KitchenAid Classic vs. Artisan Mini: Which Mixer Is Right for You?

In this comparison, I break down the similarities and differences between KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mini mixers.

You’ll learn how they differ in size, attachments, colors, power, price, and more.

So, keep reading if you’re shopping for a new KitchenAid stand mixer but can’t decide between Classic and Artisan Mini.

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• KitchenAid Classic vs. Artisan Mini: Key Takeaways
• Comparison Chart
• Similarities Between KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mini Mixers
• Difference 1: Bowl Size
• Difference 2: Bowl Handle
• Difference 3: Bowl Finish
• Difference 4: Flex Edge vs. Coated Flat Beater
• Difference 5: Color Options
• Difference 6: Footprint
• Difference 7: Weight
• Difference 8: Price
• Difference 9: AC vs. DC Motor
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy a KitchenAid Classic or Artisan Mini Mixer?

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Comparison Chart

The chart below provides a quick side-by-side comparison of KitchenAid Classic vs. Artisan Mini stand mixers.

	KitchenAid Classic	KitchenAid Artisan Mini
Mixer Type	Tilt-head	Tilt-head
Soft Start	Yes	Yes
Bowl Size	4.5-quart	3.5-quart
Bowl Materials	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Bowl Handle	No	Yes
Bowl Finish	Brushed (matte)	Polished (shiny)
Pour Shield	No	No
Color Options	3 options	11 options
Motor	275-watt	250-watt
Speeds	10	10
Attachments	– Coated Flat Beater – Coated Dough Hook – 6-Wire Whip	– Flex Edge Beater – Coated Dough Hook – 6-Wire Whip
Height	14 inches	12.5 inches
Width	8.7 inches	7.75 inches
Depth	14 inches	12.5 inches
Weight	22 lb.	16.5 lb.
Price	$$$ (Amazon, KitchenAid.com)	$$$ (Amazon, KitchenAid.com)
Top Reason to Buy	More capacity; less expensive	Smaller footprint; more colors; bowl handle
Top Reason to NOT Buy	Limited colors; heavier	Less capacity; more expensive

Similarities Between KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mini Mixers

KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mini mixers share several key features and design elements.

Tilt-Head Design

Both the Artisan Mini and Classic feature a tilt-head design. Unlike bowl-lift mixers that move up and down with a lever, tilt-head models allow you to unlock and tilt the head back.

This design offers plenty of room to add ingredients and scrape the bowl. By tilting the head back, you can easily replace attachments without removing the bowl or bending yourself in an awkward and uncomfortable position.

Power Hub

Both mixers share the same power hub, where you attach various accessories. You can buy accessories for grinding meat, making pasta, spiralizing vegetables, and more. This universal power hub means the same attachments work with both mixers.

Ten-Speed Control

The Artisan Mini and Classic both offer ten speed settings. Whether you’re gently folding in ingredients or vigorously kneading dough, the mixers have the speed range to handle it all.

Cleaning and Care

You’ll appreciate the low maintenance requirements of these mixers. All the bowls and attachments are dishwasher-safe and easily detachable to make cleaning up a breeze.

Materials and Build

Both mixers are crafted from zinc die castings, a material known for its durability and weight. The heft dampens vibrations and ensures the mixers stay put during operation. The bowls are made from stainless steel, although the finish differs by series (more on that in a minute).

Made in the USA

All KitchenAid mixers are produced in the same factory in Greenville, Ohio. This facility has been making these appliances since 1941. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the manufacturing process in this video.

It’s worth noting that some parts are made overseas. For example, the stainless steel bowls are made in Korea. However, most of the production process happens in KitchenAid’s facilities in the United States.

Motor Power

Although the Classic has a 275-watt motor and the Artisan Mini has a 250-watt motor, both mixers deliver the same power (this is confirmed on KitchenAid.com).

Wattage measures electricity usage, not motor strength. It indicates how much energy the motor draws, not how much force it produces.

Despite the slight wattage difference, Artisan Mini and Classic mixers have identical motor strength and torque. Both reliably handle soft batters, eggs, potatoes, and other everyday recipes.

However, neither will knead thick bread dough as quickly as KitchenAid’s more powerful models like the Professional series.

The point is, don’t let the wattage specs fool you. KitchenAid designed the Artisan Mini and Classic motors to have equal power and performance.

Difference 1: Bowl Size

The most notable difference between the Artisan Mini and Classic is bowl capacity. The Classic has a larger 4.5-quart bowl, while the bowl that comes with Artisan Mini mixers is 3.5 quarts.

With its bigger bowl, the Classic can mixer dough for up to 8 dozen cookies or multiple loaves of bread in one go.

Artisan Mini’s 3.5-quart bowl works well for smaller households. You can make dough for about five dozen cookies or a couple of loaves of bread per batch.

