Whether you prefer their Aloha Pineapple, Orange-C Booster, or another of their all-fruit smoothies, there’s no denying that Jamba Juice makes a killer drink. But the secret behind their success isn’t just in their recipes. It has just as much to do with their specialized Jamba Juice blenders.
So what blenders does Jamba Juice use? Originally, they used Vitamix blenders, taking advantage of the models’ high power. However, these days they prefer Blendtec blenders as they operate more quietly with just as much speed and power.
The decision turned out to be key to the company’s success, but to understand why you need to know a bit more about Blendtec blender models and how they stack up against the competition.
More About Blendtec Blenders
Blendtec was founded in 1975 and has since introduced dozens of commercial and home blenders loved across the world. If you haven’t heard of them before, you probably remember their viral marketing campaign Will It Blend? where company founder Tim Dickson tests his creation against a variety of unusual items.
Everything from cell phones to an unopened can of Spam faced off against the powerful blender, and by the end, (almost) all of them were reduced to powder. The series was effective at introducing the world to the power of Blendtec blenders, using a quirky sense of humor to keep viewers hooked. To date, they have released nearly two-hundred videos over a 15-year span.
What Makes Blendtec Different?
The videos did a great job at showcasing the blenders’ power and durability, which are a few of the hallmarks of their product. The reason they stand up so well against tough materials is because of a combination of a powerful motor and a durable blade.
While many blenders use a sharp blade to blend drinks, the blades of Blendtec blenders are actually as dull as any butter knife. The reason it does such a good job bending foods is that it spins at a rate of 300 miles per hour to pulverize anything it touches. While it’s a different strategy from most other brands, it’s hard to argue with the results.
Why Blendtec and Jamba Juice are a Perfect Match
It’s easy to see why any company serving up fresh-blended drinks would love a powerful and efficient blender. However, there are actually a few more specific reasons why Blendtec and Jamba Juice work so well together.
Jamba Juice prides itself on making fresh smoothies to order. While it is easy to see the appeal of this, the fact is that it’s a bit more difficult to put into practice. To get the job done, you need a blender that can tear through frozen fruit in seconds and do so with minimal noise, hassle, and waste.
Blendtec blenders answer all of these problems with a quiet and efficient product that has the power to turn frozen fruits into liquid in seconds. It is not only great at doing its job but also easy to clean up afterward, with extra-large pitchers that can hold a lot of liquid and clean quickly.
The other major advantage of Blentec blenders is in their dull-edge blade. Since they don’t rely on keeping blades sharp, there’s no need for replacements, saving money and a ton of hassle.
Compared to Other Brands
Of course, Blendtec isn’t the only company producing commercial-grade blenders. To understand a little more about what makes them special, take a closer look at how they stack up against other brands.
Blendtec vs. Vitamix
Vitamix was actually the original Jamba Juice blender, and it’s not hard to see what they found appealing. The two brands actually have a lot in common, utilizing dull blades and powerful motors to pulverize fruit rather than cut through it. They each have wide pitchers and variable speed settings that allow for a fine-tuned approach to making smoothies.
However, there are a few differences that set the two apart. While each company offers different models with a range of features, on the whole, Blendtec’s tend to have more powerful motors. This means they can make smoothies faster and smoother, which is crucial when serving a crowd of people all day long. The more powerful motor also means less of a chance of the blender burning out, saving money over time.
The other key difference is that Vitamix blenders are generally a little louder than their competitor. Even among models that have similar power outputs, Blendtec’s are generally much quieter.
Ultimately, Blendtec proved to offer a product that operated more quietly while offering increased power that allowed it to tear through smoothie ingredients more easily. This made the difference to their bottom line, making Blendtec the clear winner.
Blendtec vs. Ninja
Blendtec and Ninja blender models have less in common than Blendtec and Vitamix. For one thing, Ninja doesn’t use the same dull blades as the other two. Rather, they use sharper blades arranged in a spiral configuration. This requires less powerful motors to do the same job, and for some applications, Ninja is actually the better choice. Though for smoothies, their design isn’t ideal.
While it might seem counterintuitive, Blendtec’s dull blade design is actually better at making creamy, consistent smoothies than Ninja’s razor-sharp blades. The reason comes down to science. Even the sharpest blades aren’t small enough to properly cut through ice crystals, meaning you need a motor powerful enough to pulverize them on impact.
The other disadvantage to the sharp blades is that they dull over time. While a Ninja blender may be a good choice for use in the home, where they’ll only be used a few times a week, it’s not ideal for a commercial setting. Jamba Juice serves hundreds of smoothies a day, which is enough to completely dull a freshly sharpened blade.
Top Blendtec Blender Models
Blendtec has dozens of blender models available today for both commercial and home use. Take a look at two of the most popular to get to know what the company offers.
Blendtec Stealth 885 Commercial Blender
The Blendtec Stealth 885 is the same model used in Jamba Juice stores. While it comes with a hefty price tag, it’s easy to understand why any business specializing in smoothies would use them. The blender gets its name from its quiet operation. Using a noise-blocking design, it reduces all sound down to the level of normal speaking volume. It’s quite a feat considering the blender operates at a whopping 1800 watts.
It comes equipped with the same stainless steel forged blades as previous models. They’re ten times stronger than competing blender blades, allowing you to tear through frozen fruit or nuts and other dry ingredients with ease. We wouldn’t recommend throwing in your cellphone, but we know from the Will It Blend videos that it can pulverize that too.
Aside from its power, it’s a surprisingly easy blender to use. It comes with 42 pre-programmed settings, which lets you make everything from smoothies to soup to cappuccinos at the press of a button. When you’re done, the self-cleaning function will have it sparkling in seconds.
All in all, it’s the premier blender for any smoothies startup, and it can even be a good choice for home blending enthusiasts who have a little more to spend. Though if you want something a bit more affordable, you may want to take a look at the next Blendtec blender.
Blendtec Total Classic Original Blender
While Blendtec’s Total Classic Original Blender may not offer the same level of performance as its commercial counterpart, it’s an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy Jamba Juice smoothies without leaving their home. The blender uses the same dull blade design as all other models, relying on a powerful motor to pulverize smoothie ingredients in seconds.
The main difference between the two is power. This one clocks in at about 1560 watts, as opposed to the Stealth 885’s 1800. Ultimately, it’s not a huge difference in terms of performance, coming down to a few extra seconds to wait for your smoothie to blend.
The more noticeable difference is the blender’s volume. Even though it has less power, it will make significantly more noise, meaning it may not be the ideal choice for blending first thing in the morning if you’re worried about waking your family up. Still, considering the fact that you’ll only need to run it for less than 30 seconds, this may not be that big of a disadvantage.
Ultimately, it’s the best way to get commercial-quality smoothies at a more affordable price. At less than a quarter of the cost of the other model, it’s an option worth considering.
Jamba Juice’s Signature Blender
For years, Blendtec blenders have been the cornerstone of Jamba Juice’s drinks, and it doesn’t look like that’s changing anytime soon. With all the power, quiet operation, and hassle-free design, they are the perfect choice for a company that serves thousands of smoothies across the country every day. Whether you want to get one of these impressive blenders for yourself is up to you, but there’s no doubt that they’re one of the highest quality products available today.
