Small appliance picks from Consumer Reports' pros

The folks at Consumer Reports who buy and test our products are intimately familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. They can also tell you which features matter most and which are a waste of money. So when you're shopping for new gear who better to ask for a recommendation? Here's what our experts said when we asked them about the small appliances they favor.

A stand mixer that stands its ground
"I would choose the 250-watt KitchenAid Classic K45SS. It does an excellent job of whipping up cream, mixing, and kneading. And at a hefty 23 pounds. It won't be ‘walking' across your counter when handling heavy doughs. At $200, it's cheaper than most of our recommended models."
—Cindy Fisher, Senior Project Leader

These blenders are smooth operators
"If I were buying a blender, I'd definitely look for one that produces the smoothest smoothies—particularly, one that can do a good job with spinach-containing green smoothies. Currently, the Vitamix 5200, $450, and the Ninja QB1004, $60, are tied for top place in our Ratings."
—Karin Weisburgh, Product Information Specialist

An affordable coffeemaker with handy features
"I like the 12-cup Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT. It scored just below the top-rated model at a very nice price, $40, and offers some nice features such as a programmable timer and brew-strength control. It comes with a glass carafe, or you can use a thermal carafe (purchased separately), if desired."
—Ginny Lui, Senior Project Leader

A quiet, capable food processor
"The top-rated 11-cup Cuisinart DLC-2011CHB, at $180, would be my choice for a food processor. It has a stylish rounded base with a touchpad control panel that makes cleaning easy. This model performed well in slicing, shredding, grating, and pureeing. And it's quieter than many other tested models."
—Ginny Lui, Senior Project Leader

A vacuum that does double duty
"The 13 pound Hoover Platinum Bagged UH30010COM can be easily overlooked because it doesn't appear to have tools. It was the only light-weight vac that was excellent for cleaning both carpets and bare floors. It comes with a separate compact canister vacuum that allows tools for cleaning. For $300, you're getting two vacuums that should serve all your needs."
—David Trezza, Senior Project Leader

For more choices see our full Ratings and recommendations of blenders, coffeemakers, food processors, mixers, and vacuum cleaners.

—Adapted from Consumer Reports Appliance Buying Guide