Trying to find the best blender for acai bowls?
You're in the right place.
We've compiled several different options that let you make delicious and nutrient-dense acai bowls right at home.
In a hurry? Out of everything on this list, here's the 3 we recommend the most...
Last update on 2020-01-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our top pick is the The Vitamix 5200.
It's affordable for a Vitamix, has a 7-year warranty and can make acai bowls without breaking a sweat. The tamper will ensure that nothing in the blender ever gets stuck and you can make your frozen bowls as thick as your heart desires.
What Makes These Blenders Good for Acai Bowls?
- Powerful motors are able to chop through a myriad of ingredients without overheating
- Large enough container allows you to blend bowls for the whole family, while you still can easily blend a single bowl
- Stainless steel blades that can stand up to frozen ingredients and ice without slowing down or become chipped or damaged
- Some have Pre-programmed settings that make the blender easy to use and to control and to fine-tune your final texture of your acai bowl
- Durable enough to last for a long time so that you don’t have to worry about buying a new blender right away
- Quality bearings under the blender jar that will ensure that the powerful motor doesn’t damage the bearings
- Blades that connect correctly and easily to the base so that there is a strong power transfer and the blender is effective
Best Blender for Acai Bowls Reviewed
Vitamix 5200
Vitamix has long been known for producing high-quality blenders that are fast and powerful and able to easily cut through anything that you want to blend or chop. This blender has a 64-ounce container that is large enough that you can easily make acai bowls for the entire family, but it is so easy to clean that you don’t need to worry about food getting stuck under the blades and drying. Thanks to the powerful motor, you will be able to easily blend food to the desired consistency, and the blender is incredibly fast and easy to clean by blending a bit of soapy water to remove any food left behind.
- Variable speed control allows to adjust the speed while the blender is operating
- The radial cooling fan keeps the blender from overheating
- Stainless steel blades can handle any tough ingredient
- The full 7-year warranty gives you peace of mind in case something is to happen with your blender
Cons
Blendtec Total Blender Classic
Built to professional standards, these blenders from Blendtec are durable enough to power through your acai bowls in the morning without any problems. They weigh around 7.5 pounds, which is just enough weight to keep them from moving around the countertop while they are in operation, and they fit easily under your cupboards, thanks to their smaller profile. Packed with control options, these blenders make it easy to get the perfect consistency each time you make an acai bowl.
Cons
Jamba Appliances 2.4hp Blender
With a max speed of 210 mph, it’s easy to see how this blender has become a favorite for blending acai bowls, as it can easily blend most items including nuts, frozen fruit, and large pieces of ice without any problems. The four pre-programmed settings allow you to easily set your blender to operate and then not worry about the quality of your acai bowl. If you want to adjust how smooth your acai bowl will be, then you will want to take advantage of the infinite speed dial, which will allow you to make adjustments to the blade speed in 10 different increments. This lets you choose between a bowl that is a little thicker or one that is a little bit finer, depending on your personal preference.
- Able to easily power through ingredients without slowing down or the motor overheating
- Included tamper makes it easy to push ingredients down towards the blades if necessary
- The massive jar is BPA free and large enough to hold acai bowls for the whole family
Cons
- There are reports of people struggling to lift the blender, as it weighs almost 11 pounds
Hamilton Beach 54220 Blender
This blender is a great choice if you want to make acai bowls at home but don’t have a huge budget for your new blender. Thanks to Hamilton Beach’s wave action system, the ingredients will funnel back toward the blades so that they are easily processed without you having to worry about tamping them down or stopping to stir your mixture.
- There is a shorter warranty compared to other blenders
- Some users complain that the motor isn’t as strong as others on the market
- May have to use less frozen ingredients
Nutri Ninja Auto-IQ
If you like to eat your acai bowl on the go, then you’ll love that this powerful blender will blend your acai bowl right in the cup so that you can grab it on your way out the door. Thanks to the various automated blending programs, you will be able to customize your bowl to meet your needs and can rely on the timer and auto-stop to prevent your acai bowl from being over-blended. This time also ensures that the engine doesn’t overheat, so you don’t run into longevity problems with the blender.
