KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
The KitchenAid stand mixer has been an iconic kitchen appliance for almost 
90 years. The Artisan has a classic look, high-quality craftsmanship and is a powerful and reliable mixer constructed with a fully metallic body. The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer is generally regarded as the ultimate in all food mixers, likely to stand out in any kitchen, so here we decided to take a closer look.
Aside from the obvious colour variations, the Artisan Food Mixer looks much like any other mixer on first inspection but the similarity with lesser models soon ends. Just try picking up the Artisan. Weighing in at a reported hefty 11.3Kg, or 25lbs in Imperial measures the Artisan will require a permenant spot on your worktop … you will not want to be trying to pack this baby away after use every time and with such a status symbol in your kitchen would you really want to. If you have shelled out for one of these then everybody needs to know.
That weight does however add to the stability of the machine and identify that this is no plastic fly by night. The smooth metallic body with the tough outer coating means that the Artisan mixer is built to last effectively a lifetime. This is probably the last mixer you will ever buy barring a kitchen catastrophe. The metallic body and mixing bowl are easy to clean and the tough outer case would resist all but the most determined efforts to scratch it – thereby ensuring that no little undesirable nasties get to live deep in the surface scratches like you can get with plastic mixers. Much more hygenic.
The Artisan Stand Mixer features the unique and efficient planetary motion motor that typifies the KitchenAid mixers. This type of mixing action ensures faster and more thorough blending. The beater follows an orbital path around the bowl rather than the circular motion of the majority of mixers, so that the entire contents of the bowl are combined in the mixing process rather than having bits left around the side of the bowl which you find in so many other mixers, even high end machines.
Even worse with poorer designed machines, the ingredients are simply flung to the outer edges of the bowl with an overrated twin beater or whisk system. Here however, no such problems – with a 10 speed gearbox giving you a range from 58 up to 220 rpm, the blending is smooth and consistent with all of the ingredients remaining in the bowl and not pebble dashed around your kitchen for cleaning up later on.
A shield is provided if you are spraying with the Artisan; but you simply turn down the 10 speed gearbox to a perfect rate, walk away and leave it while you get on with your more creative adventures in the kitchen. The Artisan is so well balanced it does not go for a loud vibrato wander across the worksurface if you walk away like some lightweight wannabes do.
The single attachment hub makes it easy to assemble, all parts are easy to clean and consequently it is very user friendly. When you’re mixing is finished to your liking, simply pop the head back on the pivot for easy access too.
This product comes with a 5 years manufacturer’s warranty.
One of the clear benefits with the Artisan Stand Mixer over the Classic K45, is the array of colours and finishes to match pretty much any kitchen or taste. The range includes Brushed Nickel or a myriad of colours to match your kitchen design including Caviar Black, Onyx Black, Metallic Grey, Empire Red, Candy Apple Red, Bronze, Chocolate, Cobalt Blue, Boysenberry Purple, Pear Green, Apple Green, Pink, Majestic Yellow, Cream, Almond Cream and White.
One point worthy of note is that the colours do have varying price tags, so beware the top of the range Brushed Nickel if you are on a budget, but if you are lucky enough to be able to shop at the top of the range for what is really a commercial standard machine not a domestic, do you really worry about the label?
Another point to bear in mind if you do have wider aspirations … the entire Artisan range of small kitchen appliances made by KitchenAid. The KitchenAid range is made to the same exacting standards you will find on the Artisan Stand Mixer, but they are not all available in the colour range you will find for the Stand Mixer.
Take for example the Artisan Espresso Maker; it might well make delicious coffee, but it only comes in four colours, so if you want to build the matching set then you may need to think about your colour choice. The iconic Empire Red is available across the range if that fulfils your desires. KitchenAid could do with standardizing a few more of their colour choices to truly expand the possibilities for all tastes.
Verdict
The Artisan is a heavyweight machine with an eyewatering price tag to match – but are they worth the money?
The iconic status of the machines, coupled to their unbeatable performance and durability do make for a rather convincing argument. If you enjoy spending a lot of time in your kitchen using a mixer frequently and you are looking for a machine to use for years to come then go for it – you are simply fulfilling your own desires to enjoy the pleasures a top end piece of quality appliance brings to your life.
