Blendtec A3-31E-FLP Connoisseur In-Counter Blender, Stainless Steel

Designed with almost perfectly vertical sides, the Connoisseur base features a top-facing keypad with four numbered buttons that correspond to different blend cycles along with two buttons labeled 'S' for speed and 'P' for pulse. Pressing the 'S' button ramps the motor up; releasing the button sets the desired speed at which the blender then will run for 50 seconds. Eighteen of the 30 preprogrammed cycles vary the blade speeds to draw food into the vortex, while twelve remain fixed. A switch on the lower front turns the blender on and off, while the LED panel above it indicates which cycle is operating and counts down how many seconds remain (and also warns of overloading).

For measuring on the go, the square, 64-ounce polycarbonate jar has graduated markings for up to five cups on one side and 32 ounces on another. The flexible lid presses in snugly and removes quickly by pulling on any of the four corner tabs; a central plug with a small airhole in the middle can be popped out of the lid to let steam escape when blending hot liquids. Included with the blender are instructions for use and a spiral-bound, 112-page recipe book. The jar, dishwasher-safe only on the top rack, is covered against leakage or breakage for one year. Blendtec covers the motor with a three-year warranty against defects, while the jar blade and the motor base drive socket are covered by a lifetime warranty.--Ann Bieri

• The perfect blender?

• I've always had issues with blenders that I've purchased. They either weren't powerful enough, didn't last long enough, or were a pain to clean. The BlendTec could very well be the best blender I've ever purchased -- at this price, it better be! :)
  
  Folks who look at the BlendTec will quickly identify it as the same blender used by Jamba Juice, Starbucks, and various other beverage shops. There's a reason for this -- it's powerful, reliable, and blends intelligently. I've found that the only difference between the home and commercial models is power consumption, configuration, and warranty. The home models are just as good as the commercial ones, they are just made to operate on a standard 15 amp home circuit.
  
  The Connoisseur model definitely deserves a place of prominence next to your espresso maker, food processor, and bowl mixer just on looks alone. The pre-programmed functions are useful, and more importantly they WORK! I use two modes regularly: soup and smoothie. Both work flawlessly and exactly as advertised. I have never encountered a piece of unblended food matter utilizing these modes, and the computer adjusts the blender's speed on the fly to suit the resistance met inside the jar. It also pulses to ensure food is effectively drawn towards the bottom.
  
  The unit has a single large blade that is NOT knife sharp. I emphasize this point because, if the blender is powerful enough, the blade doesn't need to be sharp. The best blending occurs by smashing, not by cutting. Your food processor cuts with a sharp knife, and no matter how long you process something, it always comes out somewhat grainy. Not so in the BlendTec. If you cream soup, it will be the smoothest, creamiest concoction you've ever made -- and to my astonishment, it is so well emulsified that the liquid will not separate from the solids after sitting in the fridge!
  
  The blending jar is wide enough so you can stick your hand inside and clean it properly, and because the blades aren't little knives, you don't have to worry about cutting yourself to shreds. Someone used his or her brain when they designed this appliance!
  
  The Connoisseur is essentially the Total Home blender with a stainless control panel and the ability to be mounted underneath the counter. It also comes with two jars -- 64 oz. and 96 oz. -- along with an absolutely wonderful cook book that was far more than I had expected. The larger 96 oz. jar is indispensable if you are going to blend decent volumes of soup.
  
  BUY THIS PRODUCT. You will love it!

• CAREFUL - Description In Counter, Picture On Counter

• Everything I read about this blender shows it to be the best.

• The perfect blender?

• I've always had issues with blenders that I've purchased. They either weren't powerful enough, didn't last long enough, or were a pain to clean. The BlendTec could very well be the best blender I've ever purchased -- at this price, it better be! :)
  
  Folks who look at the BlendTec will quickly identify it as the same blender used by Jamba Juice, Starbucks, and various other beverage shops. There's a reason for this -- it's powerful, reliable, and blends intelligently. I've found that the only difference between the home and commercial models is power consumption, configuration, and warranty. The home models are just as good as the commercial ones, they are just made to operate on a standard 15 amp home circuit.
  
  The Connoisseur model definitely deserves a place of prominence next to your espresso maker, food processor, and bowl mixer just on looks alone. The pre-programmed functions are useful, and more importantly they WORK! I use two modes regularly: soup and smoothie. Both work flawlessly and exactly as advertised. I have never encountered a piece of unblended food matter utilizing these modes, and the computer adjusts the blender's speed on the fly to suit the resistance met inside the jar. It also pulses to ensure food is effectively drawn towards the bottom.
  
  The unit has a single large blade that is NOT knife sharp. I emphasize this point because, if the blender is powerful enough, the blade doesn't need to be sharp. The best blending occurs by smashing, not by cutting. Your food processor cuts with a sharp knife, and no matter how long you process something, it always comes out somewhat grainy. Not so in the BlendTec. If you cream soup, it will be the smoothest, creamiest concoction you've ever made -- and to my astonishment, it is so well emulsified that the liquid will not separate from the solids after sitting in the fridge!
  
  The blending jar is wide enough so you can stick your hand inside and clean it properly, and because the blades aren't little knives, you don't have to worry about cutting yourself to shreds. Someone used his or her brain when they designed this appliance!
  
  The Connoisseur is essentially the Total Home blender with a stainless control panel and the ability to be mounted underneath the counter. It also comes with two jars -- 64 oz. and 96 oz. -- along with an absolutely wonderful cook book that was far more than I had expected. The larger 96 oz. jar is indispensable if you are going to blend decent volumes of soup.
  
  BUY THIS PRODUCT. You will love it!

• CAREFUL - Description In Counter, Picture On Counter

• Everything I read about this blender shows it to be the best.