I bought a Vita-mix 10 years ago - and it is still my family's favorite, most-used appliance. It goes and goes. We even grind chicken bones in it for our dog. It can take anything! We make frozen fruit smoothies the consistency of ice cream for after-school snacks, grind four from dry beans, grind coffee, etc. etc. We had several name-brand blenders before, but blades kept breaking...