Gallery: Smoothie Operators: 5 Single-Serve Blenders Tested
01fruit
I don't want to rely on some juice shop to satisfy my smoothie and milkshake fixes. I know my taste buds better than anyone. And frankly, I think I can make a better drink for myself than some hipster kid working his summer job. But I live on a budget, and I have pretty limited kitchen space, so I'm not about to shell out $500 for a fancy Vitamix. Instead, I've been looking at single-serve blenders. They let you make your favorite drink exactly how you want it, quickly, and in a manageable size. Some even blend right inside the same cup you drink out of, so you can run out the door with little to no clean-up routine. I've also found that some of these single-serve blenders still offer a level of control and performance that approaches what you get out of a full-size machine. So they really are ideal for anyone who wants to save money, doesn't have the space for a larger appliance, or just wants blended drinks with less hassle. How We Tested ------------- We selected some of the most popular single-serve blenders, or any blending machines that let you blend directly in the same container you drink from. The maximum size of the drinking containers was 20 ounces, and all of them had some sort of lid for transportation. Some of the machines came with larger containers for blending more than one drink at a time, but none were the size of a full blender. We made drinks several using different ingredients -- yogurt, frozen berries, Nutella, ice cream, and fresh fruit -- to gauge varying consistencies and emulsification. We also looked at the size and weight of the machines, ease of operation, and portability. We stayed away from stick or wand blenders, because that's a different category. *Photo: [Lisa Clarke](http://www.flickr.com/photos/polkadotcreations/2480587587/in/photolist-4McEgv-4Nnyfh-4ZSVDb-548ug2-57APR2-5aFBFY-5bBJMD-5eHwaR-5nBsBx-5nBsBz-5RJMLR-5S8AHS-5VTq23-5VTq2N-64X1fo-6522WX-6bGvjL-6pup2i-6L2Mza-6L5Zqc-6TpWj6-6ZAV3a-7j4UVu-7p69wC-7tAPqH-7uDvEr-7vT8nT-aUK6yD-7GBvrL-7GR6z2-bN2LxM-8sQxtV-8YS3vg-9ujuyr-abkS4U-abi1Kc-abkQnE-abkQPQ-abi28g-abhYQv-8vUbKJ-cm2Fwf-dRoAij-8wF7A4-7G7Vqc-dmhXrF-eajYFv-ccQMUw-7X1WX4-8q8sYp-dUq43L/lightbox/r)/Flickr*
02hamilton-beach
Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Blender ----------------------------------- The bargain of the bunch (by far) is the [Hamilton Beach single-serve blender](http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/single-serve-blenders.html). It's only $20 and it will do exactly what you need in 30 seconds or less, every time. There are only three pieces you need to worry about: the base with the 175-watt motor, the 14-ounce blending container with a built-in blade, and the travel lid. The built-in blade is an added convenience, especially when you want to make a quick breakfast smoothie before running out the door. While that makes it a little tricker to clean, it's not much of a hassle thanks to the wide mouth of the container. Because it's only three pieces, it's also super-compact. This is the best of all the blenders I tested for tiny apartment dwellers with little counter or shelf space. I found the Hamilton Beach made slightly thicker drinks than the others, but all ingredients were well distributed throughout, and the blade did a nice job blending harder foods like frozen berries. My only gripe with the Hamilton Beach is the feel of the jar in my hands. It's a wide container, so it's not your typical tall and thin travel cup, but it will fit in most car cup holders. The travel lid easily snaps on and off, but I feel the slide closure of the drinking spout could be more secure. It's by no means completely spill-proof, but it works. __WIRED__ Easy to set up and use. No parts to change or swap out -- swiftly transition between blending and drinking. Lock indicator tells you if the top is properly secured to the motor base. Cheap! __TIRED__ Wide jar is a little clunky. Sliding travel lid closure could be more secure. __Rating: 8 out of 10__
03cuisinart-smartpower-blender-series
Cuisinart SmartPower Blender Series ----------------------------------- The [Cuisinart SmartPower](http://www.cuisinart.com/products/blenders/spb-7pk.html) machine is considerably more expensive ($70), but it comes with a bigger motor, more accessories, and more options for making drinks. It has blend settings for high, low, and pulse. And you get a bunch of different cups: four 16-ounce travel cups (but watch out when you travel, the lid spout is just an open hole), an 8-ounce chopping cup, and a large 32-ounce blending jar. The two blades can be swapped into all the different blending containers, so your biggest decision will be whether you want to make a drink just for yourself, or a batch of smoothies for the entire family. And if you can't decide, each person can still make their own drink easily. It has more than enough power with a 350-watt motor. However, it is a little on the loud side, and it's one of the heaviest machines in the group. Be wary of its power, though -- blending on low for 30 seconds will give you a super-thin drink, so if you like your drinks thick, you'll get the best results if you reduce the blending time. This takes practice. The chopping cup is also a nice addition to the set, letting you crush denser ingredients, grind spices, and shred leafy vegetables. __WIRED__ A full-service blender, but it takes up half the space of a normal one. Multiple containers and travel cups to blend in. Interchangeable blades. __TIRED__ Heavy base. Louder than the others. Travel cup lids don't close, making them poor travel companions. __Rating: 7 out of 10__
