For yonks I have lusted over owning my own kitchenAid artisan mixer. There is just something about their retro charm that I can’t get enough of. Whenever I see this iconic stand mixer in peoples kitchens I always think they look super stylish, and nobody I know has ever bad-mouthed them.
Well, on Valentine’s Day this year, I was handed a significantly hefty box! Therefor, I am beyond excited (and incredibly grateful) to report that a lifelong dream has been fulfilled. I am now, at long last, part of the KitchenAid mixer squad.
James spoilt me with the KitchenAid Artisan mini mixer in the matte black colourway. Aka the cutest miniature stand mixer on planet Earth, I absolutely love it.
So, let’s take a little look at how it works and how it compares to its big brother the Artisan. Because if you think the mini is a bit of a gimmick, lacking in power or attachment options. You are wrong.
In this article...
Size & Capacity on the Artisan Mini
Let’s start with the obvious talking point; It’s size.
The Artisan mini (as the name suggests) is a miniature version of the Artisan. It is 20% smaller and 25% lighter than it’s bigger sibling. The mini has a much smaller footprint, which is great for people with shared or small kitchens where workspace is somewhat limited. The smaller size however, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on power. The mini uses the same powerful 250 watt motor, so it won’t be struggling to keep up.
The mini isn’t so small that it looks ridiculous or like a child’s toy sat on your kitchen side. It’s actually a really decent size. If you had the Artisan and the mini side by side though, you would really be able to tell the size difference. 36 (H) x 24 (W) x 37 (D) cm vs 31 (H) x 19 (W) x 31 (D) cm.
The brushed steel bowl of the mini has a capacity of 3.3L, compared to the larger 4.8L bowl of the Artisan mixer. I haven’t found the 3.3L to be a problem at all. There was no trouble mixing up a batch of stiff cookie dough, and it was big enough to cope with my chocolate Oreo cake recipe which makes 3 layers of 8 inch cake. Sometimes, if anything, the smaller bowl is actually a bonus as it fills up quicker and stops some of the mixture from trying to escape up the sides of the bowl.
The mini is made of the same cast-iron construction making it super robust and reliable. Because of it’s smaller size it does make it a little lighter 6.5kg vs 10.4kg meaning it’s slightly more portable if you’re wanting to move it in and out of a cupboard. Though, when it’s this gorgeous, I think it should take centre stage and not be hidden away.
Attachments for the mini KitchenAid
The mini comes with the 3.3L bowl, a wire whisk, dough hook and flat beater. (These aren’t interchangeable with the Artisan ones, as they are a different size)
However, don’t assume that because it’s smaller you have to miss out on the array of kitchenAid attachments. All of the following can be used:
- PASTA CUTTERS AND ROLLER 3-PIECE SET
- PASTA PRESS – 6 SHAPES
- MEAT GRINDER AND SAUSAGE STUFFER
- PASTA ROLLER
- MEAT GRINDER
- SAUSAGE STUFFER EXTENSION PACK
- FOOD PROCESSOR FOR MIXER
- VEGETABLE SLICER AND SHREDDER
- VEGETABLE SHREDDER AND GRATER EXTENSION PACK
- SPIRALIZER TO PEEL, CORE AND SLICE
- VEGETABLE SHEET CUTTER
- SLOW JUICER
- ORANGE JUICER
- FOOD STRAINER EXTENSION PACK
- FOOD GRINDER AND STRAINER SET
- INGREDIENT TRAY EXTENSION PACK
- SIFTER AND SCALE
- GRAIN MILL
In fact, there are only 2 attachments that don’t fit, and that’s the ice cream maker and the precise heat mixing bowl. Simply because the bowl is too big for the base of the mini mixer. The juicer attachment listed above will fit the mini. Although, the carafe provided is too tall to fit under this model, so you would have to use a shorter container to collect the juice.
The mini doesn’t come with a splash guard like some of the other models do. But the paddle’s planetary action helps keep all the ingredients in the bowl without making a mess. That’s because the beater rotates in one direction while it’s whisk turns the other way. As a result, the ingredients constantly get pushed towards the centre of the bowl.
How noisy is the Artisan Mini?
At the end of the day it’s a mixer, and I’m not sure there will ever be a completely silent one.
Having said that, I wouldn’t say it’s all-that loud. Obviously the faster the speed, the louder it gets. Even on full speed though, it’s much quieter than my hand mixer was. Now that thing was intense!
Price and colour options on the mini
As it’s a lot smaller, you’d like to think the price would also be much lower. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case here. The mini currently retails for £349, and some of the Artisans (depending on colour) can be found for £399. Not all of them though, certain colours are £599 which would mean you’re getting it a lot cheaper!
One downfall is there aren’t as many colour options with the Artisan mini. Compared to the bigger Artisan, which has a vast colour and design selection. My favourite shades are called ‘Pebble Palm’ and ‘Fog Blue’. Sadly they are only available with the Artisan.
So, Should you buy the Artisan Mini over the Artisan?
If you just do a bit of casual baking, and aren’t trying to do double or triple batches of recipes. Then I think the mini will be perfectly big enough for you. It’s the ideal size for making a normal batch of cookies, or a 3 layer 8 inch cake. It’s just as powerful as the Artisan. It can have nearly all of the same attachments. It takes up less countertop space. As well as all that, in certain colours you will be saving yourself a considerable amount of hard earnt cash.
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