Customer Reviews

Breville BBL550XL Ikon 610-Watt Stainless-Steel Blender

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

When our 10 year old blender broke, we decided to buy another blender. Our previous blender was somewhat loud and always seem to have a problem with ice and other hard foods.

So many blenders have a problem because they create a pocket of air, therefore you must stop the machine every now and then to force the material back down. Most are loud, and most importantly... most do not have enough power to blend and chop ice.

My wife wanted to buy a professional blender like the smoothie and coffee shops have, however the costs involved quickly dispelled any thought of obtaining one.

I found a few publications/editorials that rated the Breville blenders a "cut above" most other blenders.

Since we love ice cream and shakes, chopping ice is one of the most important features that a blender can have for us. In fact this is the crucial test that really makes a good blender... it's motor and how it tackles this job.

We purchased the Breville blender and received it in the mail. Upon opening the box, I immediately liked the design and well crafted parts. Even the electrical plug had a unique design that made plugging into the wall a little easier (which came with a plug cover). All the parts seem solid and thick. The top cover, had a solid rubber seal with a nice round finger hold to open the cover after you've finished. This part is also VERY NICELY designed and crafted.

It seems to be made like the old 1950-60's blenders and my wife was happy about that too.

I got it out, plugged it in and turned it on to test it.

Some have stated that the Breville are extremely quiet and powerful. It is true that the blender has plenty of power, for I tested it with big ice "chunks" and didn't have much of a problem with the ice. However it really isn't too quiet. Yes, it's has less decibels of sound than your average blender, but it isn't silent either. The motor is fairly powerful, but you can definitely hear it power through those tough ice jobs.

Since the product is fairly new, I cannot vouch for it's reliability and longevity, but it's works very well. It appears to be made well and well crafted. We are happy so far.

I would suggest this product to anyone. I especially suggest it to anyone who chops ice for Margaritas, shakes or a blender that is powerful, nice looking and well made.

This blender worked as well as everyone says... for 4 months. Then it died. It screeches horribly when you turn it on. It's warranted for one year, so we went to Breville's website & called them on the phone. We spent a whole day trying to call, we used their "callback service" but never heard back, we waited on hold for several hours. Then at exactly 5:00pm after all that holding on the phone, a voice abruptly stated: "We have closed for the day (period)." Breville bills itself as a premium company. We might well never buy a Breville product again.
UPDATE 1/27/09: Well, after a few more days of trying to reach Customer Service, they finally called us back, admitting how busy - or understaffed - they were. They asked only one question: "What number is scratched into the bottom plastic of the blender." That must have been a production batch number, and immediately they said "We'll send a label for shipping it back. Pack it up, ship it, and we'll send you a new blender." That was good news. So we found a box, padded the glass jar, and took it to FedEx Ground. Finally, today, after six weeks without it, we have received a new blender. We'll give an update when we see how this one holds up.
UPDATE 3/3/09: After 5 weeks of use, the replacement blender is holding up. We hope that the first motor was from a bad production run. If we consider buying a Breville product again we will first call customer service to see if it is easier to get through to them.
UPDATE 7/7/09: Our replacement blender is still working, but one belonging to a friend died a week after his warranty expired. This is not a very encouraging record.
UPDATE 8/15/2011: We used our replacement blender sparingly for two years (about once every other week at most, & only to make simple smoothies). Twice the base of the blender (the assembly that screws on & holds the blade) melted into a puddle of hot rubber. After the second one melted this way we disposed of the whole unit. It was just not worth ordering parts for the third time.

Great blender/processor! Makes snow out of ice without waking up the neighbors! Very powerful, chops through ice and frozen fruit, grinds cookies into crumbs. No more lumps in the smoothies!

My husband wanted a new blender for Christmas and after researching blenders on Cook's Illustrated and Amazon, I decided to take a chance with the Breville. I am so glad I did. This is a GREAT blender. It's incredibly quiet compared to our old blender. It's powerful. It's super easy to clean. I have only one complaint about it. Taking out the top can be challenging. That said, my husband has no problem with it. I find it easier if I push in the lid half-way. No mess is created and I can pull out the top without spilling. All in all, we are very satisfied with the Breville Ikon 610-watt blender.

I've wanted a blender that will last. This is my second higher-priced blender, and unfortunately I'm still searching.

Let me say the Breville BBL550XL is a marvel. It is unusually quiet. Using it, you can see a lot of thought went into the design. My smoothies always came out perfect--never any telltale chunks. Very very nice.

But *sigh* after five months, the electronics went poof. Now all the buttons do the same thing: it blends on high for five seconds then quits. So I feel like that kid who had the toy truck suddenly yanked away from him. Now it's time to experience Breville's customer service.

