Vitamix high-performance blender

What it is good at

• Breaking down fibres that leave cheaper blenders gritty
• Running long enough to heat soup through friction
• Surviving daily use with a serviceable motor

Check before you buy

• Jar material and whether a replacement jar is sold
• Height against your cupboard clearance
• Whether the warranty covers the motor or only parts

Who it is not for

Occasional smoothie makers, for whom a small personal blender is enough.

The difference between a cheap blender and a good one is not power on paper but how it handles fibrous material without sieving. If you blend greens, ginger or frozen fruit regularly, that is the whole decision.

Check the jar: polycarbonate scratches and clouds, and a replacement jar costs a meaningful share of a new machine.