitch-free to deal with. I love Amazon and buy alot of things from them, but this price is alot lower. I’m off to go look through the recipe book……
Wife is looking for the “best Machine” for veggie drinks- Can be Bendtec, VitaMix or Jucier- Wants the full benefits of source including fruits.
Help please-
Hi Steve,
It depends on what kind of veggie drinks she wants. I have a Blendtec and also a Green Star Juicer plus a Breville juicer. The Green Star is a really fine juice extractor for vegetables…it gets maximum juice out of them, and leaves all the pulp behind. I found that it was very arduous putting a bunch of carrots or other hard veggies through the Green Star so I bought the Breville juicer for the carrots and I put the leafy greens in the Green Star.
Now, the blender way. Vitamix or Blendtec are the most powerful blenders and work great for vegetable juice….if she wants all the pulp included. I just got a Blendtec, and it was a hard decision between that and the Vitamix. So far I am very happy with the Blendtec.
Mary Beth’s suggestion about reading all the posts is a good one. It helped me alot. Good luck!
Hi Steve! Some of us love the Blendtec and others love the VitaMix. Both are great and if you list all the characteristics you want, there are slight differences that may tilt you one way or the other…do read all the previous posts and maybe that will help. I just got my Blendtec and love it…but have had a Vitamix and they are great too . I wanted something that did the job, looked nice and fit under my counter. what I DIDN’T want was a juicer. somehow, wasting all that fiber went against my grain. i’d rather have all that in ME, NOT THE COMPOST pile. If you are a gardener, I read somewhere that you can take an extra blender pitcher and use that to griind jup the peelings, rinds, etc and “wet compost” your garden. Hope this helps. your wife will love either one but do find out what characteristics she wants…some of us are very picky .
best wishes! mary beth
———->Mary Beth´s last blog post – If you register your site for free at
I don’t know which one to get! I’m a professional pastry chef and I’ve always seen the vita prep in all the professional kitchens I’ve worked at. I guess you can’t go wrong with either product. Both are definitely better than the blenders they sell at home stores that just move your food around. Those really are a waste of money even if it’s only a couple of bucks!
Thanks everyone for all the great input!
———->eat me outta here!´s last blog post – Brussel Sprouts on the Stalk
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