Following the demise of my old blender (not a KitchenAid) after eleven years of almost daily use I decided to see what was on the market that would meet my needs. I required a robust, built to last blender, that would cope with frequent use and, most importantly, would produce smoothies blended to perfection. My eventual choice of the K400 Artisan Blender has exceeded my expectations. Not only does it handle the varied ingredients I use with ease, it is simple to use and aesthetically pleasing. The self-cleaning program is an added bonus. In a word - perfection!