Our recommendations are made independently through Research & Testing. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links.

KOIOS 4-In-1 Immersion vs Cuisinart CSB-175 Side-by-Side Comparison

Tina Pham
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated

KOIOS 4-In-1 Hand Blender

Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender

Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 3, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Apr 3, 2023
The koios 4 in 1 hand blender standing on the gray table with its accessories, including a user manual, plastic beaker, whisk attachment, food processor located above a paper carton box. The KOIOS 4-in-1 immersion blender standing on the gray table with its accessories, including a user manual, plastic beaker, whisk attachment, food processor located above a paper carton box.
Unboxing the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender; from left to right: an owner's manual, paper carton box, blending wand with a motor body attached, and a plastic beaker.
Blenders type
immersion
immersion

Our Verdict

8.0
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    7.9/10
  • Design (20%)
    7.6/10
  • Usability (30%)
    8.3/10
7.7
Overall Score
  • Performance (50%)
    7.4/10
  • Design (20%)
    8.5/10
  • Usability (30%)
    7.8/10

Based on the testing results, and with a solid construction and consistent performance, we considered the Cuisinart CSB-15 to be the winner. Sporting a 300-watt motor, we found it to be pretty great at whole-food blends, like smoothies, puree soups, and emulsified sauces. Given its awkward design, however, activating it took some trial and error, but we eventually got the hang of it.

The KOIOS 4-in-1 is far better than any other low-priced blenders we’ve tested. We particularly loved its smooth operation, ease of use, and versatility, but it would still take some innovative features to defeat such higher-priced rivals, like the Cuisinart.

Good Enough

KOIOS 4-in-1 Hand Blender Performance

Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender Performance: Pretty Good
7.9
Performance Scores
  • Hot Soup Purée (35%)7.5/10
  • Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)7.8/10
  • Mayonnaise (15%)9.8/10
  • Almond Milk (15%)7.5/10
  • Whipped Egg-Whites (5%)7.0/10
7.4
Performance Scores
  • Hot Soup Purée (35%)7.0/10
  • Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)7.5/10
  • Mayonnaise (15%)9.3/10
  • Almond Milk (15%)9.0/10
  • Whipped Egg-Whites (5%)0/10
7.5

Hot Soup Purée

7.0
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup made by the KOIOS 800W immersion hand blender from a plastic beaker.
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup made by the KOIOS 800W immersion hand blender from a plastic beaker.
KOIOS 4-In-1 Immersion Hot Soup
A batch of soup pureéd by the KOIOS 4-in-1 hand blender is checked for smoothness by being drained through a stainless steel mesh strainer.
  • Pureeing Time: 30 seconds
  • Result: Slightly Chunky
  • Suction: No

None of the low-range blenders we tested could yield the silkiest puree in 30 seconds, but we think the KOIOS’ results will still be acceptable to most home cooks.  In particular, the soup looked silky but when we ran it through a strainer, too many tiny bits were left behind. Nevertheless, we were still satisfied with this blender, given its consistency and smooth operation. Just in case you’re expecting for silky, restaurant-quality pureés, we recommend the Vitamix 5-speed.

Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup made by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender from a plastic beaker.
Scooping a spoon of pureéd soup made by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender from a plastic beaker.
Cuisinart CSB-175BKQVC Hot Soup Test
A batch of soup pureéd by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender is checked for smoothness by being drained through a stainless steel mesh strainer.
  • Pureeing Time: 30 seconds
  • Result: Silky chunky
  • Suction: Slightly

Despite being among the least expensive mid-range blenders on our testing list, this Cuisinart is plenty quick, taking only 30 seconds to give us a pot of soup. Still, we were just moderately satisfied with its performance. The soup was not well pureed enough to look entirely smooth. After we drained it through a strainer, we noticed many foods still remained unprocessed. For the best pureés maker, we recommend the Vitamix 5-speed.

