NutriBullet just released an all-new 3-in-1 kitchen system. Can it really replace a blender, food processor and coffee grinder? Our editor tested it to find out.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
I scored an early version of the NutriBullet from a grad school friend in 2016. The machine had been well used, but I was happy to take it home as a broke college student with zero funds for new kitchen appliances. Nearly a decade later, that same NutriBullet came with me as I moved into my new home. If I had to guess, the machine is at least 15 years old and still works like a charm.
So, as a longtime NutriBullet fan, I was pretty geeked when I was asked to test out the new NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ compact kitchen system. The new model is a 3-in-1 system with a personal blender cup, food processor and coffee grinder attachments that fit on one compact base. I tested all three attachments to give you the scoop on how it works.
MARY HENN FOR TASTE OF HOME
This 3-in-1 compact kitchen system has impressive blending, coffee grinding and food processing capabilities.
The all-new NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ operates on a single signature NutriBullet base. If you have an older NutriBullet, you’ll be surprised to find that this machine has a snazzy glow interface and suction cup bottom.
It also offers a blender with quieter power, a food processor for slicing and shredding and a grinder for coffee and spices. With 16 pieces, the NutriBullet set has almost everything you’ll need for any cooking task.
I put the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ to work the night I opened it. As I said, I am a long-time fan of the original NutriBullet, which I’ve used to make personal smoothies for almost 10 years. I also bought the NutriBullet Baby and NutriBullet Baby Turbo Steamer when my daughter started eating purees, and I loved them even more than my tried-and-true original NutriBullet. Seriously, steaming and blending sweet potatoes had never been easier.
After opening the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+, I laid out all the parts. Here’s what’s included:
After I washed the included parts (all cups, lids, and blades are top-rack dishwasher safe), I browsed some NutriBullet recipes for the most authentic testing experience. I was immediately intrigued by the arugula pistachio pesto, which seemed to be a good match for the food processor attachment. The roasted pistachios, arugula, garlic cloves and other ingredients were turned into a creamy pesto within seconds.
Within a few minutes of setting ingredients out on my counter, I was pouring pesto over freshly made orzo. My first attempt at the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ was a success. The processor was relatively quiet, too. Plus, the suction cups at the bottom of the motor base held it firmly in place on my countertop as the nuts were pulverized.
Best of all (albeit this is more of a personal win), my extremely picky one-year-old loved the fresh pesto and sat patiently in her highchair for the few minutes it took to make it. She dipped everything I put on her tray in the bright green pesto: win!
The next morning, I used the coffee grinder attachment to grind whole coffee beans. Not expecting much from this attachment, I was blown away. I had previously been using an inexpensive grinder from Hamilton Beach, which did the job of grinding beans for my French press just fine. But the NutriBullet coffee grinder attachment turned whole coffee beans into ultra-fine grounds within seconds. I couldn’t believe it.
The grounds were perfect for my manual pour-over. However, I will say that NutriBullet grinds quickly, and I’m not sure I could stop it in time to achieve course grounds for a French press.
With my fresh ground coffee in hand, I used the third blade attachment to make a creamy coffee smoothie. Like any best blender, the rapid extractor blade handled a frozen banana, ice and other ingredients with zero issues, and the double-walled smoothie cup kept my smoothie cold for a good portion of the morning.
I also appreciated the to-go lid, which is designed like a shaker bottle lid. A straw would get lost in the cup, but I didn’t mind sipping straight from the lid’s opening.
So far, using all the attachments for different blending needs has been a success. However, there were a few things I didn’t love while testing the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+.
I found the 29.5-inch cord a bit short for my space. I tested the system on my kitchen island, which has an outlet underneath the countertop, and the cord is just long enough to go from the base, around the countertop and to the outlet. That said, the cord would be plenty long if I used one of the outlets on the wall underneath my kitchen cabinets to plug it in.
There’s also no cord management system on the base, so I find myself wrapping the cord around the outside of the base (as I did with my original NutriBullet). I had secretly hoped the new base would have a place in the bottom of the base to store the cord. No luck.
If you are familiar with older NutriBullet models, you’ll know that you twist and press down slightly on the attachments to turn on the motor. The new base on the Ultra Plus+ is slightly different. The attachments twist counterclockwise to lock into place (you’ll hear a click). Once secured, the control panel will light up. There are two touch buttons: a solid circle and a dashed circle. The first will run an automated blending cycle for 30 seconds, and the latter will pulse blend ingredients when held. (The pesto I made was completely blended in one cycle!)
As someone who has used an older NutriBullet for years, the new base design took some getting used to. I definitely thought I was doing it wrong at first. However, the new motor seems much faster than the older one I’d been using.
If you often cook for a large family or group of people, the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ probably won’t be big enough for your culinary endeavors. (The food processor attachment holds about 2 cups worth of ingredients.) Additionally, the compact design can’t handle hot or carbonated ingredients as they may over-pressurize and cause the attachments to separate from the motor base.
But if you’re looking for a quick, compact way to make dips, spreads, sauces, salsas, dressings, smoothies and other cold concoctions, the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ is great.
Cleanup and storage proved easy, too. I disassembled all the parts and placed them on the top rack of the dishwasher to clean. I ran them on a delicate cycle, as the user guide says high heat may warp some of the parts.
It’s official, I’m a NutriBullet stan. To date, I’ve been impressed with the longevity and quality of the brand’s products, so I’m curious to see if the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ stands the test of time. (I plan on updating this review as time passes to let you know if any issues occur with the machine). For now, I like it a lot.
I use the compact food processor the most for assistance with quick weeknight meals, but I also reach for the coffee grinder attachment a lot more than I thought I would.
In short, the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ works really, really well for what it is: a compact 3-in-1 kitchen blending tool. I appreciate the compact design of the base. It’s much easier to whip out than my Cuisinart food processor, which I love but takes up much more space and is a bit more work to use.
MARY HENN FOR TASTE OF HOME
The signature compact blending system has a new base design and special attachments.
As a new launch, the NutriBullet Ultra Plus+ kitchen system with the grinder and processor attachments is only available at NutriBullet. It retails for $199 and comes in five colors.
