"I refused myself to believe that such an expensive blender was just junk. I blamed it on me first. Smoothies will end up with crumps (and I don't use frozen fruit, I use fresh fruit), even though the jar was glass the rubber piece got all the hideus smell of garlic when blending pesto sauce, so imagine no matter how hard I tried it kept the smell.
Finally to make things worst it start LEAKING. I tried to make a drink and turn out LEAKING all over my countertop.
The glass jar got cover with a frost stain all over (in the middle of the glass) not being able to scrub on the inside or outside of jar.
Returned it after 8 months.
Not even the 10 bucks blenders from Walmart are so junkie.

Marisa,
Please contact us at askus@brevilleusa.com so that we can help you with your issue. We apologize."

"Unlike the other reviews here I have had my Breville ikon Hemisphere blender for a year and have had ZERO problems with it. In fact, I love it so much I just bought the 2-slice automatic toaster (which in itself is phenomenal). Back to the blender, I love how it crushes ice for margarita's and smoothies. The auto-pulse and smoothie buttons work really well for me. I don't know anything about the rubber coming off and getting into the other reviewers drinks. There is no rubber on my blender that is inside of the glass jar. I have owned other expensive blenders from Kitchen Aid and it is no where near as good as this blender. I also have ZERO problems getting mine clean. In fact, that is one of the best things I like about it - how easy it is to clean. I hope the other reviewers can get some kind of fix for the rubber problem that they are having."

"I found plastic in my shake that smelled horrible. Not sure how long I've been ingesting plastic, but I am sure it is not healthy!! I will never purchase another Breville product.

Joe,
Please email us at askus@brevilleusa.com to help with your issue. Thank you."

"I replaced the whole jar (with a very long lead time) once because I thought it must have been a faulty gasket. Turns out, it's just a terrible design. So despite liking the juice-maker, the Breville blender is junk.

The gasket just broke down into little rubber pieces in the first batch of eggnog for this year. Last time it was very smelly as described above and much more obvious.

Either way, unless you like plastic in your food, this blender is not recommended by me. If they could sort that out, I would actually say it is a great blender otherwise.

From Breville
Jennifer - We feel awful about your experience. Please email us at askus@brevilleusa.com so we can help."

"Was very happy at first but after 8 months it just did not seem to be as powerful as it once was. Tried to get it serviced but Breville would not even return my calls. Would not buy another especially if they do not stand behind their products.

From Breville
BJ, We feel awful about your experience. Please email us at askus@brevilleusa.com so we can help."

"You need a torx head screw driver (possibly T8 or T10 size) and remove the four screws on the bottom of the blender. Then the bottom comes right off. You'll be able to clean the bottom of the glass at that point. Note how it comes apart so you can put it back the same way. Good luck. arnold

"

"I have tried everything and cannot seem to remove the bottom of the blender to clean out blades. It is starting to smell and on top of that I cannot seem to reach a live person or anyone to call me back!

I don't think i would buy another Breville appliance in the future.

From Breville:
Please email us at at askus@brevilleusa.com, thanks.
"

"I just had the same problem with the rubber underneath the blades; smell was awful and the smoothie toxic! the blender is now useless; lasted about 1 and 1/2 year before this happened. They don't seem to offer a replacement blade assembly which means I'll have to buy a new blender. "

"Loved this blender for about a year then one day it started to really stink during operation and I got really sick from a smoothie that I make a few days a week. The next day I took a look at it and I realized the plastic/rubber under the blades was shaving off during blending! This was the source of the smell and digesting the shavings most likely made me sick. Don't know how long the shaving was going on and getting into my food - I hope no longer the day I discovered it. Anyway, was high on this blender but no longer if it can't last longer than a year or so...."

"Great job of blending. Has a special "smoothie" setting that alternates between high, low and off on a repeated series of blends that handles all the pieces of things like bananas. Although the quality of the product is very good just as the literature claims, removing and installing the blade assembly is very difficult. I am a man who works with his hands repairing appliances and I have a hard time getting the blade assembly removed from the jar. If you install the blade assembly without tightening it then the gasket leaks when you blend your next smoothie. You have to put it on tightly and then be ready to struggle to get it off. This is a design flaw. Either they need an improved gasket of abandon the threaded assembly design all together and go with some other approach. Why make a blender that the blade assembly has to be removed. I can clean the blender with a bottle brush and dish rag but if you don't remove the blade assembly the way it is designed now food matter is left between the gasket and jar. That is unacceptable."