7.8

Frozen Fruit Smoothie

7.5
A white bowl containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the KOIOS’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 19 seconds).
A white bowl containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the KOIOS’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 19 seconds).
KOIOS 4-In-1 Immersion Smoothie
After finishing blending, the green smoothie made by the KOIOS hand blender was spread evenly throughout a white paper to check for solid chunks.
  • Blending Time: 1 min 20 secs
  • Result: Slightly Coarse
  • Suction: No

The manufacturer recommends this blender not be used to process frozen fruits. That fact made us skeptical about its overall capability. After much deliberation, we decided to stick to the initial plan, putting it through our frozen smoothie test anyway. To our surprise, its result was nearly the same as that produced by the Vitamix 5-speed immersion blender. 

In less than a minute and a half, it churned out a frozen smoothie that was flavorful enough to entice our taste buds. The drink didn’t have a velvety smoothness; it was a bit grainy since the kale wasn’t entirely liquified. Despite that, it was still a sweet, creamy combination that we loved to sip on.

A plastic beaker containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the Cuisinart’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 21 seconds).
A plastic beaker containing a batch of green smoothie whose parts are scooped with a stainless steel spoon is between the Cuisinart’s motor body and a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 21 seconds).
Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick Smoothie
After finishing blending, the green smoothie made by the Cuisinart Smart Stick was spread evenly throughout a white paper to check for solid chunks.
  • Blending Time: 1 min 20 secs
  • Result: Slightly Coarse
  • Suction: Slightly

Although the Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick could pass this test in 1 minute and 20 seconds, it had a very hard time grinding frozen fruits. By comparison, its counterparts — the Vitamix 5-speed and the Braun MultiQuick-5 — could turn all the ingredients into a green silky smoothie without a struggle. 

The Cuisinart’s smoothie was acceptable but didn’t have the smoothest texture. It came out rather lumpy due to kale chunks. Our straw got clogged now and then with bits that were still too big.

9.8

Mayonnaise

9.3
A little bit of mayonnaise sticking in the whisk attachment of the KOIOS 4-in-1 hand blender when it is removed from the full batch emulsified in a plastic beaker standing between the motor body and a smartphone displaying the total emulsion time (1 minute and 10 seconds).
A little bit of mayonnaise sticking in the whisk attachment of the KOIOS 4-in-1 hand blender when it is removed from the full batch emulsified in a plastic beaker standing between the motor body and a smartphone displaying the total emulsion time (1 minute and 10 seconds).
KOIOS 4-In-1 Immersion Mayonnaise
  • Emulsifying Time: 1 min 10 secs
  • Result: Velvety
  • Suction: No

The KOIOS made short work of incorporating egg yolks and canola oil, churning out a harmonious texture in just over one minute. Apart from being one of the fastest, it was also among the few blenders in our test that produced exceptionally smooth emulsification. Our mayonnaise came out thick, creamy, and spreadable. For such a low-priced hand blender, this performance could hardly have been better.

Scooping a spoon of mayonnaise from a full batch emulsified in a white bowl by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender.
Scooping a spoon of mayonnaise from a full batch emulsified in a white bowl by the Cuisinart Smart Stick hand blender.
Cuisinart CSB-175BKQVC Smart Stick Mayonnaise
  • Emulsifying Time: 1 min 10 secs
  • Result: Smooth
  • Suction: Yes

Coming off the other tests, we didn’t expect much out of our Cuisinart when it came to making mayonnaise. For the most part, we agreed that a whisk attachment would emulsify sauce far better than any ordinary blending shaft. But as it turned out, of all the blenders we tested, the Cuisinart was the fastest to yield a creamy, mouthwatering sauce. It even beat the Braun’s whisk attachment by about 30 seconds, though in both cases, the mayonnaise’s texture was essentially the same.

