Robeks smoothie franchise tests out special blender for pouring thick smoothies

The Food Network’s new show “Invention Hunters” recently spent three hours at the Robeks in Livermore, CA, putting an inventor’s new blender to the test.

The show sets out to discover new kitchen gadgets and help their inventors take them to market. Peter Martin of San Francisco has built a “vibrating blender” designed to make even the thickest drinks easy to pour.

To test the blender’s capabilities, “Invention Hunters” hosts Steve Greenberg and Patrick Raymond pitted it against thick Robeks premium fruit smoothies. The episode, “Shakin’ It Up,” aired Monday and Tuesday and will be rebroadcast Sunday, June 3, at 5:30 p.m. EDT/PDT and 4:30 p.m. CDT.

Robeks smoothies are so packed with real fruits and vegetables that it can often be difficult to get the smoothie out of the jar. Sometimes we have to pound the side of the pitcher to shake the smoothie loose. Could the “Vibrating Blender” make it easier?

Lisette Henry, who owns the Robeks store in Sacramento, came down to Livermore to test out the blender while Livermore store owners David Kim and Hojay Lee continued to serve customers. Henry’s verdict: The vibrating blender did a good job of getting the smoothie to slide out — but the vibrating action was pretty intense.

“You can really feel the vibration,” she said. “Usually, there are one or two ounces worth of smoothie that won’t come out of the blender, that just gets washed down the drain. It got all the liquid out, cutting the waste.”

Henry gave the vibrating blender her endorsement, telling “Invention Hunters” that she thinks it would be a great tool.

Lee said it was fun to have the crew in his store, and Henry had a lot of praise for the film crew and hosts.

“They were great to work with. I couldn’t believe how down-to-earth they were,” Henry said. “Steve and Patrick were very comical and warm and friendly.”