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iCucina Portable Bullet vs. KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet Side-by-Side Comparison

Tina Pham
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 21, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 21, 2023
The iCucina Personal Blender standing on a white table with its accessories, including a to-go lid, an extra blending cup with lid, a user’s manual, and a paper carton box, by its sides.
The KOIOS Bullet personal blender standing on a table with its accessories, including three lids, an additional blending cup with blade assembly attached, a paper carton box, a short cup with lid, a cleaning brush, and a user guide.
Blenders type
personal
personal

Our Verdict

6.1
Overall Score
  • Performance (60%)
    4.7/10
  • Design (25%)
    7.7/10
  • Usability (15%)
    9.3/10
7.4
Overall Score
  • Performance (60%)
    7.1/10
  • Design (25%)
    8.3/10
  • Usability (15%)
    7.3/10

After thorough evaluation, we strongly recommend the KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet over the iCucina Portable Bullet for those in need of a budget-friendly personal blender that can handle a variety of tasks.

While both blenders fall within the same price range, the KOIOS 850W Bullet offers wider versatility. In our testing, some of its outputs still contained small chunks, particularly with the fibrous mixtures, but overall its products were all smoother blends than those of the rival. 

Furthermore, the KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet has a sleeker and more modern design that adds to its overall appeal. Its extra accessories, including the flat blade assembly for dry grinding and the sieve lid for seasoning, make it a more practical tool in the kitchen as well.

Not a Do-It-All Machine

iCucina Portable Bullet Performance

KOIOS 850W Smoothie Bullet Blender Performance: Above-Average
4.7
Performance Scores
  • Protein Shake (40%)6.0/10
  • Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)5.0/10
  • Fibrous Greens (20%)4.0/10
  • Crushed Ice Cubes (10%)0/10
7.1
Performance Scores
  • Protein Shake (40%)9.2/10
  • Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)8.0/10
  • Fibrous Greens (20%)5.0/10
  • Crushed Ice Cubes (10%)0/10
6.0

Protein Shake

9.2
  • Blending Time: 1 mins 50 seconds
  • Result: Very Coarse

The iCucina may be a good choice for you to prepare any protein shakes that use fresh plant-based food, but if you want to level up your workout drinks with raw nuts and dried fruits, we recommend going with other models, such as the Ninja Fit, Nutri BN401, or the NutriBullet. This blender is inefficient enough to liquify and combine such ingredients fully. 

For this test, our protein shake is designed to include oatmeal, almonds, protein powder, and dried blueberries. Throughout the blending process, we noticed that this blender didn’t have much hard time grinding the ingredients; it worked quite smoothly, indeed. All the oatmeal was turned into liquid form in approximately two minutes, which seemed not to be so fast yet acceptable enough. The final drink, unfortunately, couldn’t get the most flavor out of almonds and berries, since about a third of the fruits were still solid.

  • Blending Time: 56 seconds
  • Result: Smooth

The KOIOS’s blade has a rotation speed that is fairly quick for the class so it shouldn’t be surprising that this blender can make a good breakfast or post-workout milkshake in a matter of seconds. Not to mention its high-powered motor and more-than-average number of blade prongs (more prongs means more food contact, and results in faster results).

In this test, it took less than 1 minute to break down and combine all the ingredients, which was faster than most. The powerful motor couldn’t quite remove all lumps from the protein shake, but only a few chunks remained unblended, so our drink was still pleasant to drink. Moreover, the residual solids didn’t affect the tasting experience much — they were so tiny that they didn’t bother us at all. If you want smoother results, consider the NutriBullet or the Ninja Fit, though.

5.0

Frozen Fruit Smoothie

8.0
  • Blending Time: 1 min 50 seconds
  • Result: Smooth
  • Suction:

Berries are the favorite superfoods of many people but their skins and seeds are typically a little bit hard to be liquified entirely. That’s why our recipe for this test calls for four berry varieties; we want it to be a practical way to test for the smoothie-making capacity of our personal blenders, including this iCucina, and fortunately, it does. 

Preparing frozen fruit smoothies with the iCucina asked us to compromise on texture. This was because while this blender could break down all the fruits in one minute and fifty seconds, after such a duration, the smoothie it delivered did lose its thick, icy consistency we prefer. 

Simply put, for an ice-cold treat to come out perfectly, your blender should blend as fast as possible so the frozen ingredients don’t have time to thaw and therefore dilute the overall consistency. But as we learned from our tests, this blender isn’t capable enough in this regard. We recommend using crushed ice instead of freezing your ingredients in advance if you prefer a smoother icy blend.