Still, there was a minor drawback. When the mayonnaise began to thicken, our blender suctioned itself tightly to the beaker’s bottom, making it a bit trickier for us to move the blending wand around. Nevertheless, given this blender’s outstanding performance, this issue wasn’t a true dealbreaker and should be tolerated.

7.5

Almond Milk

9.0
The KOIOS’s motor body, a plastic beaker containing almond milk, a white plate of almond pulp, and a small red note displaying the total grinding time (1 minute 30 seconds) being side by side.
The KOIOS’s motor body, a plastic beaker containing almond milk, a white plate of almond pulp, and a small red note displaying the total grinding time (1 minute 30 seconds) being side by side.
KOIOS 4-In-1 Immersion Almond Milk
  • Grinding Time: 1 min 10 secs
  • Result: Fine
  • Suction: No

It was simple and easy to put together all the ingredients for a preservative-free milk using the KOIOS. Since this blender ground the nuts pretty evenly, our drink came out silky and creamy. That said, blending didn’t run smoothly; the blending beaker was too small, causing the liquid to overflow every time we moved the blender around.

If you intend to buy the KOIOS for drink preparation, don’t use the beaker that is included in its set.

  • Grinding Time: 40 secs
  • Result: Fine
  • Suction: Tightly

This Cuisinart performed fairly well in this test. Besides being the fastest contender, it also blended quite uniformly. While it did create suction and cause a humble mess when we lifted the blending wand upward, it sustained a nice vortex, so our liquid didn’t overflow. In contrast, some models, such as the Hamilton Beach 2-speed and the Mueller Ultra-Stick couldn’t produce the consistent vortex. This caused the liquid to overflow excessively when we turned them up to higher speeds.

7.0

Whipped Egg-Whites

0.0
The 24-oz plastic beaker containing testing beaten egg-white of the KOIOS 4-in-1 immersion blender is put upside down on the gray table with its motor body and a smartphone displaying the total whipping time (2 minutes and 41 seconds) by its sides.
The 24-oz plastic beaker containing testing beaten egg-white of the KOIOS 4-in-1 immersion blender is put upside down on the gray table with its motor body and a smartphone displaying the total whipping time (2 minutes and 41 seconds) by its sides.
KOIOS 4-In-1 Immersion Whipped Egg-Whites
  • Beating Time: 2 min 40 secs
  • Result: Stiff
  • Suction: No

The KOIOS’s whisk attachment worked well — we got the perfect meringue out of the egg whites we beat with the whisk attachment. Its metal wires are bouncy and agile, so they’re flexible enough for whipping and fluffing. However, we can’t say for sure whether those wires will hold up to thick batters for bread doughs or baked cakes. 

On a pragmatic note, the whole beating process lasted nearly 3 minutes, but it didn’t cause hand fatigue like some models, namely the Mueller Ultra-Stick or the BELLA 10-speed. We felt entirely comfortable in that prolonged operation, from start to finish. Indeed, using this blender for preparing airy, creamy desserts will help you stay creative without springing for an expensive specialty device.

The blending wand of the Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick is immersed in a plastic beaker on a white table containing its failed beaten egg-white with a smartphone next to it.
  • Beating Time: N/A
  • Result: N/A
  • Suction: N/A

Of all the blenders we tested, only machines with whisk attachments could draw enough air into the egg-whites to create a stiff peak. The Cuisinart's ordinary blending shaft, on the other hand, just gave us a cloudy liquid made of two layers: bubbly film and eggy water. We awarded this blender no points for this test.

