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Throughout college, my most-used item was my cheap, portable blender. It ended up with it during a white elephant gift exchange, and for the next few years, it moved with me between multiple dorm rooms and apartments. (It mostly got the job done. Well enough, at least, that I kept putting off making an upgrade.) Despite whipping up a smoothie every other day, though, I always stashed it away in my cabinet. Why? To put it simply, it was absolutely nothing to look at.
To be fair, the vast majority of blenders aren’t. Sure, function is certainly more important than how good it looks on the counter, but sue me if I want my kitchen to look just as aesthetically-pleasing as the rest of my space. If you have similar priorities — and minimal space — I just tried out a new item that you’ll want to get your hands on immediately. I didn’t know what I was missing out on before I tried the mini version of Beast’s Oprah-approved blender, but now that I’ve put it to the test, I’m never going back. This absolutely stunning appliance doesn’t sacrifice style for utility, and given how often I’ve been using it, I don’t see it ever moving off of my counter.
Design Features That Stand Out
Oprah said the Beast is “almost too chic,” and I’m totally on the same page: It’s hard to believe that it’s a high-performing blender. The Terra color looks exactly like it does online, and it enhances the natural, boho-esque vibe I have going on in my apartment. And the ribbed design on the plastic vessel doesn’t only look good — it also increases turbulence, helping the contents blend more thoroughly.
Appearance aside, what’s most impressive about this blender is its effectiveness and practicality. It’s a little under five pounds, so it’s easy to move around the kitchen and makes the perfect smoothie portion for one person. It only has one button, which, if you press for over a second, turns on its minute-long blending cycle. (Which is more than ideal for those like me that favor simplicity.) The small light found right above the button lets you know if everything is ready to go, based on the color — white means it’s go time, amber means that a piece isn’t fully attached, green means blending is in-progress, and flashing amber means the motor is overloaded. At 600 watts, it’s also powerful enough to crush frozen ingredients, and with its pulse function, it’s a meal prep superhero, saving you the trouble of mincing garlic or chopping onions by hand.
Finally, the basic set, which comes out to $99, includes a 22-ounce vessel, drinking lid, storage lid, two straws and a straw cap, and cleaning brushes for both the straws and the blades. The Plus bundle that I tried out comes with two smaller blending vessels, two extra storage lids, and a carry cap. (Whew! You really do get a ton of bang for your buck.)
Even though the small size and portability is central to the appeal of the Beast Mini, it’s shockingly sturdy and involves no manual effort (unlike my previous portable blender). For my first test, I loaded up the vessel with chopped apples, a banana, an orange, and added enough milk and juice to get things going. After pressing the reset button on the back of the base, the small white light indicated that my mixture was ready for blending. True to its claim, my smoothie was ready in the blink of an eye, with absolutely none of the pesky, unblended chunks of fruit that I got used to seeing when I used my old blender. After twisting on the drinking cap and sticking the reusable straw in, I had the perfect on-the-go drink — it turns into an ultra-stylish bottle, and I absolutely can’t wait to bring it with me to work.
A few smoothies later, I decided to give dip-making a go — more specifically, I decided to try my hand at this garlic salsa verde recipe, courtesy of our SVP of content, Faith. (For a smaller amount, I halved the recipe.) I tossed in my three garlic cloves first, which, following a few pulses, ended up perfectly minced. That was followed by a bunch of cilantro, a bit of jalapẽno, and lime juice, and since I wasn’t shooting for a chunky consistency, I set the blender to its minute-long cycle. Expectedly, it came out just as smooth as I was hoping it would be.
In both cases, cleanup took hardly any effort. After a quick rinse in the sink, I put a little dish soap and water inside the vessel, and that and the blades came out spotless after a few pulses.
As its name suggests, the Mini isn’t meant for bigger portions, especially in the case of soups and smoothies, so keep that in mind. You might want to opt for the original version (which we reviewed here.) However, if you find yourself prepping meals for two or more people quite often, the smaller Beast will come in handy for chopping and mincing ingredients quickly.
Should You Buy the Beast Mini Blender Plus?
I think that the Beast Mini is perfect for those who:
Where to Buy the Beast Mini Blender Plus
The Commerce Team at Apartment Therapy has one mission: to help you make smart and informed purchases. We know how hard online shopping can be — it’s literally our job! From trying to decipher confusing marketing lingo to sorting through scores of fake paid reviews in search of some truth, online shopping can be overwhelming. We’re dedicated to doing the hard work for you by reviewing these products firsthand and delivering all the information you need, both good and bad.
Our team is made up of a group of writers and editors who have years of experience in the home, kitchen, and parenting consumer product space, and who put hundreds of items to the test every year to determine which ones get our stamp of approval. We bring these products into our personal spaces, testing them for weeks and even months at a time to see how well they live up to their claims and if they are really worth your time and money. At the end of the day, we’re consumers too, so we’ll always provide you with all the information we’d want — and then some.
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Morgan Pryor
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