Blending a better beverage

For a concept centered on blended beverages, keeping noise in check is as much a consideration as functionality when choosing equipment. “If you have four or five [standard] blenders going, you can’t hear the person taking your order. It’s really loud,” says Davis Jaeger, food scientist and product development manager of Smoothie King.

Yet, it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. “We’re a lively brand and our cafes are upbeat,” says Lake Dawson, product development chef for Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “We found that we really liked a little bit of the noise from the blenders, because it helps fold the consumer into the culture of the on-the-move, active lifestyle.”

As dedicated juice and smoothie bars rise in popularity in a variety of noncommercial venues, the latest technology can make a big difference in keeping service running smoothly. Here are five standouts and their special features.

Blendtec’s Stealth 885 has a sound enclosure to reduce blender noise, 42 preprogrammed cycles and an online tool that operators can use to create additional custom cycles. Jamba Juice was an early testing partner and is rolling out this model to its stores. Standalone and in-counter versions are available.

blendtec.com/commercial

Vitamix’s Colored Advance containers and lids come in yellow, blue, purple and orange to help operators quickly identify designated blender bowls for different ingredients that could be potential allergens.

commercial.vitamix.com

Pacojet 2 promotes power over speed as its edge. Jimmy Bannos Jr., chef-owner of The Purple Pig restaurant in Chicago, says it delivers consistency and “that perfectly smooth and well-rounded texture. [It’s] a blender on steroids,” he says.

pacojet.com

Vitamix’s The Quiet One has six program buttons with 34 settings and a noise-reducing, magnetically secured sound enclosure that can be taken off for cleaning without removing screws. “What we like about this particular model is that it’s quiet, but it’s not the quietest one on the market,” says Tropical Smoothie’s Dawson. Adds Jaeger, “By making sure we can tweak the blending speed and velocity … it helps push more people through the door.”

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Taylor’s MagnaBlend Pro features a preprogrammable menu via SD card and cuts out friction by using magnetic force instead of direct-contact gear mechanisms. The MagnaBlend is designed for rest on a countertop for operations with smaller footprints.

taylormagnablend.com

A version of this article appeared in the April issue of Restaurant Business, FoodService Director’s sister publication.