Back to Basics Smoothie Elite Maker :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Adequate when blending thin liquids, but struggles with ice

2008-11-25
I specifically asked for this blender because I make a lot of smoothies and was intrigued by the pour spout. It seemed very useful and novel. My experience with this product, unfortunately, was mixed. I found that it worked well when blending substances that were predominantly liquid. However, if I tried to use it to make a pureed soup or to blend a drink with ice cubes it took a very long time and the results were often uneven. Even with the aid of the stir stick I often found chunks that were seemingly impossible to blend. Unfortunately a lot of what I use a blender for is to make thick smoothies and shakes or to puree soups so it did not meet my needs. I also found that the pour spout had a tendency to leak and as other reviewers have complained, it rarely worked when blending thick smoothies or soups. I would often find that I would get a few drips out of the spout and then the rest would refuse to come out. I have since bought a Cuisinart SPB-7BCH SmartPower 7-Speed Electronic Blender, Black Chrome and have been much more satisfied with the results. The bottom line is that this is a fairly inexpensive blender that will probably work well for you if you are mostly blending thinner liquids and doing so infrequently. However, if you find you are blending thicker liquids or often crushing ice you will probably be better served by investing more in a Kitchenaid or Cuisinart mixer. The extra investment is worth it to minimize frustrations.

Don't Buy!

2008-08-08
Bought this as a gift to my spouse. It does not consistently blend all ingredients. I have often still had large chunks of frozen fruit in my smoothies, even after blending over and over. When trying to work the spout, the handle broke off. This appliance is not worth your money.

Smoothie Maker

2008-07-21
This unit does a fantastic job, and the price is unbeatable. I highly recommend you follow the directions and add the ice & frozen ingredients last. I didn't, and I think that caused the previous unit to wear out. This unit works great, and the spout is very helpful.

great item

2008-07-05
This is much better than a regular blender for making smoothies. It works really well, I have used it a lot.

Great results but doesn't hold up

2008-04-13
This was a gift and Its decorated my bar for occasional blended drinks. The operation is loud but its swift and powerful. The spigot is a nice feature, for those that reported it clogging, heres a tip: It's not obvious but the blade should be running to create pressure during a pour. Drink consistency is excellent and it will quickly liquify anything that goes in a drink. Cleanup is good... for a quick cleanup just add soap and hot water. For more thorough, the pitcher comes apart. Now for the bad news, this product has a critical design flaw: the plastic paddles beneath the pitcher inevitably deteriorate and after being stripped by the motor, the blender is useless. Parts are not commonly available.

Review of Smoothie Machine

2007-09-17
Designed just for the purpose of blending fast, nutritious smoothies, the Smoothie Elite does the job better than an ordinary blender and is easy to operate. The 56-ounce jar has measuring marks for adding just enough fruit, yogurt, and protein powder for either two or four servings. Running at 500 watts, the pulse-power motor blends at three different speeds--mix, smooth, and pulse--letting you control the consistency of your drink. The jar's shape pulls ingredients down to the center blade, ensuring that even larger foods mix evenly. Additionally, a unique stir stick in the center of the Smoothie Elite's jar breaks up air pockets during blending for more efficient mixing. This smoothie maker even has a special heavy-duty ice-crushing blade, so frozen drinks are blended into a consistent texture. A dispenser valve on the front of the unit eliminates spills so you can continuously mix and serve without a mess. This machine is an inexpensive alternative to ordering daily smoothies at a juice bar. It is covered by a one-year limited warranty

the back to basics

2007-07-12
It is easy to use and clean. I use mine about 3 times a week and have had it for over 2 years now and I love it still works like the first day I used it. I bought them as presents the next year for my entire family and they use it as well. I make fruit smoothies as well as crushed ice drinks. If you are looking for something that is easy to use and reliable I recommend this product.

Greatest Home Smoothie Ever

2007-07-04
Our family loves smoothies and frozen drinks. This is a great addition to our summertime BBQ's. Fast, Easy and no extra lumps!!!.

Generally dissatisfied with this product

2007-06-23
The blender is very loud, and often has to be 'helped' with the plastic stirrer. It does well with frozen fruit, but is terrible with ice. The spigot only works if you have a very runny smoothie--I like mine a little thicker, and was never able to get more than a few tablespoons out of the spigot as a result. Also, the spigot is extremely hard to clean thoroughly. But pouring the smoothie out of the pitcher is also difficult, as there is no pour spout. The pitcher comes apart easily for cleaning, but even if you tighten the blades all the way onto the pitcher, some of the smoothie still leaks into the base. Lastly, when I began to use the smoothie maker daily, it died after a few months. Just started smoking and tearing apart the rubber under the blades. I'd recommend just getting a regular blender to make smoothies.

Total Rip-off!

2007-06-10
It worked great 4 times. Yes, only 4 times. Then it died. Enough said!