Lomi vs. Vitamix FoodCycler: Which composter is right for you?

Some sustainable living changes — like swapping out plastic bags for reusable food storage — are relatively easy. Others — like diverting food waste from landfills — can feel pretty overwhelming. Unless your city offers municipal composting services, up until a few years ago, the only options were to pay for a private service or start your own backyard compost pile or vermicomposting bin. Today, though, countertop machines offer another, pretty turnkey, option that’s particularly appealing to those of us who don’t have space to go all in on composting.

While they’re not a 1-to-1 replacement for traditional composting (they use heat and mechanical grinders to rapidly break down food waste into a soil-like product, but not a soil itself), machines like the Lomi Bloom and the FoodCycler Eco 5 by Vitamix Eco 5 offer plenty of similar benefits. To determine just how many benefits — and how the two compare to each other — we put both products to the test.

Lomi vs. Vitamix at a glance

Neither machine produces actual finished compost

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: Unlike backyard compost piles, worm bins or municipal composting services, these machines don’t actually create compost. “A simple way to think of these countertop machines is that they’re like a food dehydrator and a coffee grinder put together,” says Josh Whiton, founder of makesoil.org. “The end result is more akin to dehydrated, powdered food scraps than actual compost or soil. It hasn’t been fully processed by microbes and had the time needed to become humus (the stable component of soil that provides a structured growing medium for plants).” Because of that, you can’t simply take the output from your Lomi Bloom or Vitamix FoodCycler, toss it in a pot or garden bed and plant some seeds. That said, the finished product from both machines can still be beneficial.

The Lomi has three modes, each of which can accept slightly different things and has slightly different outputs. “Grow” mode produces the closest thing to finished compost; this can be mixed with soil (at the recommended ratio of 1 part Lomi dirt to 10 parts soil) for plants. Experts recommend adding Lomi Pods (which contain probiotics to help create a more nutrient-rich product) to each “Grow” cycle for the best results.

Dirt from the Lomi’s “Eco-express” mode can technically be added to plants or sprinkled on your lawn, but even Lomi recommends adding it to a compost pile or green bin (municipal or private service), or putting it back into the machine to be processed in “Grow” mode. That’s because, given the speed of the cycle, the waste you put in there still has degrading to do.

“Lomi approved” mode (the only mode that allows bioplastics and packaging) operates at too high a temperature to produce a nutrient-rich output, but you can add the final product to a compost pile or green bin. Worst-case scenario, if you do have to put it in the trash, at least it’s a significantly reduced amount of waste heading to the landfill than it would’ve been prior to running it through the Lomi — and any dirt that doesn’t make it to the landfill won’t pollute streets and ecosystems the way full-size trash would.

The output from the Vitamix FoodCycler is probably most similar to Lomi’s “Eco-express” mode end product. Per the Vitamix manual, you can use the output (referred to by the company as Recycled Food Compound, or RFC) as soil fertilizer, mixing it with soil in a ratio of 11 parts soil to 1 part RFC, and waiting one to four weeks before planting — that will allow the RFC to continue breaking down in the soil mixture.

After all, as Whiton says, “These machines try to do in hours what nature would otherwise take weeks to do.” In fact, regardless of the machine you have, if you’re going to add the end product to your lawn or other soil, experts like Whiton recommend burying or covering it up a bit by the actual soil so it can continue the decomposing process.

And ultimately, that’s the best use for the end product of either machine. If you pay for a compost service based on volume, devices like these can help you reduce the amount of space your waste takes up, though you’d likely need to use the machine for years before it actually saves you money. If you already have a backyard composting setup, you don’t need a Lomi or a FoodCycler; that said, if you’re limited on composting space, you may be able to accommodate more waste in the pile or bin by grinding it down first.

And then there’s the fact that the “Lomi Approved” mode allows you to process certain bioplastics that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to compost on your own — and then add them to the pile once the cycle is complete.

Both machines are easy to use

Both the Lomi Bloom and the FoodCycler by Vitamix Eco 5 are incredibly easy to set up and use. The included instructions were clear; it only took me about 30 minutes to set up each machine. The most time-consuming aspect is reading the instructions and making sure you’re only including approved waste products (more on this later).

If you want to ensure you’re getting the best output possible, it’s worth taking care to create a balanced mix of greens and browns (just like you would with an outdoor compost pile). From there, it’s literally a press (or a few presses) of a button.

