Koblenz Professional Blender Countertop Blender for Shakes and Smoothies with 3 Speeds 1200-W Motor 68 Oz Capacity Super

I have had a Vitamix blender for over 35 years, and it is the standard that I compare blenders to. Almost all fail, this one performs pretty darn well. This is a "professional blender" which means that it has a few automatic programs that allow less operator attention. There are three programs and three speeds (low, medium,high). The speeds are well spaced, so you get a range and (in my opinion) all of the control that anyone would ever need. We use our blender for "blender stuff." Shakes and smoothies, creaming soups, and getting rids of lumps if there is a "gravy error." When it comes to blenders, it is all about power. Can a blender do the job without stalling out? This one can. I put some water and almost my entire supply of ice maker ice and hit the medium setting. In seconds the ice was converted into a uniform slush (no remaining chunks). There wasn't a hint of the machine bogging down. Speed controls run for approximately 90 seconds before automatically shutting off. This unit also has three programs that are interesting. The blender will start on one speed and in the beginning it will run, stop, and then reverse, stop, and run again. This can help with blending things. Programmed settings are also on a timer, which is nice. The connecting gear on the base appears to be metal (better) instead of nylon. The connecting gear on the blender jar looks like metal, but I think it is actually painted plastic. However, the blender jar itself appears to be of very high quality. It is possible that the designer used a plastic gear on the blender jar for safety as it would strip out if the operator tried to blend an impossible load that would compromise the blender's gears or motor. This unit also comes with a tamper. If you have every tried to blend something that is very thick or has a lot of chunks you will appreciate having this piece that allows you to safely push un-blended contents from the top of the blender jar back into the blades. One area that the Vitamix excels at is pulverizing fibrous plants like kale and spinach. Unfortunately, I did not have any in the fridge to test so I can't comment on how this unit works in that regard. Any quibbles? Everything is a two stop process. You always have to press on and then your selection. This is a safety feature but it is slightly annoying. Will this unit last as log as my 35 year old Vitamix. It is unlikely that I'll be retesting in 35 years. Like most newer appliances, I'm guessing that it won't. However, it does appear that you are getting Vitamix power at a more reasonable price point. Very nice indeed. Read more

This is a nice big blender that is replacing our old Oster with glass jar and mechanical buttons that work intermittently. There are a lot of plusses with the new blender: 1) Drive mechanism is a sturdy steel pinion that solidly engages the slotted steel socket in the bottom of the jar. 2) The blades are a dual high/low set that does a good job of circulating and blending the contents. 3) The controls are pressure pads. (It does take a bit of study to fully understand how to use them.) 4) The base is heavy and sturdy, and has a microswitch that keeps it from turning on unless the jar is in place. 5) The Tritan plastic (copolyester) jar is a full two litre capacity. This is about 35% larger than our old one. I looked it up, and Tritan is a high-quality Eastman Chemical (US) product...about as good as you can get for this type of thing. 6) The jar is also wider at the bottom than the old style, making it more stable when sitting off the base. 7) A plastic "tamper" to stir things up through the top, if necessary, is included. 8) Cleanup simply involves "blending" a bit of dish soap in about 1/4 jar of warm water, then rinsing. This might be considered sort of a negative by some, as the base and blades cannot be separated from the jar for more detailed attention and cleaning. It does remove the need for a gasket to clean, or the parts to remain unassembled to dry. Some negatives: 1) Using the controls may take a bit of a learning curve. 2) Again, the jar base isn't user removable...maybe not an issue. 3) The "Mix &Go" cup accessory is not included with this model (Pro 1200) 4) The warranty could be an issue. It's noted as two years, but the item has to be delivered "with shipping and delivery charges pre-paid" to the dealer (Amazon isn't going to take it back), or an "authorized service center". Koblenz is a Mexican company, and the blender is made in China. There are dealers for their products in the States (look up their website), seven in Georgia, for example. Those seem mainly oriented towards their vacuum cleaner products, but maybe they could handle warranty issues on other items. There might even be one near you. So take that as you will as far as evaluating what you might run up against if you should encounter an issue. May not be as easy as with a major brand from a local big-box store. Read more

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