Difference 2: Bowl Handle

Another key difference between these mixers is the bowl design.

Both are stainless steel, but the Artisan Mini bowl has a handle and the Classic does not.

The handle makes lifting and carrying the Artisan Mini’s bowl easier, especially when it’s full of heavy batter or dough. But Classic’s handleless design is easier to clean. There are no awkward nooks or crannies that can trap food debris.

Difference 3: Bowl Finish

Besides the handle, there’s another major difference between the design of Artisan Mini and Classic bowls.

Artisan Mini’s bowl has a polished, mirror-like finish, while the Classic bowl is brushed.

Although the Artisan Mini’s shiny finish looks classy and high-end, fingerprints and smudges are more noticeable. The matte finish on Classic bowls does a better job of hiding imperfections.

Difference 4: Flex Edge vs. Coated Flat Beater

The Classic comes with a coated flat beater that evenly mixes batters.

The Artisan Mini features an innovative flex edge beater. It has a flexible rubber edge that scrapes the sides of the bowl as it mixes.

The rubber edges eliminate the need to stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula. But the Classic’s flat beater gets the job done if you don’t mind the occasional scrape down.

In addition to the beaters, both mixers come with a coated dough hook for kneading bread doughs and a 6-wire whisk to whip cream, whisk egg whites, and aerate light batters.

Difference 5: Color Options

Color choice may seem trivial, but it often plays a role in purchasing decisions, especially for appliances that will sit on your countertop.

The KitchenAid Artisan Mini offers a more diverse palette with nearly a dozen color options, including silver, white, matte white, matte black, cast iron black, candy apple red, empire red, and ice—a light blue hue.

Classic mixers only come in black, white, and gray (pictured below).

Difference 6: Footprint

The footprint, or the amount of counter space a mixer occupies, is a crucial factor if you have a compact kitchen or limited storage.

The Artisan Mini is designed with smaller spaces in mind, measuring 12.5 inches in height, 12.5 inches in depth, and 7.75 inches in width. KitchenAid calls it the ideal apartment stand mixer in this video.

The Classic is slightly larger. It’s 14 inches tall, 14 inches deep, and 8.7 inches wide.

Although Classic mixers take up more space, the larger base makes it more stable during intensive mixing.

Difference 7: Weight

Artisan Mini mixers weigh 16.5 pounds, while Classic mixers weigh 22 pounds.

Artisan Mini’s lighter body makes it easier to move around your kitchen or stash away in a cupboard after use. You can lift it comfortably with two hands.

Classic’s 5.5 extra pounds give it a sturdy, stable base that stays put during vigorous mixing. But the added bulk makes it more challenging to haul from place to place.

Difference 8: Price

KitchenAid is one of the most iconic appliance brands in the world, with a long history of producing mixers that look as good as they perform. But with all that history and decades of high demand comes a price.

Both Classic and Artisan Mini mixers are expensive. Although pricing can vary by retailer, Artisan Mini mixers are usually around 15% more expensive than Classic.

You’d think that Classic mixers would be more pricey because they are larger and have more capacity, but that’s not the case.

Both options are available on KitchenAid.com and Amazon, where you can compare prices.

• Artisan Mini mixers on KitchenAid.com and Amazon
• Classic mixers on KitchenAid.com and Amazon

Difference 9: AC vs. DC Motor

The Artisan Mini has a Direct Current (DC) motor, while the Classic model features an Alternating Current (AC) motor. DC motors are more energy-efficient and produce less noise, which is a nice perk if other household members are reading or watching TV nearby.

In terms of torque, which is the force that the motor generates to mix your ingredients, Some people claim that DC motors have more torque, which is the force that the motor generates to mix your ingredients. However, I have yet to notice a meaningful difference during my testing.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy a KitchenAid Classic or Artisan Mini Mixer?

Now that I’ve covered the key similarities and differences between the KitchenAid Classic and Artisan Mini, it’s time to decide which model is right for your kitchen.

There are three main factors to consider: size, color options, and price.

Classic mixers take up more counter space but cost less, and the bowl is a quart larger. Artisan Mini mixers are smaller, lighter, and come in more colors, but they’re significantly more expensive.

Artisan Mini’s extra color choices are nice if you want your mixer to pop. But the higher price is harder to justify if you don’t necessarily need the smaller footprint. Plus, it’s only 1.5 inches shorter and 1 inch narrower — the difference in size isn’t significant.

If you’re still on the fence, I recommend the Classic. Unless you routinely cook single servings or have severe space limitations, the Classic gives you more for your money.

Read more reviews and compare current prices at the links below:

• Artisan Mini mixers on KitchenAid.com and Amazon
• Classic mixers on KitchenAid.com and Amazon