Both Grinder & Smoothie Maker (GSM) and Blender Jar can be used to grind beans and make smoothies. The major difference is that the blades and jar body of GSM are specifically designed for processing solid food. During blending process, finer, lighter pieces of food will be brought to the upper part of the jar by the swirl motion. Whereas the rougher, larger pieces will sink to the bottom and get ground further. In short, Grinder & Smoothie Maker works more efficiently in grinding and making smo