  • Blending Time: 1 min 20 seconds
  • Result: Silky Smooth
  • Suction:

The KOIOS Bullet brought all the ingredients together for a great-tasting smoothie in one minute and twenty seconds. Of all the similarly-priced blenders we tested, it was the only one that could liquify frozen ingredients that quickly. Most were 20-40 seconds slower, such as the Black+Decker, but that can make a difference; frozen foods thaw quickly at room temperature, so the longer you blend, the more your smoothie will be diluted. 

Simply put, the quicker performance of the KOIOS made for a thicker and more ice-cream-like smoothie. Chilly and fresh enough to quench our thirst, it also retained the texture that people look for in frozen fruit smoothies.

4.0

Fibrous Greens

5.0
  • Blending Time: 20 seconds
  • Result: Very Coarse

We blended kale, spinach, and celery in the time benchmark of 20 seconds to see how well this iCucina would incorporate fibers to your meals. Eventually, we found this blender underperformed significantly against top competitors, again. There was a ton of fibrous pulp left behind when we strained the mixture through a mesh strainer. This suggested that our final drink didn’t get the greatest nutritional value. 

Perhaps, you might think it isn’t necessary to blend that quickly, blending a little bit longer is concede as long as your desired consistency can be achieved. For the most part, we agreed this is entirely possible with the iCucina.

  • Blending Time: 20 seconds
  • Result: Very Coarse

We evaluated how well this blender handled fiber by blending kale, celery, spinach, and water for 20 seconds. The mixture came out grainy with a substantial amount of partially blended particles. Then, we drained it through a mesh strainer and examined the pulp. It looked like green sand with a moderately coarse consistency. We didn't taste the mixture prior to draining, but this coarseness, together with the volume of pulp, meant this blender failed to extract most of the flavor from the greens. 

We can’t say for sure if more blending time would improve the final result, but can conclusively say that 20 seconds worth of blending is not enough. By comparison, the Ninja Fit did the same job much better, leaving behind a significantly smaller amount of visible flakes. 

Our conclusion is that the KOIOS is just mediocre for blending leafy veggies. If you want to avoid leafy chunks in a quick high-fiber beverage, this is not the blender for you.

0.0

Crushed Ice Cubes

0.0
  • Ice Fineness: Coarse
  • Unblended Ice: 73.5% of 6 oz

Typically, personal blenders aren’t designed with a focus on ice-crushing capability, and the iCucina is not an exception. The lack of strength prevented it from powering through the ice. We noticed that the blade couldn't even spin so most of the ice came out virtually untouched. Sometimes we undocked the cup and shook it on purpose to even out the blend, but this still couldn’t help much. If you particularly have a need for this sort of blend, you’d be better served by something that is packed with a higher-powered motor, such as the Ninja Nutri Pro.

  • Ice Fineness: Coarse
  • Unblended Ice: 77% of 6 oz

In this test, its performance was lackluster. The machine itself is incapable of crushing ice cubes. In fact, attempting to do so is not a good idea; the heavy-duty task can take a toll on your device and impair its performance in more ordinary blends.

Simple yet Normal

iCucina Bullet Blender Design

KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet Personal Blender Design: Worth the Price
7.7
design Scores
  • Blades (20%)6.0/10
  • Build Quality (60%)7.5/10
  • Blending Cup (20%)10/10
8.3
design Scores
  • Blades (20%)7.5/10
  • Build Quality (60%)8.0/10
  • Blending Cup (20%)10/10

In the Box of the iCucina Portable Blender

In the Box
  • Motor Base 
  • Blade assembly
  • Two blending Cup
  • Two to-go lids
  • User guide
  • Motor Base 
  • Two Blade Assemblies 
  • Four Lids 
  • Cleaning Brush 
  • Three Blending Cups
  • Recipe book & user guide

Dimensions

KOIOS 850W Small Personal Blender Dimension
  • Height:
    13.6" (34.5 cm)
  • Width:
    5.0" (12.7 cm)
  • Weight:
    2.5 oz (71 g)
  • Shaft Length:

The iCucina is about one-third smaller than a standard full-sized blender, like the Vitamix 5200 or the Ninja with Auto-iQ technology, so we suppose it’ll fit easily into any cabinet.

  • Height:
    12.2" (31.0 cm)
  • Width:
    5.5" (14.0 cm)
  • Weight:
    2.9 oz (82 g)
  • Shaft Length:

The KOIOS Bullet’s dimensions are about as standard as they come. At 12 inches tall by 5.5 inches wide, it is a typical size for a personal blender and can easily tuck away in your cabinet. Mobility is also very practical thanks to its compact form.

