KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review: stylish simplicity

T3's KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review in a sentence: easy to use and ready for just about anything including beefy ice cubes.

There are oodles of blenders on the market, which can make choosing one to buy a little bamboozling to say the least. In which case, I’d be inclined to suggest going with a well-respected name. That’s where the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender comes in. I’ve reviewed a few KitchenAid appliances in the past and have always found them very good, so when I got the chance to try the Pure Power Blender I was more than up for it.

The last similar style appliance I tried was the Nutribullet Portable Blender, which was a brilliant little thing ideally suited to people who can’t be without the ability to blend, even when travelling. The KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is an entirely different kettle of fish in that it’s designed for the kitchen and, due to its weight and sizable body, isn’t something anyone would want to move around much.

However, that’s a bonus point for me as the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender feels like it’s been properly put together and is ready for anything. Of course, the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender has lots of competition, with similarly priced models on the market from the likes of Magimix, Ninja, Tefal, Smeg and Kenwood to name just a few of the better-known brands.

KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review: price and availability

The KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is available to buy now and is offered in four different colours: Matte Black, Porcelain White, Empire Red and Charcoal Grey.

Each is priced at £149 and can be ordered direct from the KitchenAid website or from Amazon and other online outlets. In fact, at the time of writing, Amazon had all four model variants available for with a 23% discount leaving it priced at just £115, which makes it a bit of a steal.

KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review: design and features

The KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is a desktop-focused kitchen appliance that has been designed with everyday blending activities in mind. The design is reasonably conventional and one of the main strengths of the appliance is its no-frills and no-fuss construction, which makes it easy to set up, use and clean.

As mentioned above, the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is a reasonably chunky thing, so it’s best kept in situ, although the dimensions of ‎30.2 x 26 x 41.7 cm do mean that it can also be packed away into a tall cupboard without too much hassle. It weighs in at 4.09kg, which lends the appliance a quality feel while the overall fit and finish of the components endorses that premium vibe that tends to come with KitchenAid products.

The KitchenAid Pure Power Blender arrives with three core components, including a chunky base unit, which houses the electric motor plus the control options. There’s also a study 2-litre plastic blender jug, which features clear and concise measurements on the side. Things around rounded out with a vented blender jug lid that slips firmly down onto the jug and forms a perfect seal to avoid leakages.

KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review: performance

Anyone wanting a simple but effective blender should find the KitchenAid Pure Power fits the bill. It boasts a 1200-watt motor, so there are generous levels of power. At the same time, this is a super-easy appliance to operate thanks to a sizable control knob on the front of the motor unit. This offers up 10 different settings while, above that, there are core control options. From left to right, these include the On/Off button, Smoothie, Ice Crush and Clean selections, all of which are self-explanatory.

The overall design is slick and minimalist, with lots of easy to clean corners and styling touches that should mean it’ll stay looking good over time. I think the four different colour options are quite generous too, so there should be a shade of plastic to suit any style of kitchen. The 2.1-litre blending jug is nicely executed too, with a solid plastic construction and a handle that will suit any kind of hand size.

Topping it all off is the lid, which on a practical note, features a vent so that there’s no worry about pressure building up if hot ingredients are being put into the jug for blending. This is not a hot soup maker, however. I like the way it seals onto the jug too, with a firm fixture that suggests it’ll stay firmly in place even when being used at full tilt. Inside, the four asymmetrical blades looked suitably capable, while also being easily reached for gentle scrubbing with a brush whenever needed.

Simplicity is the most appealing aspect of the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender, which was something that was immediately apparent the moment I started using it. This is a great appliance for anyone who’s short on time, with the big round dial allowing instant access to a blend speed for any occasion. The feel of the dial is nice and precise while the operation is slick and not too noisy either, apart from initially crushing ice.

I frequently get a little nervous when crushing ice in a blender, expecting a random cube to jam and condemn the appliance to the recycling bin. I didn’t have any kind of fear with the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender though. This was partly down to the build quality and choice of components, but the motor also felt really capable too. It mashed blocks of ice beautifully resulting in a very impressive slush that works great for cocktails and the like.

The KitchenAid Pure Power Blender proved just as capable with a variety of ingredients from everyday fruit like bananas, berries and oranges. It was also top notch when it came to blending bigger nuts for breakfast toppings, including walnuts and whole almonds. The higher I twisted the dial, the more pulverised the results. I found it was quick and easy to adapt this speed control to get more precise results, meaning some ingredients didn’t get totally mashed.

KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review: verdict

I think the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is an excellent no-frills blender. It’s keenly priced, especially with the current discount that can be had online. Even if it reverts to the standard RRP, this is a good all-rounder, with an easy-to-use speed dial that gets the job done without fuss. The button options above that cover everyday tasks and the whole package feels easy to clean and durable. I was also impressed at the smoothness of the motor operation and it’s pretty quiet too. Definitely recommended.

KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review: Alternatives to consider

This model is definitely aimed at folks on a budget, especially when compared to the pricier KitchenAid Artisan K400. While I tend to head more in the direction of soup makers, like the new Panasonic Blender & Soup Maker MX-HG4401 there are still some excellent rival models to the Pure Power model. Take a look at the Smeg BLC02WHMUK High Performance Blender, for example.

However, lots of people tend to prefer compact blenders these days due to a lack of space or a desire to take a blender on their travels. If that's you, have a look at the Nutribullet 600 Series, which comes highly recommended. It's small, efficient and is about half the price of something like the Smeg PBF01 Personal Blender.