Bio Chef vs Vitamix – what blender is best for you?

May 13th, 2014

Appliance Talk Small Appliances

When it comes to premium blenders for making juices, smoothies and more, there are several great options available to you.  Two of Australia’s top blending choices are the BioChef Blender from Vitality4Life, and the Vitamix 5200 from Vitamix.

So which of these high-performance blenders is right for your kitchen?  Let’s compare and find out:

Brand	Bio Chef	Vitamix
Model #	KT-BL-BC-AU-BL	65215
Warranty	10 Years on Motor / 7 Years on Parts	7 Years
Colour	Black	Stainless Steel
Depth (mm)	240.00	222.50
Height (mm)	590.00	520.00
Width (mm)	200.00	185.00
Warranty	10 Years on Motor / 7 Years on Parts	7 Years
Features	Suitable for fruits, vegetables, ice, nuts and grains Central tamper Thermostat shut off 3 Variable speed and timer settings Hi-speed pulse button Able to make hot meals Kneads dough Stainless steel multi-purpose blades Blades are made in Japan 2 Litre container with 120°C heat point Energy efficient 950W motor 3 Horsepower Low noise level 85 dB 1000 – 30,000 RPM	Variable speed control Can juice, cook, blend, chop and grind Prepares frozen desserts Blade tip speeds of up to 384 km per hour Motor thermal protection system 2L BPA free, shatterproof container Ergonomic soft grip handle Spill-proof lid with removable lid plug Stainless steel hammer mill blades Tamper tool Heavy-duty, wear-resistant base

Where they’re similar

Powerful performance

Both of these blenders are actually closer to food processors.  Thanks to powerful motors and blades, they can be used to chop, grind and of course blend, making everything from smoothies to soups and ice cream.  Plus, their powerful motors can actually produce enough heat on higher settings to warm up or cook your ingredients, which is great for preparing home-made soups.

Vitality4Life lists the following statistics for the BioChef blender:

• Energy efficient 950W motor
• 3 Horsepower
• 1000 – 30,000 RPM

Vitamix has not provided similar statistics for its blender, but does state that it can reach blade tip speeds of up to 384 km per hour – certainly no slouch in the power department!

Jugs and Tampers

While the BioChef and Vitamix machines are different sizes (the Vitamix is slightly smaller, making it a little easier to store in a cramped kitchen), both appliances sport a 2 litre jug, designed to be non-toxic, nearly unbreakable, and able to handle all manner of temperature extremes.

Both machines come with a tamper to help push ingredients towards the blades, so your results will be evenly processed.  The tampers have been designed so that when used in combination with the jug’s lid, they will not touch the blades themselves.

Long-lasting reliability

You may be wondering why you should buy one of these premium blenders when you can buy an average blender at a fraction of the price.  And if you only blend occasionally, that’s a completely reasonable option.  However, if you plan on blending regularly, its likely that an everyday blender will quickly wear itself out and require replacement.

Both the BioChef and the Vitamic have been built to last.  Vitamix offers a 7 year warranty on its product, while BioChef offers a 7 year warranty on its blender parts, and 10 year warranty on its motor.  Either of these blenders can become a fixture in your kitchen for many years to come.

What’s more, both machines include features to protect their motors from overheating – a thermostat shut-off for the BioChef and motor thermal protection system for the Vitamix.

Where they’re different

BioChef – simple hands-free control

The BioChef blender’s control panel features seven buttons and an On/Off switch.  The buttons are made up of:

• Three preset time settings for 35, 60 and 90 seconds
• Three power/speed settings – low, medium and high
• A Pulse button

These buttons are designed to keep things simple in a busy kitchen where you’re always on the go, including commercial environments.  Just place the ingredients in the machine, set the speed and time of your blend, and you can step away to look after other things, secure in the knowledge that your blender will shut itself up when the time is up.  That said, if you have to use the tamper to manipulate the ingredients, your hands will be occupied regardless…

This simple control arrangement is great for blending to all manner of consistencies, but the lack of fine control over the motor’s speed could be a problem if you’re wanting to very precisely manage your blending results.

Vitamix – premium performance for blending finesse

Vitamix makes no secret that it is a premium product, with a price tag to match its reputation – the Ferrari of blenders.  And like a Ferrari, it requires a certain level of proficiency to use well, but once you’ve mastered it, the performance is very hard to match.

The Vitamix is controlled with an On/Off switch, a High/Low speed switch, and a 10-speed dial.  This can be a bit tricky to use well – the Vitamix manual recommends that even if you plan on blending at the highest speed, you start on the lowest setting and slowly allow the motor to spin up to full blast before switching over to High mode, to avoid a sudden messy food explosion.

However, these adjustable speed settings provide you with a great deal of control over your blending, allowing you to exercise a certain amount of finesse over your blending results.  After a smoother, silkier mouthfeel or denser texture?  Make some small changes to the way you blend and experience the results!

The verdict…

…we’ll be leaving up to you.

Overall, we feel that the BioChef blender is a great choice for any home wanting to experience high-quality blending, thanks to simple controls that anyone can use.  However, by opting for a Vitamix, you can add a little extra precision to your blending.

The most important thing to remember when comparing the BioChef blender and the Vitamix is that both of these blenders are significant investments, requiring a real commitment to the art of blending.  Be sure to think about what’s best for you and make your decision accordingly.

Bought a BioChef?  Swear by your Vitamix?  Tell us why and help others make their decision!