Cleaning is fairly similar between the Lomi and the Vitamix as well. The Lomi bucket is dishwasher-safe, and clearing excess dirt or large particles before putting it in the dishwasher is easy, though some can get stuck underneath the part where the blade mechanism meets the inside of the bucket. You can also run a cleaning cycle on the machine itself: Just fill the bucket with 2 liters of water, press the button three times to set it on cleaning mode and let it do its thing for 90 minutes. The water doesn’t go anywhere, so it’s not like the bucket comes out sparkling clean, but I did find the residue was easier to rinse off after the fact.

The Vitamix bucket is also dishwasher-safe, according to the FoodCycler website, and the instructions specifically state you shouldn’t manually clean the inside of the bucket (the blades are sharp). In fact, the bucket is “designed to self-clean with every cycle,” according to the manual, which also notes that a bit of residue remaining inside the bucket (both the base and the sides) between cycles is normal. If you do want to get rid of that residue or blockages, it’s a little trickier than with the Lomi, given the greater depth of the bucket and the ridges leading down to the bottom. If there’s a blockage that keeps the grinding arm from moving, the manual says to “manually soak the bucket with boiling water and mild soap overnight.”

Smells and sounds are minimal

Once running, neither machine is particularly disruptive. I tested both on my kitchen counter and in my hallway storage closet (making sure there were at least 6 inches on all sides to allow for proper venting). The Vitamix is slightly quieter than the Lomi, with a low buzz or hum throughout the cycle that was barely noticeable when I was in the same room as the machine, and not at all audible when I was in the next room over. The exception was when I ran cycles that included an avocado pit; for a period of time in the beginning, I could hear it knocking around. The Lomi makes a similar humming noise, albeit a bit louder. I didn’t mind it when I was in the same room, but if you’re particularly sensitive to ancillary sounds, you could tire of the buzzing (especially considering it will last for anywhere from three to 17 hours, depending on the mode).

Both machines have filters present to absorb any offensive smells, and they seem to do the job well. The Lomi has a single cartridge that you fill with activated charcoal pellets; the Vitamix has a pellet cartridge as well as a carbon foam liner preinstalled in the machine lid. When close to either machine, I would occasionally notice a smell, but it was more of a very subtle earthy smell; it wasn’t unpleasant and didn’t evoke gross, rotten food at all. By and large, though, I didn’t smell anything coming from either the Lomi or the Vitamix. That said, if you want to keep the odors at bay, you’ll have to be diligent about replacing the carbon filters.

The Lomi allows for a wider range of nonfood waste

The Lomi Bloom’s ability to take (approved) bioplastics and other packaging materials sets it apart not only from the Vitamix FoodCycler but also from backyard compost piles. While compostable plastics are becoming increasingly common, they typically can only be composted in industrial facilities. The “Lomi approved” mode on the countertop machine offers a handy workaround: By breaking down the approved bioplastics, it creates an end product that actually can go into your backyard pile without the need for those high-powered, high-heat machines. Even if you don’t have your own compost pile, this mode can still help you divert certain compostable plastics and packaging from landfills, whether by tossing the end product in a green bin or offering it to a neighbor who composts. The only nonfood waste the Vitamix FoodCycler Eco 5 accepts is “a small amount of paper towel/tissue.”

The Vitamix may have an edge up on food waste allowances

I was impressed to see that the Vitamix FoodCycler Eco 5 can process avocado pits, which are a definite “no” for the Lomi. As I previously mentioned, the pits make a knocking sound early on in the cycle, but they do indeed get broken down with the rest of the food waste by the end. The Vitamix seems to also allow for a greater range of other food waste than the Lomi: While the Lomi can’t process any hard bones (fish bones are OK), the Vitamix allows for poultry bones as well as pork and lamb bones “in small amounts.” The same goes for hard pits (like those from peaches and mangoes); they’re on the Lomi “don’t” list but on the Vitamix “in small amounts” list.

While the FoodCycler accepts more meat and produce waste, the Lomi does seem to win out on processed foods. The Vitamix manual’s FAQ page states, “Do not cycle … candy, gum, nuts or hard shells.” The Lomi Bloom, on the other hand, allows for limited amounts of “confectionery items,” thin nut shells and meat.

You may also want to consider how much you can put in each machine at once. The Vitamix bucket has nearly double the capacity of the Lomi’s at approximately 5 liters. If your household produces a lot of food waste, this theoretically means you won’t have to run cycles as frequently. (You do have to be a bit strategic when loading the bucket; I found that, perhaps because of the ridges in the lower half of the Vitamix bucket, sometimes the waste piled up in a way that there wasn’t actually room for much more than in the Lomi.)

