Drink Mixer Buying Guide

Yesterday and Today Close your eyes; it is 1950, rock 'n roll is playing on the radio, and your kitchen has been transformed into the local malt shop. A drink mixer like the one that revolutionized soda fountains and ice cream drinks in 1911 is hard at work on your kitchen counter, and you are getting ready to indulge in an ice cream fantasy that brings out the kid in everyone. Two-speed drink mixers have expanded into handy kitchen helpers. The small space-saving tilt-head mixer effortlessly works its spindle through smoothies, puddings, gravies, sauces, dips, and even eggs for a fluffy omelet. The Buyer's Market Become the neighborhood Blizzard guru, blending all your favorite ice cream, cookie, and candy flavors into tasty treats. Hamilton Beach offers a commercial line: A 200-watt drink mixer ($145-$215) whips up two drink cups at one time (one model can blend three drinks a once); a 900-watt, 1/6 HP, commercial unit ($300) has three toggle speeds and works well with crushed ice for smoothies.

Hamilton Beach's all metal Eclectric drink mixer ($90) offers a commercial-grade spindle. The 70-watt Hamilton Beach DrinkMaster comes in several colors, including retro green. Various machines are priced between $30 and $80. These are blending machines and not intended to work with ice.

Speaking Out
Imitations of the original drink mixer are available beginning under $20; a 60-watt one-speed model ($25) is limited to light mixing duties. Waring offers two-speed models ($150-$275). Consumer reviews are scarce on these models. The Hamilton Beach retro drink mixer is the most commonly owned and reviewed product on the drink mixer market.

Consumers recommend beginning with extremely cold ingredients, even frozen yogurt, for the best results. These are low-maintenance machines, and cleanup is easy. Amid all the pro reviews, the only cons are that the spindle does not always work through all the ingredients unless the cup is rotated a bit during mixing; the cup could be larger.