KitchenAid Artisan Mini Review

The KitchenAid Artisan Mini is the runt in a family of very capable stand mixers, such as the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. Don't let this machine's small size fool you; it can do the work of much larger mixers. The only significant downside is that the machine's 3.5-quart bowl limits the size of the recipes it can handle. Also, the product's cost is the price one pays to have a performance mixer that will fit into smaller kitchens.

Performance Comparison

Likes

Our favorite thing about the Artisan Mini standing mixer is that it performs at a very high level despite being a smaller, low-capacity machine. It has all the standard attachments — flat paddle, dough hook, whisk — and maintains the attachment port that is so popular among KitchenAid enthusiasts. Most importantly, it has a powerful 250-watt motor that can handle the contents of its 3.5-quart bowl.

Surprisingly, the Artisan Mini excelled in the kneading metric tests. We thought this undertaking would be the province of much larger mixers; however, this little machine proved us wrong. As such, we find this machine to be a viable solution for passionate cooks and bakers with limited space to store a larger giant stand mixer.

Dislikes

Our critique of this machine is limited to a few minor points. Primarily, the small bowl poses problems for production cooking and baking, but this is a compromise that should be obvious and the result of limited kitchen real estate. Also, the machine's beater attachment tends to dig a bit of a hole in the bowl contents, requiring the user to get involved with the spatula from time to time. Also, this deficit can result in the grating of ingredients like chocolate chips.

Finally, the narrow diameter of the bowl exacerbates the bowl-access issue common to all mixers with the motor mounted in the head of the machine. The consequence at clean-up time is relatively minor but worth mentioning.

Should You Buy the KitchenAid Artisan Mini?

The KitchenAid Artisan Mini offers users a lot of power and performance in a relatively small package. This machine boasts all the features that KitchenAid is known for, such as the standard dough hook, whisk, and flat beater, as well as the aftermarket attachment port. Moreover, it has ample power in its 250-watt motor. While the compact size of this machine comes at a bit of a premium, it is well worth the cost if you're a productive cook with a compact kitchen who is ready to add a handy kitchen appliance.

What Other Stand Mixers Should You Consider?

If cost isn't a limiting factor for you, we suggest going with a larger mixer, such as the KitchenAid 6-Qt Professional Bowl-Lift or KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer. Overall, they perform exceptionally well and will likely manage most tasks thrown at them.