Vitamix A2300 Ascent Review 2024

Although Vitamix blenders tend to cost a little more than the competition, they’re often so powerful that you can dispense with your food processor altogether.

They’re a well-established and hugely trusted brand, with a reputation that’s been hard-earned in recent decades. For many people, you’re not blending if you’re not using a Vitamix!

In my Vitamix Ascent A2300 review, I’m taking an in-depth look at the the first machine in the company’s flagship home kitchen range.

(My guide to juicing and blending at home contains plenty more tutorials and buying tips!)

Vitamix Ascent A2300

Before moving into the finer details of this review, here’s a quick overview of what to expect from this blender.

The A2300 is the first machine in the Vitamix Ascent range of blenders. It’s designed to bring some of the company’s classic machines a little more up to date, incorporating some of the competition’s more common features.

For the most part it’s a blender that retains the classic Vitamix look and feel. It’s also got the same immense power that you’d expect from the brand.

Ten speed settings help you tackle every blending job you can imagine, while the pulse setting lets you take manual control of the blender.

Although these machines tend to be a little pricier than other blenders, they’re also backed up by one of the most generous warranty schemes in the business.

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Who’s The Ascent A2300 For?

The Ascent A2300 is a very versatile machine.

If you’re happy to go hands-on with the speed settings, this entry version in the Vitamix Ascent series is extremely powerful and can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.

Who’s The A2300 NOT For?

If you want the benefit of digital displays and presets, you will find the Ascent A2300 harder to work with. It’s got 10 speed settings, but it’s a more “manual” machine.

If this applies to you, you might want to consider looking at other machines in the series, such as the Ascent A3500.

Pros

• Powerful 2.2 horsepower motor represents a step up from previous blender series.
• Extremely versatile. Good for milkshakes, smoothies, baby food, hot soup, frozen drinks and more.
• Generous 64 ounce capacity jar allows for big-batch blending.
• 10 variable speed settings, along with a pulse feature for manual control.
• Built in digital timer lets you go hands-free.
• Smart design with multiple color options to choose from.
• High quality recipe book.
• Built in wireless connectivity helps the blender self detect – and adjust – for different Ascent containers.

Cons

• No preset programs out of the box. You’ll need another machine in the Vitamix Ascent series for this.
• No digital touch controls, just dials and buttons.
• As with all Vitamix blenders, you pay a bit of a premium for the Ascent series of machines.
• Struggles a little with leafy greens. You may find your green smoothies a little gritty.

Design

The Ascent series represents Vitamix’s attempts to breathe a little more modern life into its blenders.

It’s still got the classic Vitamix look, but it packs in more functionality.

The variable speed control settings allow you to choose from ten different operating speeds. Go low to roughly chop vegetables for things like salsas. Alternatively you can dial it up to 10 if you want to blitz everything into a smoothie or a hot soup.

As you’d expect from any blender these days, there’s also a pulse feature. With this you simply select your speed, and then hold the Pulse button down for as long as you want.

It gives you that extra manual control when you want to blend things just-so. That’s handy when you’re experimenting with a new recipe, and want to get the texture and consistency just right.

I also like the digital timer that’s included with the Vitamix A2300. Once you’ve worked out your recipe timings, just set the digital timer and you can leave it to get the job done.

That timer also has a built-in auto-shutoff function. The machine just won’t blend for more than six and a half minutes, so you don’t have to worry about the blender overheating.

Beyond that basic built in digital timer, you should know that there aren’t any fancy digital controls on the A2300. For that sort of thing, you’ll need to header deeper into the Ascent series of machines, and spend a little more money for the privilege.

Specs

Finally for this section, here are the specs for the Vitamix A2300. These are big machines, so make sure you can actually fit it somewhere that’s convenient in your kitchen:

• 10.8 (D) x 17.8 (W) x 17.0 (H) inches
• 11.86 lbs
• 64 ounce container
• Colors: Black, Slate, Red, White
• Materials: Plastic and metal

Motor

The motor on the Vitamix Ascent A2300 represents another step up from the previous range of machines.