- Some users report that the blades are incredibly sharp, and it is easy to get cut when cleaning the blender
- There are complaints of the unit getting hot and then smoking when used to make multiple smoothies in a row
- Some reports state that the motor isn’t strong enough to handle ice and very hard frozen ingredients and that they need to thaw some before being blended
While this blender doesn’t have the fancy digital touchpad that so many blenders on the market do now, it is a kitchen workhorse that can easily create acai bowls without any problems with the motor or concerns over the durability of the blades. Thanks to the 1800 watt motor on this blender, you will be able to blend anything without problems. The ball bearings underneath the jar are made of stainless steel, which means that they will easily outlast any that are made of plastic. Thanks to the 6-blade configuration of this blender, you’ll spend much less time opening the lid and checking the condition of your acai bowl.
- Included tamper makes it easy to press down any ingredients that are having difficulty being blended
- Perfect for use on a daily basis without concern of burning out the motor
- Built with quality components to last
- The shape of the blender jar means that even a single serving acai bowl is blended without chunks
Cons
- There are some complaints that the lid doesn’t fit perfectly, which can cause the machine to leak
- Some reports claim that the motor and blender connection will come loose, resulting in a grinding noise and unreliable blender
Blendtec Designer Series Blender
This blender is perfect if you have a larger family that wants to share acai bowls together, as the extra sized jar will easily hold everything that you need it to. The multiple programmed settings mean that you can easily turn the blender on and then walk away, allowing it to power through your ingredients without you having to stay and make sure it is working. Packed with features, such as a sensor pad that controls the speed, a built-in shut down if the blender overheats, and a self-adjusting speed setting, it’s easy to create delicious acai bowls in this blender.
Pros
- The five-sided jar works to pull ingredients towards the blades
- LCD countdown timer lets you know when your acai bowl will be done
- 8-year comprehensive warranty is one of the best on the market
- Easy to clean with hot water and a bit of soap
Cons
- There are reports that the lid can be difficult to remove when you are done blending
- Some people have experienced leaking under the unit while it is being used
Vitamix Ascent A2500
The Vitamix Ascent A2500 is the latest and greatest in the world of blenders. It's the only Vitamix line with a timer which can come in hand if you're trying to create a consistent blend. If you're trying to measure your bowls exactly, this blender will pair with a smart scale so you can get the correct amount of calories and nutrients with the least effort possible.
What's also great about this blender is that it has a 10 year warranty. This is the best you're going to find for any blender brand out there. If you want something that's going to last you a large fraction of your lifetime, then this is the blender to pick.
Pros
- Has a timer to make consistent blends.
- Pairs with a smart scale for easy measuring.
- 3 Pre-programmed settings on the knob also provide convenience for recipes you make regularly.
- 10 year warranty.
Cons
- Tends to be more pricey than bare-bones Vitamix models.
Acai Blender Features to Consider
Motor Power
Many people worry about the motor power of their blender but the fact is that it's really not everything. That's because all of the blenders on this list come with a pretty good motor. You'll find that they are around 2 horsepower give or take.
Out of all blenders on the market, Blendtecs are usually the most powerful. Blendtec motors can be three horsepower or even above on some special models. This does not always mean that they are the best blender for the job. When you're making acai bowls it is useful to have a tamper to push the Frozen ingredients into the blades.
However, Blendtecs do not come with one of these as a standard. You do need to buy a Twister jar if you want to have a similar functionality.
Sometimes when ingredients get stuck at the top and don't form a vortex when your blending all the horsepower in the world isn't going to take the place of a tamper. You will have to open the jar and shift around the ingredients.
This is not to say that Blendtec’s are bad by any stretch of the imagination. It’s an easy fix when this type of thing does happen, but I personally prefer a tamper over a higher horsepower motor.
Serving Jars
Blender serving jars come in many different shapes and sizes. depending on if you're a single individual or a large family you'll want to consider the size of batches that you're going to be blending.
If you're going to be making acai bowls for yourself and getting a blender with a small jar isn't such a bad thing. However if you're making acai bowls for an entire family than you'll want to consider getting a jar that is 64 oz or above.
Also consider whether or not you want to be able to take your blender cup on the go. If so, then you may want to go for a Ninja or a Nutribullet.
Sometimes, I will eat my acai or smoothie bowl out of the blender cup like it’s a pint of ice cream. But it’s not fun to do this with a large countertop blender if it’s got the blades at the bottom.
Warranty
You’ll find typically that the more expensive the blender, the longer the warranty is. I’ve had my Vitamix blenders for almost 6 years now and I’ve had to send it back a few times to get it tweaked or repaired.
The company is usually really good about this, but they better be considering how much I paid for it!
So it’s kind of a trade off. If you spend more for a longer warranty, then the odds are that your blender is going to last longer.
