I have a Breville coffee grinder at home and in the CNET Appliance's Toaster Oven Extravaganza, the Breville Smart Oven was a top performer. As such, I had very high expectations for the $199 Breville Hemisphere Control Blender, expectations which were not ill-placed. It is a fantastic blender and went above and beyond in terms of performance. We reviewed seven blenders in what I like to call the Great CNET Blender Bonanza. Each model brought something to the table, some more than others. Even compared with the big guys like Ninja, Blendtec, and VitaMix, however, the Breville held its own and, in the end, won a positive vote.It has the horsepower to handle heavy-duty tasks like grinding whole almonds into flour and then processing that flour into almond butter, no additives or oil required, but it also can handle delicate tasks like whipping cream. I genuinely believe that this blender could replace, at least in some instances, your hand mixer and food processor, making it an ideal choice for people who appreciate an appliance that multitasks as much as they do.

Its versatility and multitasking ability might not be what you need. Before we go any further down this path, you must to assess for yourself what, exactly, you require from a blender. Blenders like the Breville are wasted on me.Why is a fantastic blender ever a waste? I use blenders to make beverages. In college, I used my blender exclusively for margaritas. Now I make smoothies in order to perpetuate the ruse that I am a health nut. I make them often, certainly, but they still don't justify an appliance as multi-faceted as the Breville. Not everyone will need all of its food-processing potential.If you're looking for a frozen beverage mixer, you can get a fine product in the $39 Hamilton Beach Smoothie Smart Blender (Model 56206 -- there are two with that name). It made good smoothies, mixed well, and performed above our expectations. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a high-end blender that has plenty of functionality, smart design, and excellent performance, the Breville is an excellent choice.

Design The Breville Hemisphere Control is a 750-watt blender that measures 16.5 inches tall and leaves a footprints that is 7 inches wide and 8 inches deep at the broadest points. hamilton beach blender b66Depending on the height of your upper cabinets, this blender may or may not fit under them for countertop storage. blender dualit 83820That said, it is fairly average in terms of size, given other blenders on the market. kitchenaid mixer mitnehmerWhat matters about this blender most, however, isn't so much its size as its power. ninja bl300 blenderWhile not the most powerful blender on the market, especially compared with the 1,560-watt Blendtec Designer Series Wildside Blender or 1,500-watt Ninja Ultima Blender, the Breville has plenty of power to perform well. ninja blender bl550

In our tests, it often took the Breville longer to blend than the higher-powered models, but it still produced excellent results.oster fusion blender brly07-z00The user interface is clearly understood and the presets are useful, with options like snow (for finely crushed ice), mix, blend, liquify, and puree. oster blender 6831There is also a smoothie button that will activate a minute-long timer and pulse-blending sequence. oster blender 6843 replacement jarI didn't find the timer to be necessary, but you might think it a helpful feature.blender vitamix 5200 srbijaWhile the timer wasn't so useful for me, the LCD window that displays it was. vitamix blender model vm0100

This indicator counts up for speed settings and down for presets, to give you complete control when using the blender. waring pro blender mbb/pbbThe Breville features a 48-ounce round jug made of BPA-free plastic. euro pro nj600 table top blender reviewThis is not the largest pitcher available to lower-powered blenders. oster blender model 6843 replacement jarFor example, the KitchenAid 5-Speed Diamond Blender has a 60-ounce pitcher, also BPA-free. oster 6878 16 speed glass jar blender w food processorThe Breville's pitcher is marked with measurement lines that, while standard for the category, stand out because they are especially easy to read. kitchenaid blender ksb655

This is due to their red coloring, which creates a lot of contrast, no matter what you put into the pitcher.oster hand mixer 2494The design element I appreciate most about the Breville's jug, though, is its hemispherical shape, the appliance's namesake. hamilton beach stainless steel single-serve blender (model 51108)The bottom of the jug is rounded in such a way as to prevent food from getting stuck in corners or nooks, ensuring that the blender's contents mix evenly without too much intervention from you. ninja master prep professional qb1004 infomercialThe Breville's outward appearance most closely resembles the Cuisinart PowerEdge 1000 Watt Blender. kitchenaid khb2561 hand blender architect 5 speed review

Even still, the Breville, though similar in appearance, is vastly superior in both performance and usability. kitchenaid stand mixer kg25hoxYou can't talk about the blender's pitcher without also talking about the blades. russell hobbs blender 18510This is another area where Breville instituted some fantastic design choices. vitamix creations gc 64oz 12 in 1 variable speed blenderFor example, there are multiple types of blades in the blender. oster blender parts 564aYou'll find sharp, serrated central blades that do the bulk of the processing. oster hand blender parts 2614

You'll also find contoured blades that hug as closely to the hemisphere shape as possible, preventing food from clinging to the bottom of the pitcher. bamix classic blender 160wThis is a nice touch that saves you from having to pause the appliance every 5 seconds to scrape the sides and bottom.blendtec total blender kijijiBreville includes some nifty, though not necessary, bonuses to the design, such as loops in both the lid and the power cord that make for easy grabbing. hamilton beach scovill 7 speed blender manualThe Breville also has an on/off switch, which lets you turn the blender off without unplugging it, a feature that might be appealing if you intend to make the unit a permanent fixture on your countertop.kitchenaid fppc mixer attachment pack

Features Blenders aren't especially known for high-tech features. To my knowledge, no one has invested in developing a Bluetooth blender. kitchenaid mixer kg25hoxBlend my smoothies, make my piña coladas, and I shall leave thee be, blender, and not criticize thy lack of whimsy. kitchenaid blender model ksb5wh4That said, blenders like the Breville have some great user interface features that make the whole blending experience more intuitive.ninja blender bl680I know that blending was never that hard to begin with, but I can appreciate a blender that makes an easy task even easier to perform. oster blender mg-c00This convenience comes in the form of presets. oster blender classic 4094

Perhaps my favorite Breville preset is the smoothie button, which, over the course of a minute, pulses and blends the contents into a uniform and perfectly drinkable smoothie. oster hand blender 2609The only thing that could make that process easier would be if the blender filled itself.oster immersion blender 2613Other presets like "snow" and "puree" highlight the Breville's versatility. oster hand blender 2617If you were so inclined, you could make some pretty awesome snowballs on that snow setting. oster turf defender blenderYes, I tested it. vitamix blender vm0101Yes, they get good loft. vitamix blender model vm0100a