Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First, I would rate it a 3.5
I purchased this item as I was tired of low quality drink mixers... I purchased the FIJI as it was the newest model out. It has a larger Ice holder and different settings for margaritas, daquiries, mudslides, and smoothies.
The machine is powerful and seemingly high quality. I feel it will last a long time. It does take some practice getting your recipies correct. Maybe its just me, but I also can NOT differentiate the drinks from the four different settings. A drink in the mudslide setting has the same texture as a Margarita....and etc. So I felt that was a waste for me. With the larger Ice Hopper thats nice, but easily available for the Key West version. I would rather have extra blending Jars as they are small and what I go through the most. The Key west seems to have the best matching ice reservoir for the blending jar. The drip through water catcher is nice... but very difficultt to clean. Its too narrow to wash by hand, you need to use a long handled something(minor inconvenience I guess).
Performance is nice. Its powerful and the ice shaver works well. very well actually/ But that too is extremely difficult to clean... If it comes out to clean, I cant figure mine out...so its pretty much just sticking a cloth it there to swap up melted ice, and hand pick out leftover ice. Its tricky as supports and the big blade can get you.
Also, probably the most fustrating thing is the ice hopper does not line up nicely with the blending jar opening. Its off about a 1/4 inch, but just enough for liquid to jump out when machine fires up. I was told I had too much liquid, but it does it no matter how much liquid I have in it. I now have to put the lid on the mixing jar at an angle so it lines up with the hopper, but this leaves an imperfect seal on the jar, and for full serving mixes it wants to come out the side of the lid.
Its also a big unit. We dont store appliances on our counter(actually wont fit under the counter wit the ice hopper on it), and we were limited as to where this unit would fit in our pantry... but thats fine, we made room. When mixing, the ice only feature is nice as you can really make a nice slushy drink for yourself or the kids if you wish. I pretty much only use the ice only and blend only buttons now, as the programmed settings either dont add enough ice for our taste or mixes it up too much. The no spill blending jar is not really no spill. It has a spout, but the glass is thick(quality), and that leads to dripping down the side when pouring. I would like to see them invent a high quality blending jar with a spout for pouring(as seen on cheap blenders)... now that would be the last great feature they would need to add.
I wish I had gotten the Key West to save money, but live and learn. Its a solid, decent looking machine that seems durable for years of use. I can live with its shortcomings operationally, but everytime I make a drink I cant get past the fact the blending jar does not line up perfectly with the ice hopper. I called the Manufacturer and they told me it in fact doesnt line up....That would be my clue to fix that, or not put it on the market at nearly $400.
Worth $400...NO...$300...NO... $200...sure, because of its powerful motor and expected lifespan. If you dont use it often its not worth it. The lower priced version at less than $200 would be perfect. But when using this often, you can justify a larger price. What else is out there like it anyhow???
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Kick-start the party by serving up restaurant-quality frozen concoctions with this unique, easy-to-use appliance. Far more than just an ordinary blender, the unit automatically shaves ice and blends up to 36 ounces of a favorite frosty drink, all at the touch of a button. Simply fill the top reservoir with ice, pour the ingredients into the glass jar, and select the amount and type of beverage. Choose from four pre-programmed drink cycles--margaritas, daiquiris, mudslides, or smoothies--and either a full pitcher or experiment with small batches using the one-, two-, or three-drink settings. Hit the automatic Shave-N-Blend switch, and the machine automatically mixes the right proportion of ice with ingredients and for the perfect amount of time. The shaved ice ensures better drink consistency--no more chunks or watery drinks. For party guests who like thicker or thinner drinks, the manual "shave only / blend only" toggle switch allows for easily customizing beverages by adding more shaved ice or blending longer.
Crafted from durable ABS plastic in a premium brushed-nickel finish, the unit features a die-cast aluminum base, which provides a stable footprint, and a heavy-duty die-cast aluminum shaver paddle and lower blending coupler that handle the power of the dual motors. Other highlights include simple front-access controls, a large-capacity reservoir that holds ice for mixing 72 ounces of frozen drinks between refills, and a 36-ounce thick-walled retro-styled glass blending jar with a generous handle and drip-free spout. The blending jar and its components clean up easily by hand or in the dishwasher, and the rest of the unit quickly wipes clean. Accessories include one shot glass, a quick set-up guide, a recipe guide, an instruction manual, four coasters, and drink charms in a tin can. The 700-watt frozen concoction maker measures 14 by 9 by 20 inches and carries a one-year warranty.
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