Tips for Blending Acai Bowls
When I make acai bowls or smoothie bowls, I like to do the following to make sure that they come out awesome…
Make sure that all my ingredients are totally frozen. If you want things to be thick enough to eat with a spoon, then you cannot rely on the acai packet alone. All of the other ingredients that you add to your bowl should be frozen or slightly defrosted to make blending easier.
Put as little liquid as possible. The less liquid that’s added to the blend the thicker it will be.
Get creative with the toppings! I like to add stuff like raw oats, coconut, chia seeds to my acai bowls. You can’t beat the refreshing punch of the bowl along with the crunch from the toppings.
Easy Smoothie Bowl Recipe For Your Blender
Here's my favorite recipe for making an acai smoothie bowl. You'll need these ingredients...
- 100 gram packet of acai (frozen)
- 1 frozen banana
- Small handful of kale
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 3/4 cup soy milk
Combine all ingredients in your blender and press blend. Use your tamper to mash the ingredients into the blades if you have one. If ingredients get stuck and you don't have a tamper, stop the blender cycle completely and move contents around as needed.
Blend until all ingredients are smooth and creamy. Pour into your favorite bowl and serve with toppings like raw oats, granola, coconut flakes, flaxseeds or chia seeds.
Enjoy!
What Else Can Good Blenders Do?
Just like your stove or your oven, a good blender is an absolute staple in the kitchen.
You may just start out thinking you want to make some simple acai bowls, but did you know that there are tons of other things that a blender can do?
Here’s a list of different tasks that you can do if you get the right blender...
Baby Food
Buying little jars of baby food can get really expensive. But what is it that you’re really paying for?
You’re basically just buying food that has been cooked, pureed and placed into a small jar.
With the right blender, such as a Vitamix, you can do that right at home. It’s also quicker, fresher and more delicious. Plus, you can control exactly what’s going into it unlike the jarred stuff. No preservatives and only the freshest food.
Hot Soups
If you get a blender with a venting lid that can handle hot liquids, you can make hot soup right in the jar. You don’t even have to use the stove.
How does it work?
I’m glad you asked.
Hot soup in a blender is actually a possibility!
If you get something like a Vitamix, all you need to do is add your ingredients to the blender jar with the right amount of water. Don’t worry, there are plenty of great recipes out there if you get lost.
Once you get all of the stuff in the jar, all you need to do is blend. The friction of the blades will heat up all of the ingredients and you’ll have a pureed soup in no time.
Use different speeds on your blender to make it chunky.
If you want to make your soup chunky and have different textures, then you can add ingredients at different times and take advantage of different blender speeds.
Flours
Different types of flours are all of the rage nowadays. Rice flour, oat flour, almond flour—there’s a flour for every dietary need.
Even if you just want to benefit from the nutritional value of real food ingredients, you’ll enjoy a nutrient-packed homemade flour.
But isn’t that difficult?
Not at all. Not with a high-speed blender.
But you’ll definitely need a strong enough blender to do it. Your run-of-the-mill blender from Walmart probably isn’t going to be able to powderize hard wheat berries or even almonds.
With a Vitamix, Blendtec or other sturdy blender, add your ingredients and secure the lid on top. Start out on the lowest speed and turn the dial up to the higher numbers. You can do this in one smooth motion.
This will go quickly, so you only need about a minute or two. Watch your blender to make sure that nothing is getting stuck.
And voila!
Fresh, homemade flour. Never buy the packaged stuff again if you don’t want to.
(One thing to keep in mind is that the blades will go through heavier wear and tear with harder substances. Wheat berries, for instance.)
Nut Butters
Nut butters are staples in any home.
A high-speed blender should be able to make nut butter. Different types of nuts may need different speeds and blending times, but on average it shouldn’t take more than about 10 minutes.
Add your almonds, peanuts or any nuts you want to turn into creamy nut butter to the blender. Pop the lid on and start on a low setting.
Gradually increase the speed as needed. You may only need to take it up to medium, or you may need to bring it to the highest setting.
As the nuts go through chunky and powdery stages, you’ll probably see them stick to the sides of the blender.
Stop the blender every now and then to scrape down the sides with a spatula. Then continue blending until you have the consistency you want.
That’s it!
You can also do this with seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or any kind you prefer.
Non-Dairy Milks
Who doesn’t love a cold glass of creamy almond milk?
With a blender, a whole world of non-dairy milks is at your fingertips.
Technically, you can even make non-dairy milks with cheapie blenders. It’s that easy to do.