The Vitamix seems to grind more consistently

When comparing the outputs from the Vitamix FoodCycler and the Lomi (all three modes), I found the former brand did a slightly better job of consistently breaking down the waste into the driest and most dirt-like substance. The caveat here is that each cycle contained a slightly different mix of waste (I had to work with what I actually had in my kitchen), but I did attempt to keep things as similar as possible.

For the most part, both machines produced a similar fertilizer (in terms of look and feel), but the Lomi occasionally fell short in fully dehydrating the food waste in its “Eco-express” and “Lomi approved” modes, leaving me with an output more likely to grow mold. (I didn’t have that issue in “Grow” mode.) I also included a ripped-up bioplastic bag in the “Lomi approved” mode, and the machine didn’t break it down into as minuscule of pieces as I expected. That said, given you’re not supposed to use the “Lomi approved” output directly into soil anyway, it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal; the machine still seemingly processed the material enough to go into a compost bin (and, if anything, you can run a second cycle to break it down further).

The Lomi is more aesthetically pleasing

The Lomi was clearly designed to sit on your counter in plain view. The machine has a high-end look and feel, with a sleek exterior and rounded shape. The smooth, matte finish elevates the Lomi to something beyond “functional appliance” and keeps the machine from showing fingerprints and dust, which is a nice bonus. Plus, it’s available not only in classic black and white options but also Sage Green. I have the latter, and I love the addition of (nature-evoking) color in my kitchen.

The Lomi lid also includes “windows” that allow you to see the process in action, which is honestly pretty cool. It’s fascinating to take peeks during the various stages, seeing food scraps become a muddy mixture and then dry dirt over time. Would I make my decision based on this factor alone? No, but it’s a nice bonus.

The Vitamix isn’t an eyesore, though. The FoodCycler also has a nice, matte finish — available in white and black — but it does have a slightly more industrial look than the Lomi, with its boxy shape and more pronounced handle and branding.

Though the Lomi’s wide bottom will occupy a larger footprint on your counter, the Vitamix’s height makes it feel more imposing; in my kitchen, it reaches almost to the base of the cabinets above it. Of course, if you’re not planning to keep the machine out on your counter between uses, none of this matters.

Both machines are a financial investment

At baseline, the Lomi Bloom and Vitamix FoodCycler Eco 5 are actually the same price: $599, which is certainly steep. Neither edges out the other when you factor in ongoing costs either. Both brands recommend replacing various carbon filters to keep smells at bay, and if you like using Lomi Pods or Vitamix’s FoodCycler Foodilizer Tablets, the recurring prices can really add up.

Lomi offers various subscription and bundling options, which can help you save a little bit on these recurring purchases, including a comprehensive membership package that knocks down the price of the Lomi from $599 to $499 but adds an additional $20 per month (billed quarterly) for unlimited Lomi Pods and filter refills and a three-year extended warranty. Depending on how frequently you plan to use your Lomi Bloom (and whether or not you care about adding in Lomi Pods), that could save you some money, but if you’re only going to run occasional cycles and aren’t too picky about your fertilizer nutrients, you’re better off just going with the $599 hardware-only purchase.

Bottom line

If your goal is to create finished compost to use in your garden, your best bet is probably to avoid a countertop machine altogether and go the more traditional composting route. “If you know what you’re doing, a traditional composting process will yield a much better end product,” Whiton says. “This is because of a greater diversity of inputs, a greater diversity of microorganisms involved and more time for them to do their job. These countertop devices are like training wheels on a bike: You probably won’t fall over, but you’re not going to win any medals either.”

That said, if you don’t have the ability or desire to compost another way, both the Lomi Bloom and the Vitamix FoodCycler Eco 5 are solid alternatives. “In any case, it is better than having that food waste hauled off to a landfill where it will produce methane and take those nutrients out of the food system completely,” Whiton says.

If you want a heavy-duty grinder that can handle tougher waste, a bigger bucket that accommodates a larger volume or the simplest device, the Vitamix is likely your best bet — especially if you have space to keep a bulkier machine on your counter or out of sight. It’s also worth noting that Vitamix has a long-standing reputation as a reliable company, and the FoodCycler Eco 5 comes with a three-year warranty (compared to Lomi’s one-year). But if the actual look of the device matters to you or you want the freedom of breaking down a larger variety of nonfood waste, the Lomi is a great overall buy. Plus, the brand offers a 30-day, “no questions asked” free trial, with free return shipping — a pretty major benefit if you’re on the fence about this whole countertop composting thing.