This blogpost discusses the differences between two KitchenAid stand mixers: the KitchenAid Artisan (regular) and the KitchenAid Classic. The classic is significantly less expensive. Its motor has more power, but it’s also louder and not as efficient in blending thick batters as well as delicate ones. This mixer is a good choice for anyone who bakes regularly or cooks with thicker ingredients like cake batter or cookie dough because its powerful motor can handle kneading large batches at high speed.
As mentioned, the Artisan was released in 2003. It became an instant hit and many reviewers claimed it to be their favorite mixer ever. Since then there have been some upgrades. The model that’s available now is more efficient and controls are easier to use. The bowl of the Artisan holds about 2 quarts ( 2 liters) and it has a lip at the edge that makes it easier to pour in ingredients.
This mixer is strong enough to handle the heaviest cakes and cookie doughs. It comes with a wire whisk, dough hook and stainless steel flat beater that do their job well. The Artisan is packaged with a pouring shield that protects you against splashes while adding ingredients to the bowl. It also comes with an ingredient chute where you can add things directly instead of taking off the bowl every time you add something new. Another feature worth mentioning is its tilt-head design which allows almost anyone to safely clean its interiors after use, no matter how tall they are.
Many people who bought this mixer fell in love with it immediately and its praises have been spread all over the internet. This has made its price drop by a few dollars compared to the Classic version. If you don’t need the extra power of Classic version, the Artisan is still a good choice.
[PLEASE NOTE: the current model of Artisan is not able to run on low speed, only on high speed]
The classic was introduced in 2007 and functions identically to today’s Artisan. It also comes with a pouring shield and an ingredient chute as well as tilting head for easy cleaning after use. The only difference is that the shield and the chute are not included in the Classic version.
In the reviews, many people claim that the Classic was their favorite KitchenAid model (it’s still one of my favorites). It’s quieter and more efficient than Artisan version. The liquid cup measurements are larger on Classic version as well compared to Artisan. Plus, this machine also comes with a pouring shield like Artisan. All that said, I don’t recommend paying extra for Artisan over Classic as they’re identical in most ways.
But if you’re a beginner who’s considering getting their first mixer, I’d suggest sticking to Artisan. The Classic can do everything the Artisan can and it is still a good choice for anyone who bakes regularly or makes things like cake batter or cookie dough. If you plan to go with Classic, I’d recommend going to retailers who carry KitchenAid products to make sure you buy the unit with pouring shield and chute as these items do not come with this model.
Both models are designed for heavy-duty use, but the Artisan has more power to handle the most demanding of tasks, like kneading 1 pound pizza dough or large batches of cookies at a time without slowing down. Plus, its tilt-head design makes it easier for you to reach the bowl to add ingredients without having to lift the entire mixer.
However, the Classic is more efficient than Artisan in some ways. It’s quieter when mixing heavier doughs and batters because its motor isn’t overworked as much as in Artisan version. This mixer is also smaller than Artisan which makes it easier to store. It comes with measurements on liquid cup so you can measure your ingredients easily and since the motor is less powerful than Artisan, you don’t have to worry about your cake getting stuck or dough balling up on you while mixing.
But don’t get me wrong. If you want to get the Artisan, don’t hesitate. It’s still a very good mixer and if you can afford it, it will last you for a long time. There are so many differences between these two models that I am not sure where to even begin. Let’s start with the motor. Classic model features 325 watt single-speed motor while Artisan features 575 watt 3-speed motor with direct drive transmission (versus the top-heavy belt system on classic model).
The newer upsell on classic is 325 watts, but both Artisan and Classic’s older motors are 325 watts (the newer upsell is due to its variable speed feature which allows for speed adjustments). Additionally, the tilt-head on Artisan model is more convenient for adding ingredients to your mix than the top-heavy classic model and it’s easier to clean up after use.
The pouring shield and ingredient chute are also very convenient features that allow you to quickly add ingredients without moving the entire mixer (this is great for making large batches). The different attachments (wire whisk, dough hook and flat beater) do their respective jobs well, though I think the wire whisk is unable to whip light meringue.
Classic comes with a 4.5 qt stainless steel bowl while Artisan comes with 5 qt bowl (which doesn’t seem like much of a difference). I believe both bowls are dishwasher safe. The classic model comes with a smooth-face seal made from flexible material that can handle a lot of pressure, which makes it quieter and more efficient at mixing.
Artisan is also quiet and efficient for most tasks, but some people report a little noise during peak mixing times or when adding larger amounts of heavier ingredients (like when making bread dough). But overall these two models perform really well and there isn’t much difference between them. My suggestion is to go with Classic if you won’t be using your mixer for extended periods of time (i.e. about an hour or less at a time) because it does better with smaller batches than Artisan does.
Both models are top-heavy and heavy. This is great if you plan to store this in your pantry, but it’s bad if you want to use it for traveling or to transport the bowl from one place to another.