Practical Simplicity

KOIOS Hand Blender Design

Cuisinart Smart Stick 2-Speed Design: Thoughtful-Crafted for the Price
7.6
design Scores
  • Blending Shaft (30%)7.0/10
  • Build Quality (60%)7.5/10
  • Power Cord (5%)10/10
  • Beaker (5%)10/10
8.5
design Scores
  • Blending Shaft (30%)8.0/10
  • Build Quality (60%)8.5/10
  • Power Cord (5%)10/10
  • Beaker (5%)10/10

In the Box of the KOIOS Immersion Blender

In the Box Cuisinart Smart Stick
The KOIOS 4-in-1 Stick Blender is shipped with a paper carton box, an immersion blending wand, a motor body, a plastic beaker, a whisk attachment, a food processor, and a user manual.
  • Motor body 
  • Blending shaft 
  • Whisk attachment
  • Food processor
  • Beaker   
  • User manual

In addition to a blending wand, this blender also comes with a beaker, a whisk attachment, and a food processor to enhance its versatility.

Owner’s manuals, blending wand, motor body, plastic beaker, paper carton box being side by side.
  • Motor body 
  • Blending shaft 
  • 24-oz beaker 
  • User manual

The Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick set includes 4 items: a blender motor body, a blending shaft, a 20-ounce beaker, and a user manual. Before using your blender for the first time, make sure to clean it thoroughly following the user manual’s instructions. For safe operations, you should also comply with all the basic safety precautions issued by the Cuisinart manufacturers.

Dimensions

The KOIOS 4-in Immersion Blender stands on top of its blending shaft on a gray table, with the length of the blending shaft being noted to the side as 7.9 inches, and the total length of the unit as 15.3 inches.
  • Height:
    15.3" (38.9 cm)
  • Width:
    2.1" (5.3 cm)
  • Weight:
    3.4 lbs (1.5 kg)
  • Shaft Length:
    7.9" (20.1 cm)

Like all the light-duty immersion blenders we tested, the KOIOS 4-in-1 is well balanced. It is compact, portable, and has a long blending shaft that can be immersed in even a deep pot.

The Cuisinart Smart Stick 2-speed hand blender standing on top of its blending shaft on a gray table, with the length of the blending shaft being noted to the side as 8.4 inches, and the total length of the unit as 15.6 inches.
  • Height:
    15.6" (39.6 cm)
  • Width:
    2.3" (5.8 cm)
  • Weight:
    1.6 lbs (0.7 kg)
  • Shaft Length:
    8.4" (21.3 cm)

Stylish and portable, the Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick offers a delicate balance of weight, size, and aesthetics. With a reasonably sized blending shaft, it doesn’t have any difficulty operating even in deep pots. Plus, it is compact enough that it fits easily into a drawer for storage.

7.5

Build Quality

8.5
The whisk attachment, motor body, and blending shaft of the KOIOS 4-in-1 hand-held blender lying flat on a gray table.

Made of medium-quality plastic reinforced with brushed stainless steel, the KOIOS’ body feels relatively solid (but it doesn’t look as sleek as the higher-priced models). Unlike the BELLA 10-speed, it showed no scratches after our course of testing. So far, we haven’t noticed any damage on the exterior; our blender still looks shiny and brand new.

There is a special inner rotary core fixed in the blending shaft that’s different from most immersion blenders in this price range. Thanks to this add-on, the tools are easy to attach to the motor body. Not only that, but they also latch securely in place, unlike the Muller Ultra-Stick that occasionally let go of its whisk.

The motor body and blending wand of the Cuisinart Smart Stick two-speed hand blender lying flat on a yellow table.

Although this blender is mostly made of plastic, its motor body looks and feels as solid as the stainless steel wand component. Even so, it may become discolored with use.

The stainless steel blending wand is built well enough to endure regular use. So far, our blades have shown no signs of rusting or dulling, but we have found a user’s complaint about her blade that snapped in half after just two months of use. 

The controls are of decent quality. They are easier to press than those of the Braun MultiQuick-5 and seem to be much more durable than the Mueller Ultra-Stick. Other than an awkward power button (to be discussed later) we were quite pleased with this unique design.

10

Beaker

10
An included plastic beaker of the KOIOS 4-in-1 hand blender standing on a gray table.
  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Capacity:
    20 oz
  • Measurements:
    Yes
  • Weight:
    0.22 lb
  • Height:
    6.7" (17.0 cm)
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Tamper Included:
    No

The KOIOS’ beaker has a small 20-oz capacity with measurements in both milliliters and fluid ounces. As a nice bonus, it sports a flared base to ensure stability.

