Call it classic, call it retro - this blender is a comeback queen

KitchenAid has always had a knack for bottling nostalgia and serving it straight back to us on the kitchen counter. Their appliances don’t just work, they dress the space. Bold, glossy, and unmistakably retro, they’re made to be admired as much as they are to be used. And if I had to pick a favourite from the line-up, it would be the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender.

Calling something the best blender is a bold claim in a market dominated by the likes of NutriBullet, Sage, and Ninja. But if anyone can hold their own among the giants, it’s another giant. KitchenAid might lean into vintage aesthetics, but this blender is thoroughly modern where it counts.

The KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is known for its unique asymmetrical blade, designed to create a powerful vortex that pulls ingredients down into the blades rather than flinging them to the sides. On paper, it sounds clever. In practice, it makes light work of everything from ice cubes to fibrous kale, exactly what you want in a busy family kitchen where the blender gets pulled out daily. So how did it fare in my own family home?

KitchenAid Pure Power Blender review

• Dimensions: 26 x 30 x 31 cm
• Weight: 4.5L
• Speed settings: 10
• Pre-set: 3 and pule
• Capacity: 2 litres
• Hot blending: Can handle hot ingredients
• Guarantee: 3 years

Who would the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender suit?

Front and centre on the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is a satisfyingly solid dial, very retro, very tactile, which lets you toggle between the pre-set programmes and manual speeds. There’s something reassuringly old-school about twisting a dial rather than stabbing at buttons, and it feels sturdier for it.

As always, I put the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender through the same battery of tests I use for every blender: I’m looking at toughness, consistency, speed, and noise levels, but also the little things, like how often I need to stop and scrape down the sides.

What is the KitchenAid K400 Blender like to use?

Smoothies are the baseline test, but I don’t go easy. Alongside liquid ingredients, I throw in fibrous oats, seedy frozen berries, leafy kale, and ice, the kinds of textures that quickly expose a weak motor.

With banana, berries, kale, oats, and almond milk packed right up to the jug’s generous capacity, I had enough smoothie for the whole family. Within seconds, the Pure Power’s asymmetrical blade was doing its thing, pulling everything down into a smooth, even blend without leaving stubborn pockets of greens stuck to the sides. No burning smells, no overheating, just a thick, glossy smoothie that poured cleanly.

When I scaled things down to a single serving, results were slightly less impressive. Like most jug blenders, the blade sits a little too high to be truly efficient with small quantities, so I needed to intervene with a spatula and a gentle shake. It’s not a deal-breaker, but worth noting if you mainly blend for one.

This test is all about low-liquid performance, an area where many blenders struggle. I always test hummus because it’s a real stress-test: chickpea skins, sticky tahini, raw garlic, and just enough oil and lemon juice to bring it together.

I was genuinely impressed here. The KitchenAid Pure Power Blender produced one of the smoothest hummus results I’ve achieved in a jug blender. No gritty texture, no unblended garlic surprises, just silky, spoon-able hummus that tasted as good as it looked. I barely needed to scrape down the sides, which tells me that vortex blade isn’t just marketing fluff.

While this isn’t a heated soup maker, it handles cooked ingredients beautifully. I tested pea and mint, carrot and coriander, and a chunkier lentil soup to see how well it could switch between silky and textured.

The pulse function deserves a special mention here, it’s sensitive and responsive, giving you real control rather than pulverising everything by accident. The smooth soups came out velvety, while the lentil retained just enough bite.

I also loved the jug design when it came to pouring. Full jugs of soup can be awkward and splash-prone, but the handle felt well balanced, even when hot, and the spout delivered a clean, controlled pour with no drips down the side.

Ice is where many blenders fall apart, sometimes literally. I started cautiously with a small handful of cubes and a splash of water, testing whether it could achieve that snow-like texture needed for frozen cocktails.

It passed with flying colours. The ice crushed evenly rather than bouncing around intact, although this was definitely one of the louder tests. I clocked around 78 dB on my noise checker, noisy, yes, but entirely expected when you’re attacking ice. Importantly, there was no juddering or sense of strain from the motor.

Cleaning the KitchenAid KitchenAid Pure Power Blender

After all that testing, cleaning matters. The jug, lid, and accessories are all dishwasher safe, a blessing on busy days, but for a deeper clean, I still recommend a quick hand-wash.

My go-to method is filling the jug with warm, soapy water and pulsing the blender for a few seconds. It’s the most effective way to clean under the blades, especially if you follow up with a long-handled brush.

As for the base, a quick wipe kept it looking pristine throughout testing. If you opt for a pale or cream colourway, you might need to be a little more diligent, but my model stayed glossy and fingerprint-free, very much part of that retro, show-it-off appeal.

How does the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender compare?

Style is where the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender really shines, but it also earns its place as one of the best blenders for families. If you’re shopping around, there are two main alternatives worth considering.

Spend more, and the Sage Super Q offers added juicing functionality for those who want maximum versatility. Or, spend less with a NutriBullet, which excels at single-serve blending thanks to its cup-based system, though it makes far less of a design statement.

Should you buy the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender?

If you want a retro-style blender that looks as good on your counter as it performs in your kitchen, the KitchenAid Pure Power Blender is hard to fault. It’s powerful, polished, and perfectly suited to family-sized blending, a true classic that earns its place.

How we test blenders

At woman&home, we put every blender through a series of standardised tests, from high-liquid smoothies to low-liquid hummus and ice crushing. We assess speed, consistency, noise levels, ease of use, and, yes, style too.

Each review is designed to answer the questions you’d want to know before buying. And if it doesn’t, you can always head to our dedicated how we test blenders page, or email me directly.