7.5

Build Quality

8.0

The whole construction of the motor base is plastic except for a thin layer on the outer that is made of stainless steel. It’s supposed that the lack of sleekness of this layer somehow causes the blender to feel cheaper. That’s why although our iCucina  is rather solidly put together, next to the Ninja Fit or the KOIOS, it just looks less of a bargain.

Build quality is moderate, with a body mostly made of plastic. The stainless steel blades look promising in terms of durability and capability while the motor base is rather flimsy. However, despite that, this blender stands very firmly during operation. It doesn’t jump around while handling solid foods like most mid-range counterparts such as the Magic Bullet

We like the metal surface on the front of the motor base. It gives our blender a more attractive appearance and better quality feel. After a couple of months in the lab, this surface still retains its original shine — even after the occasional cleaning with a metal scouring pad.

6.0

Blades

7.5
  • Material:
    Stainless Steel
  • Type:
    Sharp and Dull Blades
  • Guard Material:
  • Blade Count:
    4
  • Removable:
    No
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The blade has four prongs: two are sharps and the others are dull. In comparison with the rivals, it is less refined due to its small-scale and the lack of sharpness. Lackluster performances mainly result from this, we believe.

  • Material:
    Stainless Steel
  • Type:
    Sharp Blade
  • Guard Material:
  • Blade Count:
    6
  • Removable:
    Yes
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    No

The KOIOS Bullet comes with two extractor blades: one is flat and the other shaped like a cross. 

The flat blade has two dull prongs tilted slightly upwards and is only compatible with the short blending cup. We haven’t performed any tests on it, but believe this add-on will be handy for grinding hard ingredients like coffee beans, raw nuts, and whole grains. The blender’s mighty motor and consistent performance suggest it should be able to handle such ingredients.

Most of your blended treats will be best served by the cross blade. With six sharp prongs, it contacts more food at any given moment, resulting in finer outcomes and faster blending times. That being said, it looks less sturdy than some models (particularly the Ninja Fit). More prongs also means you’ll have more nooks and crannies to weave in and out of when it comes to cleaning.

Motor Base

KOIOS 850W Bullet Personal Blender Motor Base
  • Rated Voltage:
    120 V
  • Rated Power:
    300 Watts
  • Working Time:
    ≤ 1 minute
  • Protection:
    No
  • Weight:
    2.0 lbs (0.9 kg)
  • Cord Length:
    NaN" (NaN cm)
  • Extra Feature:
    Silicon feet, a cooling fan

The base stands steadily on our counter thanks to the four silicone feet on its bottom. Like those of other personal blenders, the motor cannot run for longer than 1 minute to avoid damage caused by overheating, though there is an internal cooling fan designed to ensure proper ventilation and air circulation.

  • Rated Voltage:
    120 V
  • Rated Power:
    850 Watt
  • Working Time:
    ≤ 1 minute
  • Protection:
    No
  • Weight:
    2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)
  • Cord Length:
    4.1 ft (1.2 m)
  • Extra Feature:
    suction feet, ventilation holes

The main housing of the KOIOS Bullet is made from medium-grade plastic, except for the front surface. It is a little smaller than other personal blenders, but could surprisingly tackle our tests without slipping or rocking around on the counter thanks to the four rubber feet at the bottom. 

Most models around this price cannot run continuously for more than one minute because the motor can overheat. The KOIOS Bullet is not an exception despite the fact that it’s equipped with many ventilation holes for better heat dissipation. If your drinks demand a longer blending time, make sure you let your machine cool down for 20-30 seconds after each 1-minute interval.

10

Blending Cup

10
  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Capacity:
    28.0 fl oz (828.1 ml)
  • Weight:
    0.4 oz (11 g)
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Measurement:
    Yes
  • Suitable For:
    Small and Medium batches
  • Accessories:
    To-go lids

The set consists of two blending cups. They can work interchangeably with the blade assembly and two spout-flip lids that are extra included.

  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Capacity:
    10 oz, 17 oz, and 17 oz
  • Weight:
    0.2 lb, 0.23 lb, and 0.34 lb
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Measurement:
    No
  • Suitable For:
    Small batches
  • Accessories:
    two spout lids, one flat-top lid, one sieve lid

In this set, there are two tall cups (17 oz) for blending watery mixtures and a short cup (10 oz) for grinding solid ingredients. The tall cups can be sealed tightly by either a flat-top lid or spout lid if you want to enjoy your drink on the go. And the short cup’s distinctive design looks lovely. It features a flat foot for increased stability and is particularly compatible with the sieve lid so you can use it as a shaker for ground spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa flour, ground coffee beans, or whatever seasonings you need.