A 24-oz plastic beaker of the Cuisinart Smart stick standing on a yellow table.
  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Capacity:
    NaN fl oz (NaN ml)
  • Measurements:
    Yes
  • Weight:
    0.2 oz (7 g)
  • Height:
    6.5" (16.5 cm)
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Tamper Included:
    No

Made of eco-friendly food-grade plastic, the beaker is entirely safe for use with any ingredients. It’s top-rack dishwasher-safe but doesn’t resist shattering, so we still recommend washing it manually to avoid any possible damage. Since it isn’t designed to withstand high temperatures, you also shouldn’t use it to blend hot liquid.

Besides the measurement marks, a wide pour spout is also a nice feature of Cuisinart’s beaker. When we used it to pour out the smoothie, we experienced less spillage than with other blender jars.

Speed and Controls of the KOIOS 800W Hand Blender

Speed and Controls of the Cuisinart Smart Stick 2-Speed
A close-up of the Power button and the TURBO button of the KOIOS 4-in-1.
A close-up of the Power button and the TURBO button of the KOIOS 4-in-1.
A close-up of 12 speed settings on the top of the KOIOS’s motor body.
  • Control Type:
    Press-button & speed dial
  • Min Speed:
    11,500 RPM
  • Max Speed:
    14,480 RPM
  • Presets:
    No
  • Noise Level:
    90 dB
  • Digital Display:
    No
  • Pulse Mode:
    Yes

We often feel a bit awkward with blenders that control speed with top-mounted dials; it’s really challenging to move the blending wand, adjust its speed, and hold the beaker at the same time. With the KOIOS, however, that isn’t an issue.

Our 4-in-1 machine offers 12 speed options and a Turbo function. It’s all controlled using two buttons and a dial. While the front controls are extremely responsive, the dial lets us switch between various speed settings with ease and this is partly because the blender itself runs very smoothly.

In particular, throughout each of our tests, we noticed that its motor didn’t vibrate too violently. This helped reduce the overall impact on the beaker and kept it stable rather than constantly jumping around the countertop. In other words, we didn’t need to hold the beaker throughout the whole job, so it wasn’t a problem to dial in the speed with a spare hand.

However, if you find it hard to adjust the dial, you can always just hit the turbo mode. That sends the blender into its highest speed immediately.

A close-up of two speed controlling buttons and a speed dial on top of the Cuisinart’s motor body.
  • Control Type:
    Press
  • Min Speed:
    11,670 RPM
  • Max Speed:
    12,660 RPM
  • Presets:
    No
  • Noise Level:
    80 dB
  • Digital Display:
    No
  • Pulse Mode:
    No

At first sight, we thought this blender would be very easy to use since its two-button interface looks really intuitive.

Unexpectedly enough, we couldn’t figure out how to activate the device until we consulted the user manual. Not only that, but we also needed quite a lot of practice to operate it smoothly. Unlike others, this blender has an additional locking button which acts as a safety mechanism. 

The locking button must be held down along with the operational button. That paired-button operation forced us to use two hands in some cases — certainly not what we’d call user-friendly.

The Cuisinart Smart Stick also allows us to switch between the two speed options (Low and High) with the slide control. We’d prefer more than two settings since multiple speeds give us more control over the food’s texture. 

That being said, the slider also makes this blender more complicated to use, especially when the dial’s location is entirely separated from the On/Off button. It’s tough for one person to use the blender, adjust its speed, and hold the beaker at the same time, so we had to stop blending to speed up or slow down.

