(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: about 99 ratings, pooled across colors.
A stylish retro mixer with a 750 W motor and spiral hook that kneads better than KitchenAid tilt-heads, but its whisk and beater miss the bowl sides, the head bounces, and the bowl scratches easily.
Top complaints
- Leaves ingredients on the bowl sides
Serious Eats says the whisk didn't catch the sides when whipping cream, so it had to stop and scrape. Homes & Gardens found the one-sided flex-edge beater left butter around the bowl.
- Head bounces; accessories fit roughly
Both Serious Eats and Homes & Gardens saw the head bounce while kneading; Homes & Gardens worries this could loosen the joint over time and found the dough hook scraped and caught when fitted.
- Scratch-prone bowl, no half speed
Homes & Gardens got deep scratches in the stainless bowl from a metal cookie scoop and missed a half (folding) speed. Amazon's summary says reliability feedback is mixed, with some units not working properly.
What owners love
- Better kneading than KitchenAid tilt-heads
Serious Eats says its spiral dough hook made smoother, more elastic pizza dough than KitchenAid's C-shaped hook. Homes & Gardens got airy focaccia.
- Stable, with a slow start
It didn't walk even at top speed, and the slow start kept flour in the bowl (Serious Eats).
Source: Serious Eats (best stand mixers) - Looks and quality
Amazon shoppers love its appearance and quality; Homes & Gardens notes seven colors.
- You need a gentle folding speed
- You hate stopping to scrape the bowl
- You use metal scoops in the bowl
- Bread bakers who want a tilt-head
- Matching other Smeg appliances
- Pizza and focaccia dough
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Serious Eats: A stylish mixer just as good as KitchenAid and the best option for bread bakers below the Ankarsrum; the whisk misses the bowl sides and the head bounces a bit.
- Homes & Gardens: 4.5 stars: powerful and easy, but with a scratch-prone bowl, no folding speed, a one-sided flex beater and a bouncing head; the Artisan Plus edged it out.