It’s not a huge improvement over earlier blenders like the 5200 and 5300, but there is a little more oomph under the hood.

This time you’re playing with a 2.2 Peak Horsepower motor, compared to the 2 Peak Horsepower from before. As I say, not a huge leap but it does mean you’ll be able to tear through tougher ingredients that little bit quicker.

There’s not a lot you can’t blend with that kind of power. Smoothies, ice cream, hummus and nut butters alike – all the ingredients you need to use here get absolutely obliterated in pretty short order!

That extra power doesn’t come at a hugely increased cost either. Great though those earlier machines were, it’s safe to say that the Ascent A2300 blender is the obvious choice now.

Finally, Vitamix has fully embraced the future with WiFi technology!

The A2300 uses NFC (Near-Field Communication) to detect the blender jar you’re using, and then adjusts the speed controls accordingly. You only get one jar with the Ascent A2300, but others from the Ascent range are available (see the Accessories section a little later on in this review for more details).

The built-in WiFi also syncs up with a Vitamix companion app you can install on your phone. This gives you access to more settings, which helps to optimize the blender for whatever you want to make.

Blades

There are four prongs on the blade unit which is hard-wired into the blending jar. They can’t be removed without voiding the warranty, so don’t take the securing nut off during cleaning!

The blade itself has been laser-cut from a single sheet of stainless steel. It’s extremely tough and will last for years without dulling or losing any of its efficiency.

I’ll talk about cleaning the A2300 later on in this review, but the blade – along with the jar – is dishwasher safe if you need to give it a really deep clean.

Speeds & Controls

There are ten different speed settings on the Vitamix A2300. 1 is the lowest of the speed controls, and is typically what you’ll use for rough-chopping vegetables as part of your meal prep.

The higher settings are for when you need to tackle very tough ingredients, or just want to achieve an ultra-smooth consistency.

The variable speed controls are very simple and a little “retro” when compared to equivalent machines. A simple dial is used to select the speed, while an on / off toggle switch is located on the side of the blender. As I say, nothing fancy but it gets the job done!

Blending Jar

The blending jar on the Vitamix A2300 has a 64 oz capacity, which makes it suitable for family use. It’s also dishwasher-safe which makes life a little easier too.

New for the Ascent series of machines is a fully transparent lid. Previous Vitamix blender lids were rather opaque, which made it hard to see what was going on inside the blending jar while the machine was in operation.

This is a very welcome design change, and makes it easy to check on the consistency of the blend as you work with the machine. I think it also locks into place a little more cleanly than previous blenders too.

A middle section of the lid comes out easily enough. This makes it easier to add extra ingredients at later stages of the mix, or push any stubborn bits of food closer to the blades. The Ascent A2300 actually comes with a very serviceable tamper for just this purpose.

The liquid measurement markings are also very clear to read on the outside of the jar, so you don’t accidentally over – or under – fill the blender.

You shouldn’t need to make too much use of that tamper, thanks to a clever twist in the jar design. Each side is angled somewhat, which keeps the content moving in the direction of the blade. This means you get a much faster and a much smoother blend.

The jar’s comfortable to carry as well, thanks to an ergonomically designed handle which also makes pouring easier.

The only drawback to the jar design is in the spout. It gets a little in the way while transferring the mixture, and if you pour too quickly it can make a bit of a mess.

You’ll get used to the best pouring speed pretty quickly, but it’s something to be aware of when you’re just starting out.

In The Box

Just so you know what to expect on arrival, you get the following items out of the box:

• Motor base
• 64 oz BPA-free plastic jar
• Tamper
• Simply Blending recipe book.

Unlike the recipe books that come with the average blender, this one is really well-produced. It’s hardback, full-color and contains a massive collection of blending recipes to explore.

