Best Small Appliance Purchases of 2020

This year seemed to be one of the small appliance for Mr. Seasons and I. Some of our home goods have been around as long as our marriage (13 years!) and 2020 was the year many of them needed to be replaced. Now that we’re older and wiser (and have a bigger budget), we are a lot more selective when picking replacements. And those forces combined mean I have been really happy with our choices. So happy I decided to make a blog post all about it, in case you find yourselves in my shoes of needing to replace a hot water kettle or vacuum in 2021.

STAGG Electric Pour Over Kettle by Fellow

WHY: We were looking for a kettle that would withstand everyday use and look good on our counter. We opted for this one because we like that you can control the temperature (a must for coffee die-hards).

PROS: Heats up really fast. Holds the heat for up to 60 minutes before it shuts off. Slow pour for those who like to make pour over coffee. Looks really slick in the kitchen and comes in 5 colors. We have black because our countertops are dark, so it makes for a minimal look.

CONS: Pours really slow. If you’re making French press coffee, (hello, me!), the water can come out annoyingly slow sometimes. But I try and embrace it and find a moment of zen while pouring.

Le Creuset Dutch Oven

WHY: A Le Creuset dutch oven has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Maybe the better part of 10 years? It’s the epitome of the concept of ‘buy nice or buy twice.’ My first dutch oven lasted me a long time (almost the entire said 10 years), but eventually the enamel started chipping off inside the pan. Not the kind of thing I wanted to season my food with. This is an essential culinary item in our household so Mr. Seasons and I decided it was time for our upgrade. I believe we waited for a sale or coupon code, because Le Creuset items are not cheap.

We chose a 7.25 quart because that size is perfect for making soups and sauces for a family of five. The hardest part was picking the color, because I knew I’d be one of those people who leaves my dutch oven on my stove 24/7. I was inspired by my friend Paige to get the matte black (even though I love flame too!). Black just looked better in my kitchen. If I had a more white or neutral colored kitchen I would have considered the flame.

PROS: Besides being all around amazing, this dutch oven is the lightest one I’ve ever used. Which makes washing and overall use easier. Because of the quality and lifetime warranty I expect to never have to replace this. Made in France.

CONS: Expensive

Vitamix Explorian E320 + PCA

WHY: Another one bit the dust. Our hand-me-down Vitamix, which we loved, started leaking in the spring, so we decided it was time for an upgrade. Ours came from Mr. Seasons’ grandparents and we have no idea how old it actually was, but it lived a long and impressive life! We knew for sure we wanted another Vitamix and, when Costco put them on sale, we jumped on it. That was in May, and we have used it every single day since, because we are protein shake junkies. Note: Costco currently has this model on sale again through Dec 24th.

PROS: What’s great about this set is that it comes with two personal size blenders, which we use for our shakes. No more getting the whole blender dirty! This blender is a beast and can make almost anything smooth, including ice.

CONS: I woudn’t put it in your dishwasher. It says dishwasher safe, but one of our cups ended up getting warped and was unable to fit on the blender attachment. Our dishwasher does run extremely hot, which I am sure didn’t help. We contacted Vitamix and they sent out a replacement cup right away. We still handwash everything just to be safe!

OXO Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

WHY: I should really let my husband write this part, because he’s the one who researched and chose this product, but… I feel qualified since I am a professional user of this product. This one has great ratings online, and it’s compact (and looks good) on your counter.

PROS: I love this because you can set your grind coarseness and your grind time and then leave it for all future uses (if you want). You just push a button and it quickly grinds the amount you need for that morning. I also like that it’s not a super loud grinder. AND, it’s the least messy coffee bean grinder I’ve ever used.

CONS: Needs regular cleaning. (But most grinders worth their salt do.)

Dyson V11 Animal Cord-Free Stick Vacuum

This is perhaps the most exciting, and most expensive item on this list. I had no idea about the world of stick vacuums until I was at my friend’s house about a year ago and I saw hers in action. My mind was blown! No cord! Easy wall storage! Interchangeable attachments! Sold! Of course, I waited for a sale though…

WHY: I chose this model over the V7 because it has a larger debris canister, and my Costco had it on sale at a good price. (The link above is the same price I paid for mine.)

PROS: The first time I vacuumed my high traffic rug I was shocked at the amount of dust and general grossness removed. I continue to be shocked because this vacuum really cleans deep. It is also lightweight and easy to use on a house with multiple levels (taking it up a flight of stairs is no problem). Transitions well between hardwoods and rugs/carpet. Very user friendly. Can easily vacuum under low surfaces like beds or couches. Several different attachments for stairs/upholstery (I use it on my couch!) and car cleaning.

CONS: Sometimes my hand gets tired of squeezing the trigger, or it can feel heavy after extended vacuuming. If you’re doing a big job you may have to empty the canister in the middle of your clean up. The stick chamber can get clogged if you vacuum items like leaves, or large scraps of paper (3 kids and 2 dogs means this may happen in my house more than yours).

I think that covers all the details. Feel free to let me know if you have questions about any of these items, or to add your two cents in the comments!