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Pros

  • comes in a variety of colours, compatible with KitchenAid accessories, good range of speed settings, high-quality consistent results

Cons

  • wire whisk isn't dishwasher-safe, no high-tech features

KitchenAid Artisan summary

Premium appliance brand KitchenAid are world-renowned for their iconic stand mixers. The Artisan is the largest of KitchenAid’s mid-sized stand mixers and is available in a range of colours. Plus, KitchenAid release a “colour of the year” annually.

There are three different types of Artisan to choose from, check out the model code to work out which one you're buying. An entry-level model (125) includes a 4.8L bowl, wire whisk, dough hook and beater. There’s the 175 which includes the same accessories as the 125 as well as a flex-edge beater, additional 3L bowl and splatter guard. The 175 is also available in more colours. Finally, there’s the Artisan Premium (185), which comes with everything minus the flex-edge beater, but is available in six premium colours and the attachments are all stainless steel. The body and the mechanics of each of the stand mixers are exactly the same; it’s just a case of working out how much you’ve got to spend and – perhaps most importantly – what colour you’d like.

How easy is the KitchenAid Artisan to use?

With no high-tech components or fiddly attachments to figure out, putting the KitchenAid Artisan together is a simple affair. If you’re stumped though, useful imagery is provided to guide you.

The tilt head lifts easily and is secured in place with a satisfying and audible click. The attachments simply need to be pushed and locked into place.

The Artisan isn’t the lightest of models, but considering how attractive it is, it deserves pride of place on the kitchen counter. There are ten speeds to choose from, though unlike the Mini and Classic KitchenAid models, there’s no half-speed to get mixes going.

All attachments except for the wire whisk are dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up.

Results

We made a chocolate fudge cake using both the flex-edge beater and the standard beater. When using the standard beater we had to scrape down the sides of the bowl twice to ensure every ingredient was incorporated; this wasn’t the case with the flex-edge beater. We’d recommend investing in the flex-edge if you plump for the 125 or 185 model and are looking to make cakes primarily. On both tests, the cake came out light, fluffy and well-risen.

Despite its relatively low wattage (300W), the Artisan is punchy when whisking on high speed. The meringue came together quickly, producing stiff peaks.

The dough hook kneaded the enriched dough well; it had a soft and bouncy texture before baking and an open, airy texture after.

olive’s take: should you buy the KitchenAid Artisan?

This stand mixer is iconic for a reason. Not only is it one of the most attractive models on the market, but its performance is consistently impressive. Whether it is dough, batter or meringue, this model handles everyday baking tasks with absolute ease.

With a wealth of additional attachments available, from pasta rollers to ice-cream-makers, the KitchenAid Artisan is a versatile, high-quality and attractive choice.

KitchenAid Artisan specifications

Wattage: 300W
Product weight: 10.4kg
Size (cm): H 36 X W 24 X D 37
Speed settings: 10
Capacity of bowl(s): 4.8L
Attachments included: balloon whisk, flat beater, dough hook (125), splatter guard (185), flex edge beater (175)

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Authors

Lydia AndersonProduct Testing Lead
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