Upgrades

Not included in the box are a collection of Ascent-compatible blending jars. These include a personal blender for making smoothies, and a blending bowl for general food processing.

All of the various cups and bowls attach to the base of the A2300, so you can switch over to making smaller servings. Think quick smoothies, baby food purees and so on.

There are two ways of looking at this upgrade approach.

On the one hand, it’s a shame you don’t get more functionality out of the box. On the other hand, it means you don’t have to pay upfront for accessories that you might never even use.

It’s important to be aware though that the A2300 is only compatible with Ascent series blender jars. Your old Vitamix jars won’t fit the motor base, and so you’ll need to start your collection again from scratch.

Noise

The motors on Vitamix blenders are pretty powerful, and so it’s no surprise to learn that they can be quite noisy.

I do think the A2300 – and the Ascent range in general – has been improved in that regard though. If you really dial the thing up then yes it’s going to make a racket.

On the low to middle settings though I don’t think you’re going to find the noise level to be worse than equivalent blenders.

Ease Of Use & Cleaning

Using the Vitamix A2300 is very simple. All you have to do is put the jar on the base, add your ingredients, pop the lid on then select your speed settings.

You can add extra ingredients later on during the blend, thanks to that removable lid plug. This section also acts as a small measuring cup!

The A2300 is easy to clean, and you actually have a couple of options here.

First, you can make use of a sort of unofficial “self-cleaning” cycle. Just fill the blender jar to the halfway point with warm water and dish soap, then gentle pulse blend for a minute or so.

That should remove most of the food detritus from the blender. Doing this after each use will certainly make long-term care and cleaning much easier.

If there’s anything stubborn that won’t come off the sides of the jar or the blades though, the A2300 is dishwasher-safe.

Earlier machines in the Vitamix range weren’t, but neither the blades nor the jar of the A2300 will be harmed if they’re put through the top rack.

Just don’t attempt to remove the blade unit from the jar or you’ll void the generous warranty!

Vitamix Warranty

On the subject of warranties, Vitamix offers some of the most generous protection on the market. That’s a good thing, as you have to make quite an investment to get involved with this brand.

In the case of the A2300, Vitamix offers a 10 year warranty. That, frankly, is probably overkill but it’s always reassuring to see a premium manufacturer put its money where its mouth is.

Vitamix offers a total replacement of the machine if it fails within that time period. While Vitamix machines aren’t the most affordable on the market, you’ll get many more years of service from this brand than any other.

Performance

How well does the A2300 handle individual tasks though? In this next section of my review I’ll take a look at its performance across a variety of tasks.

Smoothies

Smoothies from the A2300 blender are pretty good, with fruit, vegetables, ice and nuts all blending smoothly in under a minute.

If you make smoothies that use a lot of leafy greens, the A2300 doesn’t work quite as well with these ingredients. You’ll find that the drink has a slightly gritty feel.

Juices

If you make a lot of juices then you might find a dedicated juicer to be more effective than a blender.

The reason for this is that juicers remove all the pulp from the fruit, leaving only the juice. Blenders mash everything together.

Some like this for the extra nutritional value, but it’s something to be aware of.

I will say that the Vitamix A2300 does a better job than most other blenders of making juice.

Nut Butter

If you want to make nut butters from the likes of almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts, the motors on the Ascent machines are more than up to the task.

Desserts

The motor on the A2300 blender doesn’t even flinch at the sight of ice and frozen fruits, so using it to prepare desserts is very easy.

It’s a fun way of making sorbets and ice creams in particular, and without having to buy a separate kitchen appliance that has a limited range of uses.

Purees

The Vitamix A2300 does a really good job of making purees, and the results are very smooth.

If you’re looking for a blender that can make a large batch of natural baby food, for example, I think the A2300 is a really good option.

If you’re making smaller servings, you might want to purchase the smaller bowl separately. The container size might be a bit too big for the job.

Hot Soup

One of the great things about Vitamix blenders is that they work at such a furious speed they heat the soup as you blend.