It leaks around the base into the mechanism. It started leaking after a few uses. Fiddling with various adjustments (not too tight, very tight) did not help. I've found that lubricating the threads where the bottom screws on, and lubricating the gasket has helped. I'm using vegetable oil for the lubricant until I return it or get it fixed.

It is quiet for a blender, and easy to clean with good automatic cycles.

I run a batch of water in it before every use to see if it is leaking.

Update: It took a week to reach the company, but they were responsive. They said the pitcher should be held upright when screwing the bottom blade assembly in place. That didn't help. They agreed to send me a new seal, though I told them I didn't think it was the issue. Instead of sending me a new seal they sent me an additional, brand new, blender. I was impressed. It immediately leaked. The leak workaround works for this one too. I guess I give up.

Until the rubber gasket just underneath the blade assembly starting to disintegrate. I discovered this while drinking my frozen Frappachino and tasted what could only be described as burning rubber. It tasted like that because that's what it was. When I checked the gasket of blade assembly (top part in the bowl) it smelled like what I had just tasted. Gross! I had that taste in my mouth for an hour. I drank about a tablespoon of the drink but that's all it took. However, when the blender works, it is great. I brought it back to Macy's and they exchanged it for another which after one smoothie is just fine. I hope it lasts at least a few more smoothies. ;o) Macy's will allow me to do exchanges for 6 months. I have to figure that eventually I will get one that lasts. I wrote to the company and we'll see what they say. The blender is designed in Australia but manufactured in China. One of these days China will get its quality control act together. But for now they are a long way off. It's hard for me to recommend something that lasted a week but if it doesn't break it is a great blender for all the reasons that have been stated in the other reviews. But, there are clearly problems with this blender in terms of getting a good one. I've decided it's worth the hassle to me. By the way, it does not leak if the blade assembly is well-tightened. It takes more oomph to do that than one might think. Tight is not good enough. It needs to be very tight but it's not hard to loosen for cleaning. Good luck!

* I wrote to Breville and heard back from them a few days later. They said that if there was any part I needed they would send it to me. No need, since I exchanged the blender for one that is so far working just fine, but good customer service.

** BACK IT GOES!!!! This is ridiculous. I got the second blender and this time the rubber gasket on the part which screws onto the bottom of the jar does not seal well. I am a fairly strong person and really tightened the blade housing against the gasket and still it leaked. Not every time, but when it happens liquid goes all over my counter and it gets inside the base with the motor. I read the reviews on the Breville 600 and there seems to be similar problems with that model in terms of leakage. That doesn't seem to be the case with the 500, judging from the Amazon reviews. However, enough is enough. Back it goes and I get a different blender.

*** Last post. Promise. I wound up getting the new Cuisinart CBT700 blender. It works extremely fast (700 watt motor, which does make it noisier than the Breville motor). It doesn't leak-- at all. And, I don't have to use all my strength to tighten the base against the jar nor do I have to use a torque wrench to remove the base from the jar for cleaning. It's a no hassle blender. Search over.

This blender looks great on the counter. Sexy stainless styling, red and blue backlit buttons, a fearsome looking set of blades.

So what's the beef?

Form does not follow function in this machine.

Blade assembly is separated from base with a ridged, whimpy rubber gasket, that inevitably collects food and is difficult to position. Blade assembly/gasket takes some skill and torque to align and twist on. Top is difficult to wedge on and remove.

These problems could be overlooked, if not for major overheating that goes on when the machine is run. The machine has timed settings, most of them lasting no more than 60 seconds. My thoughts here, that the 60 seconds is less for convenience and more about 60 seconds being the outer limit that this appliance can be run, before it implodes from overheating. The knob that sticks down into the base gets hot enuf to burn.

I've used mine mostly for smoothies.
When its in the mood, it does a nice job, only leaving chunks of some of the larger pieces of fruit. My thoughts here are that the broader base design, does not adequetly funnel food towards the blades.

My trophy wife blender divorced me yesterday in a cloud of gray smoke and what looked like black rubber coffee grounds left between the motor and the upper assembly. The brew I had been mixing, was full of a foul plastic taste, presumably from the same rubber that was found in its nether parts and perfuming the air with its stench.

Next time out, I'll be looking for a less expensive blender, that may not have the good looks of the Breville, but will do what blenders were made to to with less drama.

My main complaint about this is the gasket they provide to seal the base. After running it to make a smoothie, I have to disassemble the entire thing and rinse everything off. I'll find liquid underneath the gasket that would turn rancid if left.

Have used this about 10 times to blend powder shakes. Every time it smells like wires or rubber burning. Am not sure if this is normal, am waiting for it wear off with more use.
Do not like the super sucker lid as it fits so secure that when you remove it the liquid splatters no matter how slow I try to take it off.
For such a high price I wish it didn't smell like burnt motor, and was easier to clean.