My uncool kitchen tool is so uncool, it might just be cool again. With its discolored white plastic body and red, white, and blue, chunky sans serif logo, my Robot Coupe food processor is clearly showing her age. But when it comes to performance, reliability, endurance and, let's face it, quirky charm, she rates A+ across the board — even with a broken-off handle and a scratched work bowl.
I don't know the exact history, but Robot Coupe was one of the original makers of food processors for caterers in France in the 1960s. They eventually made a version for home use which was very popular in Europe. While Cuisinart went on to dominate the US market, there was a brief time when the home version of Robot Coupe was made available here. You can still see larger, industrial versions of the Robot Coupe in professional kitchens and occasionally run across the Robot Coupe-made Magimix for home use.
I was a very young and penniless pastry chef when I bought my brand new Robot Coupe sometime in the early 1980s. If I recall, I was making around $4.00/hour and the Robot Coupe was an astonishing $75.00. There were two other pasty chef/bakers at the bakery where I worked and one of them negotiated a deal with the local cookware shop so we could get a few dollars knocked off if she were to purchase all three at once.
Since that time, my Root Coupe has followed me to uncountable new kitchens, made dozens of batches of Julia Child's chicken liver pate, ground pounds of nuts and buckets of pesto. There are certain things that a food processor does really well, such as the aforementioned grinding of nuts or creating a really fine puree or grating a whole lot of cheese or carrots. It is also fantastic for making pie dough.
I don't use my Robot Coupe every day but I use it often enough and I have never had to have it serviced. At some point, the plastic work bowl lost its handle and took on a few scratches, and the white plastic casing has begun to yellow, but even though she's pushing 30 years old, my RC still looks pretty to me!
Related: Product Review: Cuisinart Elite Die-Cast Food Processor
(Image: Dana Velden)
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I was just reading the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook last night and they mentioned their Robot Coupe. I'd never heart of the brand prior to that!
To this day my dad still uses his Robot Coupe. I don't know if this is that actual way to pronounce it, but I grew up fondly calling it "Robo-Coo"
And as far as I know, he's never had it serviced either!
They really don't make things like they used to.
My mother has a Cuisinart of approximately the same age (or older) that looks EXACTLY like that...and it's still going strong. My biggest kitchen appliance disappointment ever was buying my own food processor and realizing that despite a much heftier price tag, it can't even touch my mom's old workhorse. They truly do not make things like they used to.
I still use my Waring 'Food Processor II' from the late 70's/early 80's. I researched like crazy before buying this new technology and it's paid off. The thing is a beast and still works beautifully. I use it about once a week.
The new model of Robot Coupe is about $875 -- was just featured on American's Test Kitchen. They said it was far and away the best food processor they tested, although they recommended the second choice pick because it was only about $120. And they did pronounce it "Robo Coo." I am still using my Cuisinart from 1990. I only need it about once a week, but it still works beautifully.
My parents ancient food processor was amazingly useful and had none of the pesky safety features that make me want to cry when I try to use mine.
Sadly, I just recently had to part ways with my 30+ year old Robot Coupe. Along with a few copper pots and pans, this was my first investment into all things culinary. Although the motor was perfectly fine, a small crack in the chopping blade made it inoperable. After searching high and low for a replacement blade, I had to through in the kitchen towel and buy a new model. Reading this article and writing this is almost bringing me to tears once again!
My mom still uses her Cuisinart from when she got married (29 years ago!) and she's had to replace the bowl because it cracked, but everything else works beautifully. I'm looking forward to getting one this year but I know it's not going to last half as long as hers!!
I got my Robot Coupe from a fellow Freecycler about 5 years ago. It's probably 30 years old, and I love every wonderful discolored part of it. Makes pesto and pate like a pro. My latest obsession is romesco sauce!
I will gladly take your uncool Robot Coupe off your hands.
That thing is bombproof. You can only get em at restaurant supply stores and they start at around $800. Never let it go. You probably won't ever have to.
I love my vintage Cusinart that I found for $3 at a local thrift store. Although yellowed with age, it is a powerhouse! It's the exact model my mom had when she got married 40 years ago.
Still using my Cuisinart food processor weekly, with all its attachments, since the very early 80's. Hasn't needed any service, and it's still going strong. One of the oldest items I have hung on to and still use.
We just threw away a really old toaster oven because the handle was starting to fall off and are regretting it! They don't make some things like they used to.. with all the stainless steel and extra knobs and convection bake all I really want is a simple, basic toaster oven like the one I used to have! Too bad
I read this post earlier today and just now was reading chapter 5, p. 166 of Bee Wilson's, Consider the Fork, and it talks about the history of the Robot Coupe. A piece of history, Dana.
Mine is identical, but a Cuisinart circa 1985ish -- are they related? I inherited it from my grandmother. It's built like a tank; I think the base weights 10 lbs. I don't think it was used much, and my mother is impressed that I know how to use it. 2 weeks ago I made Smitten Kitchen's chocolate buttercream frosting (OMG) in it as recommended instead of my stand mixer. Thanks Grandmommy!!!!
I just wanted to say, I am jealous of all of you with these awesome, well-made old food processors!! I had a newer Hamilton Beach, probably used it 20 times, when the plastic center rod out of the base cracked. It can't be replaced, and you can't use the blade attachments. I don't have any idea what new one to buy, because they all seem to be made of breakable parts. The top, sub-$150 food processors on America's Test Kitchen are all discontinued.
Also you get to own something with an awesome name :)
I have an early 80's Cuisinart food processor in inherited from my mother. I remember the days she opened the box, which was a gift my dad was given at his workplace (trying to get in good relationship through the wife, I suppose). When my daughter married, she registered and received her own Cuisinart food processor. Funny thing is, my mother's, which is now mine, is a MUCH quieter machine and has never needed any repair. Even though it isn't stainless steel, and the plastic has yellowed, it's a work horse that I'll proudly bring out until the day the beloved friend dies.
I have a Cuisinart food processor that I got less than 10 years ago. I shredded cheese in it the other day, and now the disc won't come off the center spindle. No amount of pulling will get if off, so I'm off to buy a new Breville Sous Chef Food processor today. I used my Cuisinart all the time :(