If you’re planning a kitchen redesign or just want to add more useful appliances to your existing set-up, you’ve probably already heard of KitchenAid. The brand has produced dozens of popular products over the years and continues to impress.
Knowing what separates each model isn’t easy with so many stand mixers on the market. Both the KitchenAid Classic and the Artisan are excellent mixers, but they do have a few differences.
This article will shed light on the KitchenAid Classic vs Artisan debate, so you can choose the mixer that is best for you.
KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer
The Classic, the company’s entry-level model, is a medium-sized stand mixer by KitchenAid. It’s perhaps the most affordable of KitchenAid mixers, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious buyers who still want to benefit from KitchenAid’s outstanding quality and dependability.
The KitchenAid Classic includes a 4.3-liter stainless steel mixing bowl, a wire whisk, dough hook, and flat beater — everything that a home baker requires. This mixer is particularly great when it comes to affordability and ease of use.
KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer Features
Let’s look at the features of the Kitchenaid Classic Stand Mixer:
Tilt-Head Design
The Classic is a tilt-head stand mixer. Tilt-head variants allow the mixer’s head to return to its original position on the neck while the bowl remains attached to the base. You’ll have easier access to the bowl when adding ingredients or snapping on your favorite attachment.
Material, Weight, and Dimension
This mixer measures 8 3/4 inches wide, 13 inches high, 14 1/8 inches deep, and weighs around 25 pounds. It’ll take up just over 1 square foot of space on your countertop.
The bowl and accessories for this stand mixer are made from stainless steel and anti-stick nylon-coated aluminum, which is why the machine can handle heavy mixing so effectively.
Planetary Mixing Action
The revolutionary planetary mixing motion of the Classic KitchenAid comes in handy for at-home bakers.
The overall attachment rotates one way while the beater spins in the opposite direction. This motion ensures that all components in your batter are constantly brought to the bowl’s center, leaving nothing to stick to the sides.
Bowl Size
The KitchenAid mixer Classic model includes a handle-free 4 1/2 liter brushed stainless steel bowl that can hold up to two cake mixes or icing.
Power
This model’s battery is rated at 250 Watts, but it only provides enough power to mix occasional cookie and bread dough.
Mixing Speed
The 10-Speed Solid-State control with the direct-drive transmission on the Classic mixer gives you more flexibility while adding ingredients, ranging from a leisurely stir to a quick whip. It also makes achieving perfect outcomes a lot easier.
Pros
- Ideal for a single batch
- Sturdy and stable
- The most cost-effective KitchenAid stand mixer
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy and dense dough
- There is no handle on the bowl
KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
There’s a good reason why the KitchenAid Artisan is constantly compared to the Classic. It comes with a stainless steel or glass bowl (each with a handle), is available in over 20 color options and patterns, and has a slightly larger capacity of 5 quarts.
The glass mixing bowl has measurements carved on its outside for convenience. The tilt-head body of this mixer is slightly higher than the Classic, giving you more room to work, and the stainless steel bowl comes with a handle and a pouring cover to keep messy ingredients from splashing.
Main Features of KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer
Here are the features that make KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer a worthy competitor to the KitchenAid Classic:
Models
With a basic 5-quart model and an Artisan Mini 3.5-quart alternative, the Artisan series offers more product variety than the Classic series. Artisan Mini mixers are (as their name implies) smaller, lighter, less powerful, and less priced versions of the standard Artisan mixer.
Bowl Capacity
The Artisan bowl holds 5 quarts, while the Artisan Mini holds 3.5 quarts — that’s 4.5 bread loaves or nine dozen cookies if you’re going all out.
Material and Weight
The Artisan Stand Mixer comes with a stainless steel bowl. That said, there are different stainless steel or glass bowls you can purchase for it, depending on your preferences.
This particular unit is over 25 pounds, which is just about the perfect weight since it won’t move around on your counter while you work with it — even if you’re kneading bread.
Power
A 325-watt motor powers the Artisan mixer, and it’s made from all-metal gears except for one nylon gear which protects the motor. Say the beater stops spinning for any reason. In that case, the nylon gear will rip before the motor actually burns out.
Attachments
You can choose from a large number of attachments to use with this mixer. There are over 15 accessories for your KitchenAid Artisan. These accessories allow it to transform into other handy appliances, like an ice cream maker, grain mill, or vegetable spiralizer. The standard attachments are:
- Paddle beater
- 6-Wire Whisk
- Spiral Dough Hook
- Pouring Shield
Pros
- Works well for whipping, kneading, and combining
- Available in 40 different colors
- Pouring is a breeze, thanks to the handle on the bowl
- A variety of attachments to convert your mixer into a pasta roller or an ice cream machine
- One-year warranty
Cons
- It is more expensive than the Classic mixer
- The stand mixers are large and bulky, taking up a lot of counter space
The KitchenAid Classic vs Artisan Mixer
The KitchenAid Classic and the KitchenAid Artisan mixers have a lot in common, but they also have a lot of differences. Here are the main differences summarised:
- The Classic has a bowl with 4.5 quarts, while the Artisan has a larger 5-quart bowl, which gives it a higher load capacity.
- The Artisan bowl has a polished stainless steel finish, while the Classic has a brushed finish.
- The Artisan comes with a plastic pouring shield and a comfortable handle, but the Classic doesn’t.
- The Classic’s motor is 250 watts, less than the Artisan’s 325 watts powerful motor.
- Classic mixers are only available in white, black, or silver, whereas Artisan mixers come in over 40 colors.
- Artisan mixers are more pricey compared to the Classic mixers.
Which One is the Winner?
So who wins the KitchenAid Classic vs Artisan battle? The answer is, it depends. The “perfect” mixer for you could be either of the two, depending on your budget and preferences. Jot down your requirements and then buy the mixer that satisfies most, if not all, of those.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | KitchenAid KITCH K45SSOB Mixer 4.5, 250watts, Onyx Black | PrimeEligible | Buy Now On Amazon | |
 | KitchenAid KSM150PSAQ Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield - Aqua Sky | PrimeEligible | Buy Now On Amazon |
