Recommend me a blender.

[RubyGoat]

I had a Nutri Ninja which has served me faithfully for several years but finally packed up. I want something a bit better - bigger, more powerful, etc. I mostly make smoothies, but a small coffee/spice mill would be great. If it could cope with nut butter that would be fantastic. Not interested in a heating element, if I want soup I'll cook it the normal way. Ice cream would be fab though. Don't want a Vitamix - I was considering them, but, poor UK support & availability of extras, the jug is too large, & it's rather pricey considering it's not quite what I want.

Budget ideally £250 ish but could stretch to £400 if it sang & danced & did the washing up. I'd rather buy a good one that's going to last, I don't like buying cheap & replacing every couple of years. I'll be using it quite a bit.

I have a Breville Blend Active that I've had for five years and going strong - I've bought replacement bottles but motor is going strong and I use it daily. Similar price point to a Nutribullet but much better quality. Costs £22!

I have a Vitamix that I bought second hand on eBay , not used much. Its the short jug so fits on the counter under the wall cupboard. I’ve had it now for nine years and use it daily for smoothies, turning my gluten free oats into flour , grinding almonds into meal etc. I know the customer service won’t be great but I think they are well made to begin with, still made in the States not outsourced to China . My machine is still going strong. I recommend it.

The Breville definitely wouldn't be adequate. I want one with a jug not just a bottle for blending. And it's not powerful enough. The Ninja is 900w & I want one that's at least as powerful, preferably better.

I have this one and it's great OP!

www.magimix-spares.co.uk/Magimix-Blender-White-11612-1-8-ltr-Glass-Jar-1200w-Motor/product/11612/5018399116122/

Not cheap but a very powerful motor and large capacity too.

Gets everything a lot smoother than a nutribullet. Although you can't use it for dry ingredients which you can do with a nutribullet.

Oh just reread your OP - I wouldn't necessarily recommend for nut butter - too big!

I'm just concerned about a Vitamix, that the jug would be impractical for me because it's so large. 2l is enormous considering I'll mostly be making smoothies, small-ish pans of soup, small amounts of ice cream, & probably dressings & curry pastes if I can get the little spice mill attachment.

Vitamix make containers in several different sizes. I think the smallest is 900ml.

@FrogFairy from what I've read they aren't available in the UK though? Or aren't compatible with UK rated machines. IDK but there was some issue around blending jug size, lack of options in the UK versus the USA.

I think I might go for Magimix. The jug is large, but still smaller than the Vitamix, & there are smaller smoothie cups available for a sensible price. And the spice mill is a sensible price too. And the warranty length on the motor... wow!

I did a quick search and there seems to be 1.4l wet container and a 0.9 dry container here. Not sure about compatibility though as mine is an old Aspire model and they have newer ones with more bell and whistles now.

www.juicers.co.uk/search.php?search_query_adv=Vitamix+container

The Aspire is discontinued & out of stock everywhere. The S30 is as well - shame as they look like they might have been suitable. The newer ones - as far as I can see - are too large & expensive. And there isn't a medium sized jug available. I've read reviews on the blending cup for the Ascent & they aren't good, & I really can't justify over £500 for the machine & a spice mill.

I have a magimix and would recommend. It's been a workhorse for us for about 6-7 years now. I bought it because I didn't want another plastic jug cracking (it's glass). It is great and will blend cashews into a sauce (we are dairy free) though I must confess I've not tried it to grind harder nuts like walnuts/almonds etc as we tend to use our food processor for that.

We were given a Silvercrest one several years ago. I think it was from Lidl and didn't cost much but it works a treat.

If it helps, my magimix also has a self clean function, so it does the washing up for you

@QuercusRose

If it helps, my magimix also has a self clean function, so it does the washing up for you

Haha if it can wash itself up that would be excellent! I am leaning towards a Magimix now I think. The long motor guarantee & the promise that they're relatively quiet (for a blender) is very attractive. And the sensible price. Thanks for all the recommendations.

I upgraded from ninja to the vitamix and the difference is v noticeable. Loved the ninja but the vitamix gets everything smoother. I’m fine with the large jug but appreciate that might not work for you (haven’t tried the small ones) but the other one that may be worth looking at is the blendtec. Blendtec/vitamix is usually personal preference but it may be worth looking at

Btw, the ‘self clean’ function is squirt washing up liquid and warm water then blend for 30 secs so you can do it with all of them 😁

I have a kenwood chef and love it. It comes with a blender and food processor jugs that both fit on the same base so I can do things like smoothies, soups, etc in the blender and other bits in the food processor. The food processor comes with a number of different blades so I can make a coleslaw really quickly with the grating blade or make curry paste with the normal blade. It's not cheap but had lasted us years and gets a good amount of use.

The food processor on my kenwood chef copes with nuts without any issues.

Sounds like a stick blender would be more useful

We had a Kenwood Chef and the motor burned out and filled the kitchen with smoke. We were only making soup!

@GTAlogic

We had a Kenwood Chef and the motor burned out and filled the kitchen with smoke. We were only making soup!

Yikes!

I have a vitamix and it's brilliant. There's just me and DH and I don't find it too big. I also use for smoothies etc as you described but have the option of bigger quantities if needed. It gets anything ultra smooth. It's amazing.

They are available in the U.K. I bought mine from John Lewis and they still sell them.

They are super expensive though but come with a long guarantee and their customer services is excellent.

My first jug started leaking and it was replaced without any argument or fuss at all from the states very quickly.

Bamix. I've had mine over 20 years, use it most days. I think it comes with a beaker thingy but as its a stick blender you can use it in anything - own measuring jugs, mixing bowls, even in a warm pan to blend soup. I just bought the slicesy processor attachment, worth every penny!!

@HidingFromDD

Btw, the ‘self clean’ function is squirt washing up liquid and warm water then blend for 30 secs so you can do it with all of them 😁

Yeah, basically - it's great, I love it!