04bella-rocket-blender
Bella Rocket Blender -------------------- At under five pounds, the [Bella Rocket](http://www.bellaappliances.com/countertop-internal.php?id=41) ($30) is surprisingly light for a 250-watt blender. It comes with both a blending blade and a grinding blade, so you can make drinks and pulverize your coffee beans all with the same machine. It comes with a tall drinking cup and a shorter container that seems best suited for grinding. While it doesn't have a typical travel cup lid, it does come with a "storage lid" that closes entirely over the top of the container, as well as "comfort lip rings" for the cups that make them more comfortable to sip out of. There are also two additional shaker lids with large and small holes. My best guess is that you're supposed to use these shaker lids with cocktails, or to just strain out the larger chunks when you're pouring into another glass, or for any spices or nuts you've pulverized. Regardless, it's a weird choice to include shaker lids with a blender. I would have preferred a real travel lid for drinks instead. But my biggest issue with the Bella is how you start it. There are no settings or controls, not even a single-touch button. You just place the cup (with the blade attached) on the base and twist it to turn on the motor. This wouldn't be an issue if I felt confident the blade and cup were secure in the base. While there are grooves to guide the cup into the correct position, I fumbled with it a few times trying to fit it in. And I only knew I got it right when the motor sprung to life. If you're not paying attention, you'll be caught off guard. __WIRED__ Different blades for blending and grinding. Powerful motor and still fairly lightweight. __TIRED__ So loud. Tricky to fit cup onto base. Lacks a travel lid. Automatic twist-to-start mechanism is awkward -- How about an on/off button? __Rating: 5 out of 10__
05oster-myblend
Oster MyBlend ------------- The [MyBlend](http://www.oster.com/myblend/) ($30) looks like a sports bottle -- one of those plastic sippy cups you throw into your bag before a workout. And actually, that's exactly what you'll be able to do with it. Besides being able to hold 20 ounces of your home-brewed protein drink, it has a spill-proof lid that's super secure and able to withstand the rigors typical of backpacks and gym bags. Though the bottle is cool (and BPA-free), it doesn't make the best blender container. The motor is decent -- at 250-watts, it's powerful enough to blend all of my test ingredients well, including frozen fruit, peanut butter, and yogurt. But good luck filling up that cup through the tiny opening. I couldn't avoid spilling everything all over my counter-top while adding ingredients to the Oster's thin, small-mouthed container. Ingredients have to be chopped up smaller than usual, and you can't heap large spoonfuls of Greek yogurt into that smoothie. __WIRED__ Very secure travel lid. Sleek design. Most portable container of the bunch. Strong motor. __TIRED__ Small opening makes prep messy. More difficult to clean, for the same reason. __Rating: 6 out of 10__
06nutribullet
Nutribullet ----------- While similar to all the other options in its base-blade-cup construction, the [Nutribullet](http://www.nutribullet.com/) ($100) is different -- unlike the rest, it screws and snaps together so securely, it feels like one seamless appliance when you use it. Each of the two blade attachments twist tightly onto the cups and fit into the base without any guesswork. All pieces fit together like a glove. It also has the biggest motor: 600 watts. No surprise, it's the best emulsifier of the bunch. The Nutribullet can crunch and crush all kinds of fruits and vegetables, skin and all, including nuts and seeds. And while that big motor makes it heavy, it's not as loud as I thought it would be. It's a great option for anyone who may not have a taste for fruits or vegetables, but wants to do the right thing by drinking them in a smoothie with other ingredients. You won't bite into a big piece of fruit or an errant nut chunk with the Nutribullet, because it consistently blends a ton of differently textured ingredients into one, uniform drink. Drawbacks? $100 is pretty expensive for this category. Also, it's big, clunky, and not the lightest thing in the world. It definitely requires a semi-permanent space on your countertop. But if you have the room to spare, in addition to a passion for drinks that contain everything in the kitchen, you'll be happy with the bullet. __WIRED__ The most well-constructed piece of machinery in this test. Very sturdy and secure. Blends very well no matter how tough the ingredient, and it distributes everything evenly throughout a smooth drink. __TIRED__ Heavy. Pricey. Has the widest, bulkiest base of all the units tested. Not easily stored away. It's kinda loud. __Rating: 6 out of 10__