7.0

Blending Shaft

8.0
The blending wand of the KOIOS 4-in-1 hand blender lying flat on a gray table.
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Type:
    Sharp Blade
  • Guard Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Blade Count:
    2
  • Removable:
    Yes
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

Made of standard stainless steel plated with titanium, the blade has two prongs: one is sharp and the other is dull. Its relatively fragile construction means it isn’t intended for tough ingredients like ice cubes or coffee beans, but it’s still tough enough to handle whole-food combinations.

Unlike most other blenders with lobed or angular guards, this one’s blade guard is shaped like a parabolic arch. This special design allows us to easily reach the blade’s backside for cleaning. The vaulted slope also doesn’t trap food the way others do, so we never had to stop and dislodge debris with a spoon.

The blade guard is also designed to reduce splattering, and it’s really up to the job. However, due to its metal construction and sharp edges, it left marks on the beaker even when we blended very carefully.

A close-up of the Cuisinart CSB-175 Smart Stick Stainless Steel Blade
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Type:
    Sharp Blade
  • Guard Material:
    Metal
  • Blade Count:
    2
  • Removable:
    No
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    No

The Cuisinart’s blade has two prongs: one sharp and the other blunt. Although it isn’t as high quality as the Vitamix, it can withstand consistent use. It even defeated its higher-priced counterpart in our mayonnaise test despite being the underdog. 

A metal housing partially covers the fixed stainless steel blade to keep splashing to a minimum. This blade guard, however, left much to be desired in our test due to its awkward design. Rather than being a solid piece like others, it has several small holes which significantly degrade the shielding’s effectiveness. 

Not only that, but the metal blade guard also caused scratches on the blender’s original beaker in its smoothie task. This is too awful even to be imagined.

10

Power Cord

10
The KOIOS 4-in-1 Immersion Blender on a gray table with its power cord rolled up next to it.
  • Cord Length:
    5.6 ft (1.7 m)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Detachable:
    No

The power cord is long enough that you won’t feel constrained. It has a small loop that is meant to keep the blender organized.

The Cuisinart Smart Stick Immersion Blender on a gray table with its power cord rolled up next to it.
  • Cord Length:
    6.0 ft (1.8 m)
  • Type:
    2-prong plug
  • Detachable:
    No

The power cord has a reasonable length. Its plug is polarized so it will only be inserted one way into your outlet. For ultimate cable management, Cuisinart also included a nylon zip tie.

Whisk Attachment

Extra Accessories

Not Included
The KOIOS 4-in-1 Immersion Blender Whisk Attachment lying flat on a gray table.
  • Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Removable:
    Yes

This whisk attachment is moderately good at certain tasks like beating egg whites, whipping cream, and making emulsified sauces. Compared with other low-priced hand blenders such as the BELLA 10-speed or the Hamilton, its polished stainless steel wires feel more sturdy and durable under consistent use.

  • Material:
    N/A
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    N/A
  • Removable:
    N/A

The Cuisinart doesn’t come with any accessories other than the 24-oz pitcher.

Food Processor

Extra Accessories

The KOIOS 4-in-1 Immersion Blender Food Processor standing on a gray table.
  • Material:
    Plastic and Stainless steel
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Removable:
    Yes

We haven’t conducted tests on this attachment, but the stainless steel S-blade’s construction looks capable of chopping various foods just like any other low-grade food processor.

KOIOS Stainless Steel Hand Blender Usability Review

Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender Usability: Fine and Not Really Impressive
8.3
usability Scores
  • Ease of Use (60%)8.3/10
  • Blade Assembly (10%)8.5/10
  • Handling (20%)8.0/10
  • Cleanability (10%)8.5/10
7.8
usability Scores
  • Ease Of Use (60%)7.6/10
  • Blade Assembly (10%)9.0/10
  • Handling (20%)8.0/10
  • Cleanability (10%)7.5/10
8.3

Ease of Use

Ease Of Use

This KOIOS is easier to use than many other blenders not only because of its simple design but also because its buttons are very responsive. The motor’s minimal vibration contributes to the overall usability scores as well. Since the machine itself runs very smoothly, we can maneuver the blender in comfort. It was a pleasant departure after the excessive vibration of some other blenders.

