Blendtec

Blendtec was founded in 1975 by its parent company, K-TEC, after the release of their first multi-function kitchen device, the Champ. Since then, the company has continued to innovate in new and unique ways and is based in Orem, Utah.

Blendtec Classic FourSide

The company is responsible for some great advancements in the commercial and home blending space, including the ability to control the speed of the motor with a microprocessor, program specific blending cycles with auto-start and stop, and safety interlock features.

With the recent release of their digitally-controlled models, Blendtec has eliminated the need for knobs and switches that make cleanup a breeze, and the microprocessor controlled cycles allow for precise speed and time programs to be set resulting in a better blend.

blending an iPhone

Blendtec is probably most well-known for its viral video campaign, “Will It Blend?” where the CEO, Tom Dickson, shows the power of the blenders by blending anything from iPhones and iPads to a garden rake. If this blender can handle these crazy things, it can certainly handle your smoothie.

What Makes Blendtec Unique?

When considering a high performance blender, two of the most important decision factors are:

  1. Interface Controls
  2. Power

There are many other factors one might argue are just as important, such as warranty and accessories.  But at the end of the day, what most people consider important is:

  • How easy and convenient is it to use the blender every day?
  • How well does it blend my ingredients?

Blendtec Interface Controls

One of the unique things about Blendtec is that their interface controls don’t use knobs or switches. Instead, they 100% rely on a flat screen control system. The flat screen comes primarily in two styles:

  1. Flat Push Buttons
  2. Touchscreen

Why the flat screen instead of traditional buttons and knobs?

  1. Easier to clean
  2. Less chance of breaking a mechanical button or knob

1. Flat Push Buttons

Below is an example of the flat push buttons on the Blendtec Classic 575 model blender. There are no knobs or switches, and even the buttons aren’t the traditional mechanical type of button. Instead, the surface is flat, so it’s very easy to keep clean.

blendtec-classic-575-interface

2. Touchscreen

Instead of a knob, Blendtec incorporates a slider system. An example of the Blendtec Designer 725 controls illustrates the Slider. With it, they are able to dial in different speeds by sliding the finger across the bar on the bottom of the interface with the 8 white dots illuminated.

blendtec-designer-725-interface

The Designer 725 Touchscreen also makes use of a 100 speed slider. To move speeds, you just glide your finger across the bar on the bottom (the one highlighted with 8 white dots), and it controls the screen on the top to select different speeds such as slower ones on the left like Stir or Chop and faster speeds on the right such as Blend and Puree.

blendtec-designer-725-100-speeds

3. Programs

Unique to Blendtec, all of their blenders come with Programs. Programs are nothing more than pre-set settings to blend specific types of recipes, such as Smoothies, Salsa, Ice Cream, etc. These are the buttons that make using the blender everyday a breeze. Many people refer to it as “Set and Forget” buttons.

The most important things Programs do is make it easy to get repeatable results from your recipes.

I mainly make frozen fruit smoothies using Almond Milk as my liquid. Getting the ratio of frozen fruits to Almond Milk isn’t an exact science, since the fruits all come in different shapes and sizes. So putting in 1 cup of frozen fruits varies every time I use the blender. The result is, sometimes when I use the “Smoothie” button, it blends it perfectly with no chunks of frozen fruit in my blend. And other times, it leaves just a few. That’s where the pulse button on the bottom right (looks like a heartbeat symbol from an EKG machine) comes into play. Pushing that for a few seconds dials in my smoothie just perfectly when it’s needed.

The point of the programs is that MOST OF THE TIME, they will give you same results as the last time you made that recipe. But every once in a while, you may need to add a bit more time. The biggest benefit, it helps me achieve similar results with every blend.

blendtec-designer-725-interface-programs

Blendtec Power

Blendtec primarily has four motor specifications:

  1. 3.0 Peak Horsepower in 13 amp
    • Classic 575
    • Designer 625
    • Professional 750
    • Total Blender Certified Refurbished
  2. 3.0 Peak Horsepower in 15 amp
    • Designer 675
  3. 3.8 Peak Horsepower in 15 amp
    • Designer 725
    • Professional 800
  4. 3.8 Peak Horsepower in 20 amp
    • Tom Dickson Extreme

My personal experience with one of the “low powered” Blendtec blenders has been exceptional. For many years I’ve used the K-Tec Champ HP3, which is basically the Blendtec Classic 575 using a 3.0 Peak HP motor at 13 amps. Even though on paper it may look like the lowest powered Blendtec blender, in my experience, I’ve never had a problem blending any ingredients I’ve put into it. It is so powerful, it’s almost deceiving to think that it is under powered compared to the other Blendtec blenders.

Bottom line, any Blendtec blender is going to have more than enough power for any home cook.

Blendtec Models

Blendtec Classic Series

Created for those on a budget. Simple controls and interface, but they get the job done. Most importantly, the blended results are still excellent. A fantastic value for a high-performance blender.

  • Blendtec Classic 575
  • Blendtec Fit

Blendtec Designer Series

High performance, automated, with innovative control systems. It’s like the difference between a low-end stove and a high-end cooktop. They both cook food, but one looks better and performs better. Think of the Designer Series as the high-end cooktop that will make your guests jealous.

The majority of BlenderReviews.us readers buy one of the Designer Series blenders below. With the Designer 725 on most everyone’s wish list when it comes to Blendtec blenders.

  • Blendtec Designer 625
  • Blendtec Designer 650
  • Blendtec Designer 675
  • Blendtec Designer 725

Blendtec Professional Series

This series is for the serious home cook. It’s analogous to bringing a commercial level, restaurant grade 6 burner stove into your home. They may not have all the bells and whistles of a high-end cooktop since they are focused on performance and results.

Blendtec has integrated unique features into each of these commercial grade blenders.

*Noise abatement is a focus for the Professional 800

*Whereas the Professional 750 has an added ability to be built it into your countertop

*The Tom Dickson Extreme, it is so powerful, you need to look at your wiring and amps on your circuit breakers to make sure you can turn it on!

There are 3 models currently in the Blendtec Professional Series:

  • Blendtec Professional 750
  • Blendtec Professional 800
  • Blendtec Tom Dickson Extreme

Blendtec Certified Refurbished Blenders

The certified refurbished blenders come from Blendtec stock. They come from a variety of sources, such as show demo units, customer returns, etc and are some of the best values out there for a pro-grade blender.

  • Blendtec Total Blender Classic Certified Refurbished – Classic Series
  • Blendtec Classic 575 Certified Refurbished – Classic Series
  • Blendtec Designer 625 Certified Refurbished – Designer Series
  • Blendtec Designer 725 Certified Refurbished – Designer Series

List Of All Of Our Blendtec Articles

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