The classic model comes with a removable bowl so you can easily transfer heavy dough into it without fear of breaking the bowl.
This is a great feature if you plan to use this for traveling (like making bread). However, Artisan doesn’t come with a bowl and that makes using it while traveling a little tricky (though I did find this solution ). When pouring water into the bowl, there are three buttons: fill, stop and clear. I like the clear button because it allows you to easily clean up the spills that may occur if you are adding stuff at the last minute.
Both models come with a dough hook, flat beater and wire whip so you’ll be able to make pretty much anything with these two models. Even though Artisan has a larger capacity for mixing, I don’t recommend using it for bigger recipes except if you’re comfortable with upgrading to another machine (this is one of my favorites ).
If you’re a beginner baker, I recommend sticking to Classic over Artisan because there’s not much difference between these two machines when it comes to the dough hook or flat beater or even the wire whisk (they both do their thing well). The only difference between these two models is the speed, which I find varies a lot depending on what you’re doing. With Artisan, you can get anywhere from 3000 RPM to about 400 RPM with this mixer compared to Classic’s 100 RPM (which also goes up and down depending on what tasks are being performed) .
Classic model comes with an adjustable speed which allows you to adjust it according to your need. Again, if you’re a beginner baker, don’t necessarily go with Artisan because its speed gets really fast and this might cause some issues for you. One good thing about Artisan is how it’s able to handle big batches of dough without having to slow down. The power cord on Classic model is about 8 feet long and Artisan’s is about 10 feet (I think). Both models come with a one-year warranty that covers defects and workmanship errors. However, both models are overall very durable and will serve their purpose even after years of use .
What is the difference between a KitchenAid Classic and artisan?
The classic is a 325 watt model , while the artisan is a 575 watt model (though the speed of Artisan is controlled by KitchenAid). Classic’s mixing bowl holds 4 1/2 quarts and Artisan’s bowl holds 5 quarts (so there’s not really much of a difference here). The Artisan comes with flat beater, dough hook, wire whip and pouring shield whereas the classic comes with flat beater and dough hook. I think you can use the whisk to blend eggs but not for things like whipping egg whites. Further, for some reason I feel Artisan does better with handling big batches than classic does. It is however could be easily breakable if you are not careful. This is the highest end mixer that I have tried and it is fantastic (even more so than my parents mixer). Artisan comes with the 3-speed control and tilt head which is a big advantage. I highly recommend this one for someone who plans to bake on regular basis .
What is the difference between custom and Artisan KitchenAid mixers?
Both of them are very similar in terms of performance and both of them have a 5-quart stainless steel bowl. The custom has a 325 watt motor, while the artisan has a 375 watt motor. The only real difference between these two models is that custom has nylon gears and the artisan has metal gears (both are very sturdy and high quality). If for some reason you plan to do heavy duty mixing, then I recommend getting the custom model because metal gears can handle a bit more pressure than nylon gears. Nylon gears however seem to be easier on your motor, which means that metal vs. nylon gears are probably not going to be noticeable unless you’re doing heavy duty stuff (like kneading bread dough).
What is the difference between KitchenAid Classic and Classic Plus mixer?
The Classic is the lower end of the two model (as mentioned above in “What is the difference between a KitchenAid Classic and artisan?”). At about half the price you get a lot of the same features with this model like bowl lift, tilt head, 3-speed control and anti-slide feet. The only real difference between these two models is that Classic comes with a 1-year warranty vs. 2 years with Classic Plus (which also means better customer service). These features however are not noticeable when buying a mixer since they come standard on all models.
How to clean a KitchenAid Machine?
Classic: Use warm water, mild liquid dish soap and mild detergent .
Artisan: Use warm water, dish soap and mild detergent .
How to clean a KitchenAid Mixer?
Classic: Use warm water, mild liquid dish soap and mild detergent .
Artisan: Use warm water, dish soap and mild detergent .
How to keep a KitchenAid Mixer in good condition?
This depends on how you use it. If you are cleaning up after every single use and are not storing the mixer for months at a time (and I seriously doubt you’re doing that), then I recommend cleaning your mixer just before they go out of warranty.
Can I use the same bowl for making dough and whipping cream?
What about using the same bowl for bread dough and whipped cream? I’ve done that multiple times without ever having any problems so feel free to give it go . You will however want to thoroughly clean your bowl after using it for something like whipped cream, since that stuff can get really sticky .
CONCLUSION:
If you’re looking for the best performing mixer on the market, then I highly recommend the Artisan. At about double the cost of Classic, it’s hard to imagine that a 575 watt motor and metal gears are worth it (I mean if you compare apples to apples, then a 325 watt motor and nylon gears from classic should be worth $100 more than a 375 watt motor and metal gears from artisan). While there’s no denying that Artisan is probably the best model in KitchenAid’s lineup, I still recommend Classic over Artisan because they both do the same thing with very little difference.
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