During our testing, we also found that this blender didn’t create suction — a main cause of splattering when you lift it upward for an even blend. As such, we didn’t experience any trouble when speeding up or moving the blending wand, even at the highest speed setting.

At first sight, we thought this blender would be very easy to use due to its simple-designed interface.Unexpectedly enough, however, we couldn’t figure out how to activate the device until we consulted the user manual. Not only that, but we also needed quite a lot of practice to operate it smoothly.

Unlike others, this blender has an additional locking button which acts as a safety mechanism. The locking button must be held down along with the operational button. That paired-button operation forced us to use two hands in some cases — certainly not what we’d call user-friendly.

Given that the dial’s location is entirely separated from the On/Off button, it’s also quite tough for use to use the blender, adjust its speed, and hold the beaker at the same time. More often than not, we felt very annoyed when having to stop blending if we wanted to speed up or slow down.  

Another drawback was that all sorts of our blending motions, from stirring to drawing up, weren’t performed with ease. In particular, when the mayonnaise began to thicken, the blender suctioned itself tightly to the beaker’s bottom, making it a bit trickier for us to move its blending wand around. 

Likewise, in the hot soup test, the suction force created by the blender was so excessive that it entirely threw off our momentum when we were struggling to pull it out. Together with the absurdly-designed blade guard, this caused us lots of splatter every single time we moved our hand. Indeed, no other blenders we tested created as much mess as the Cuisinart.

There was also a problem in the smoothie test. At some points, this blender demanded we temporarily stop to dislodge the food trapped in its blade guard’s holes. And since blending frozen fruit was a prolonged procedure, it took a toll on the motor. Therefore, we had to let it rest every 60 seconds, and this was so inconvenient.

8.5

Blade Assembly

9.0
The KOIOS Blade Assembly

This blender comes with accessory ejection buttons on the motor body — a handy add-on giving you more control over the blade detachment process. Just a quick press of these clicky buttons pushes the attachment off of the motor body.

Putting them back is easy as well. Simply align the shaft with the main housing and push until they click and lock into place. There is one thing we really like about this blender’s blade assembly, though: Unlike others, the KOIOS attachments do not need to be rotated to a specific alignment to lock into place.

To set up our blender, we attached the blending wand to the motor body until they clicked. When blending was complete, we removed the wand by pressing the release button and pulling it out. The pulling force is relatively large compared to other blenders we’ve had our hands on, so this one was tough to disassemble when our hands were oily.

8.0

Handling

8.0
Someone uses two hands to control the KOIOIS immersion blender: one for holding the handle and pressing the power button at the same time, the other for rotating the speed dial.

The handle was comfortable to grip in all of the tests. Together with the machine’s minimal weight, its ergonomic design helps stave off hand fatigue, even through long bouts of vigorous blending. It also helped us maintain a grip even when the surface was wet or covered in grease.

Someone uses two hands to control the Cuisinart Smart Stick immersion blender: one for holding the handle and pressing the controlling buttons at the same time, the other for rotating the speed dial.

The Cuisinart’s handle has nothing particularly special. It doesn’t have a rubber layer (like the Vitamix or the Braun MultiQuick-5) to help you maintain a grip. On the bright side, it is ergonomically designed to protect your hand from fatigue.

8.5

Cleanability

7.5

We found the easiest and most effective way to clean the blending wand or any blending attachment was by scrubbing it under running tap water. More often than not, food tailings could be quickly removed, even when they accumulated in the blade’s backsides.

Since the blending wand isn’t dishwasher-safe, it demands manual scrubbing after use.

Following each test, most of the food residue rinsed off effortlessly under our running tap. We removed more stubborn remnants using a soapy sponge. Along the way, we didn’t have as much difficulty scrubbing the backs of the blades as we experienced with the Vitamix.