A good habit to get into is to soak any nuts or seeds (or oats) that you want to make a milk out of first. Soak times vary with the ingredient type. Some take only an hour and some may need to sit in water overnight.
Drain and rinse after soaking is done. Add the soaked ingredients along with some water to the blender. Usually, about three to four cups of water to one cup of nuts or seeds is good.
Blend on high for a few minutes. It should all look thoroughly blended and creamy.
Placing a nut milk bag over a large bowl, pour the contents of the blender into the bag. Strain and squeeze. Don’t have a nut milk bag? A cheesecloth works as well.
Add any sweeteners or spices that you like. Or just enjoy your freshly made nut milk as is.
Juices
Like nut milk, juice is easy to whip up. Whether it’s fruit juice or a homemade V8, you can make it in your blender.
Blend chopped fruits and veggies on a medium to high speed. Depending on how soft or fibrous they are, it will take anywhere from seconds to minutes.
Just like you would with nut milk, strain the blended ingredients into a nut milk bag or cheesecloth over a bowl.
This will work with anything from oranges to carrots. A robust blender should have no trouble with tough kale, broccoli or even sweet potatoes.
Making juice with a blender is a great alternative if you don’t actually own a juicer.
You can also add a little of the pulp back in for fiber. But either way, you’ll have delicious juice, “fresh-squeezed.”
Chop Your Veggies
Ever wonder if all the settings on a blender are actually all that different?
Speed aside, many blenders come with chopping, slicing and dicing settings. These are there to turn vegetables into perfectly cubed or minced pieces.
Some blenders don’t have specific chopping settings. No problem. Pulse the veggies until they’re in pieces. The longer you pulse them, the finer the pieces will get.
Chopping vegetables in a high-speed blender is much faster than cutting them up by hand. It’s also just easier.
Especially when you want to mince veggies or garlic in batches, reach for your blender.
Batters
There’s a faster way to make pancake batter.
Throw everything in the blender and hit the start button.
It’s really that easy.
Making batters in bowls the traditional way with a whisk or hand-held blender is a multi-step process. Usually, you need to mix your wet and dry ingredients separately, then gradually incorporate the dry into the wet.
You don’t need to do that with a blender. You can literally just dump everything in and blend it all up into a smooth batter.
If you’re into overnight recipes and sprouted grains, try a sprouted recipe a la Sue Gregg.
Before you go to bed, blend whole grains and non-dairy yogurt or kefir together for a few minutes. Then let the mixture sit in the blender overnight.
In the morning, blend again with the rest of your ingredients to make pancakes, waffles, muffins—anything you can think of!
This is a great way to make your breakfast more nutritious with whole, real foods.
Dressings
Juices and batters are ready in a flash with a blender. As you’d probably figure, dressings are, too.
There’s something really special about making your own salad dressing. It’s delicious and rewarding.
Another benefit is that you know exactly what’s going into it. You can avoid lower quality oils and preservatives and use only ingredients that you approve of.
Similar to blender batter, blender dressing just requires tossing the ingredients in and pressing the button.
If you’re working with oils, blending will create emulsification and bind the ingredients together into a silky dressing.
Making avocado dressing or vegan Caesar dressing with silken tofu are some of the possibilities.
Sauces
Do you wish that from-scratch tomato sauce could be ready in a few minutes?
It can if you use a blender.
Combine fresh or canned tomatoes with the other sauce ingredients in the blender and process on a high speed.
One of the benefits of cooking tomato sauce down on the stove is getting it to be nice and thick. You can get the same effect by adding some sun-dried tomatoes to the blender.
Or make a raw vegan tomato sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic and maybe a few pine nuts for a creamier texture.
Tomato sauce is just the beginning. Virtually any sauce can be done in the blender with the right ingredients.
Transferring chunky sauces to the blender to make them smooth is another thing that you can do.
Want a partially chunky, partially smooth sauce? When it’s done cooking, blend half of it and mix it together with the rest of the recipe. Just make sure that you let it cool before blending.
Simple, right?
Acai Blender Wrap Up
All of the blenders on this list should be more than enough to get the job done for the acai bowl that you've been craving. Although I highly recommend the Vitamix for this job, you don't necessarily have to get the best one on the market.
Consider getting a refurbished Vitamix or Blendtec to get all of their power and capabilities for a lower price than the new models.
And finally, you don't have to get the latest one! Many of the latest features are cool, but at the end of the day, it's still a blender with blades, a motor, and a jar.