Speed and Controls

Speed and Controls of the KOIOS 850W Smoothie Bullet Blender
  • Control Type:
    Button
  • Min Speed:
    N/A
  • Max Speed:
    N/A
  • Presets:
    No
  • Noise Level:
    97 dB
  • Digital Display:
    No
  • Pulse Mode:
    No

The iCucina is a single-speed personal blender with one-touch operation. This means there is a pressing button in the front center that you’ll use to control the motor. More to the point, the button is very clicky so you don’t need much force to press.

  • Control Type:
    Push
  • Min Speed:
    N/A
  • Max Speed:
    N/A
  • Presets:
    No
  • Noise Level:
    97 dB
  • Digital Display:
    No
  • Pulse Mode:
    No

Like many personal blenders, the KOIOS offers only one speed option but doesn’t have buttons or any sort of controls. To blend, you simply press the cup down into the base, then hold it continuously until your smoothie is ready. The operating method is so simple that you may not need any practice. It’s easy to get comfortable with this blender.

Less than Intuitive to Assemble

iCucina Bullet Personal Blender Usability Review

KOIOS 850W Bullet Personal Blender Usability Review: Compromises is Unavoidable
9.3
usability Scores
  • Hand-Free Operation (60%)10/10
  • Assembly (20%)8.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)8.5/10
7.3
usability Scores
  • Hands-Free Operation (60%)5.7/10
  • Assembly (20%)10/10
  • Cleanability (20%)9.5/10
10

Hand-Free Operation

Hands-Free Operation

We like the smooth and non-intrusive operation of this blender. In particular, your iCucina will blend much more like a full-sized model since it doesn’t require you to press and hold the power button or the blending cup throughout the whole process like many rivals. Most impressively, food doesn’t too often get lodged under the blade and demands your intervention to resolve. Those suggest that you can possibly take your eyes off your blender to do other things while it is operating.

You can’t walk away while the KOIOS Bullet does its job the way you might with a full-sized blender. It requires you to keep a hand on it the whole time. Plus, you may occasionally need to pause to remove the cup and give it a thorough shake.

Particularly in the smoothie test, frozen fruits got stuck under the blade and jammed it up. To even out the blend, we had to shake the cup after every 20 blending seconds. It gave us a good smoothie in 1 minute 20 seconds worth of runtime, so the process demanded four intervals total. Reviewers make a fuss about the repeated delays, but they’re a common occurrence among personal-size blenders. As long as you’re willing to spend an extra minute or two in the kitchen, it shouldn’t be a big deal.

8.0

Assembly

10

It is very easy to seal the cup with the blade assembly. Just align the grooves on the blade assembly with the appropriate grooves on the cup and then turn one of the two pieces clockwise until you feel they attach firmly together. Attaching the cup assembly to the motor base, on the other hand, takes quite some time to figure out how things work.

Setting up this blender is a breeze. After twisting the blade assembly onto the cup, you’ll need to flip the cup over and place it securely onto the motor base, aligning the cup’s protrusions with the grooves inside the motor base. To start blending, gently push the cup down as long as you desire. Once finished, release the cup from the motor base and unscrew the blade assembly.

8.5

Cleanability

9.5

Except for the motor base, you can put everything in the dishwasher. The blending cup has a wide opening so you won’t have any difficulty reaching inside if cleaning by hand. Regarding the blade assembly, you have to remove the silicone gasket first. because this part is attached extremely tight, we found it is quite frustrating to get the job done, however.  On the bright side, there isn’t much difficulty in wiping the blades’s backsides, especially when you have a bottle brush.

Of all the blenders we tested, the KOIOS is the only one with a blade that can be separated from its plastic base. It goes without saying, this can be a life-saver, especially since the blade assembly is not dishwasher safe. 

To remove the blade attachment from the base, push the blade gear forward until it falls out. Note that these two pieces screw very tightly together through a white gasket ring so you'll have to apply a significant force, which can be a challenge if your hands are weak or in pain. 

Once you’ve separated the blade attachment, plastic base, and gasket ring, they can be washed off easily with soapy water. The only parts that are tricky to clean are the blade’s undersides, but the included small brush will make life easier on you. 

The other pieces, including the lids and blending cups, can be put in the dishwasher.  For manual cleaning, just rinse them with soapy water.