All you need to do is add the ingredients, select the speed, and then let the friction heat from the blender blades heat up your lunch!

Food Prep / Chopping

On its lowest setting I think the Vitamix A2300 blender does a very good job of prepping vegetables with a rough chop.

You’ll need to do this by sight, as the sizes of your vegetables will be different. This is likely the first occasion where you’ll really appreciate how useful the new transparent lid is.

Alternatives

There are a couple other Vitamix blenders worth looking at before you settle on the A2300.

Here are two other machines from the Ascent range that I think are worth considering.

Vitamix Ascent A2500

The Vitamix A2500 blender shares a lot in common with the A2300, and represents the next step up in the Ascent series.

All other options are the same, but with the A2500 you also get a handful of presets. These cover you for hot soups, frozen desserts and smoothies.

If you want to make life really easy, and get rid of the manual control side of things, consider upgrading to this blender instead.

(You can read my Vitamix A2500 review if you’d like a more in-depth take on this popular alternative.)

Vitamix A3500

The Vitamix A3500 is the next blender up again in the Ascent series. This time around you get more features in the form an extra two presets: Dips & Spreads and Self-Cleaning.

That latter mode is something you can do yourself on any Vitamix blender to be honest. Just fill with warm water and dish soap and blitz with the pulse feature for a minute or so.

The real difference offered by the A3500 is the touchscreen control system. It’s very easy to use, and provides just a little extra convenience.

Verdict

I found a lot to love about the Vitamix A2300 blender during my review.

It’s got all the features the company’s famous for, from a monstrous motor to a generous warranty. Although pricey, it’s one of the best blenders on the market right now.

If you don’t need any fancy touchscreen digital controls, you’ll be more than happy enough with the variable speed controls and the pulse feature.

It’s very versatile, well built, and easy to clean. All in all it does a much-needed job of bringing the Vitamix line up to date, and represents a good mix of the old and new.

Click here to read more reviews of this very popular blender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, I wanted to finish off my A2300 review with answers to some of the most common questions people have about this powerful Vitamix blender.

Is A Vitamix Really Worth It?

If you use a blender several times a week then I think it’s worth investing in a Vitamix.

They’re more expensive than other brands, but the power is immense and they make some of the best blenders around. It will also replace any other food processor you might need.

The real value of a Vitamix comes from the warranty. Some machines come with a 10 year full warranty, and so that upfront cost pays off in the long run. The company’s customer service really is second to none as well.

Can I Use My Old Jars With The A2300?

Sadly not. The Vitamix A2300 doesn’t feature any sort of “backwards compatibility”, and is the starting point for a whole new series of machines.

Other blender jars are available, suited to different tasks, but I’m afraid you’ll need to start your jar collection again.

All of the jars available in the Ascent series are compatible with the A2300 though. The machine will actually self detect official jars, and adjust the blender settings accordingly.

How Noisy Is The A2300?

All Vitamix blenders make a fair bit of noise, but I would say from my review that the A2300 is quieter than its predecessors.

It’s only really on the highest settings that you’ll notice it makes a lot of noise. On low to medium settings though I don’t think it’s too bad at all.

Is The A2300 Dishwasher Safe?

Yes. Obviously you can’t put the motor base through the dishwasher, but the jar – with blade attached – is dishwasher-safe.

I would recommend trying the self cleaning cycle first as it’ll be kinder to the jar. If there’s any really stubborn stuff left afterwards, consider giving it a run through the top rack of your dishwasher.

Differences Between The A2300 And The A2500?

The main difference is in the preset features provided with the A2500. These dedicated settings cover hot soups, frozen desserts and smoothies.

Does The Vitamix A2300 Make Hot Soup?

Yes, and it does so really well based on my review!

Just add your ingredients and start blending. The friction heat generated by the blender blades will heat the soup as it blends. It’s a really useful way of making a quick, healthy lunch. No more excuses now!