KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer Single Product Review

Is the KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer worth it?

From professional chefs to occasional chocolate chip cookie bakers, nearly every household and kitchen can benefit from a stand mixer. It allows you to effortlessly knead bread dough, quickly make frosting or whip up fluffy meringue without throwing out your shoulder. With unmatched power and durability, KitchenAid claims to be the number-one mixer brand in the world. 

While the Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Stand Mixer is the lightest and smallest model, it’s packed with the same power as the beloved Classic Stand Mixer. This pared-down appliance is easier to move around and takes up less counter space, making it suitable for smaller kitchens. Whether you’re looking for a new stand mixer that’s easy to manage or an additional option for smaller batches, you might love the KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer.

Testing the KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer 

The BestReviews Testing Lab has a group of testers who analyze products in a real-world environment and strive to investigate every claim KitchenAid makes about the Artisan Mini Stand Mixer. They're familiar with not only KitchenAid stand mixers but also options from other brands. From aesthetics to performance, the BestReviews Testing Lab considers every part of the user experience.

What is the KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer?

For handling tough jobs or multitasking in the kitchen, a stand mixer is an invaluable tool. While a hand mixer is helpful for a variety of small tasks, it doesn’t allow you to juggle more than one job at a time and may not work for heavy dough. That’s where a stationary electric mixer comes into play.

While the KitchenAid 5-Quart Professional Series and 4.5-Quart Classic Stand Mixers are amongst the most popular, they're heavy to lift and take up counter space. The Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Stand Mixer is a welcome model, appealing to those with compromised movement, small kitchens or as an additional stand mixer for pint-sized batches. It’s available in 10 colors to match any kitchen design.

The Artisan Mini boasts 250 watts of power, which is identical to the Classic model. However, it’s 20% smaller and 25% lighter. KitchenAid claims the Mini model can mix up to five dozen cookies or a loaf of bread. Plus, if you have KitchenAid stand mixer attachments for a larger stand mixer, they'll work with the Mini model since it’s designed with the same size power hub.

Inline Link: See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best small stand mixers.

KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer price and where to buy

The KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer retails for $379.95 on Amazon.

How to use the KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer requires hardly any setup other than plugging in the appliance and hooking up an attachment. The box comes with the stand mixer, a 3.5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl, a flex edge beater, coated dough hook and a wire whip. If you’ve used a large stand mixer previously, you’ll notice these attachments are smaller to accommodate the miniature bowl. Before you start, be sure to wipe down everything with a damp cloth to prepare it for food. 

KitchenAid refers to the flat beater as a multipurpose attachment for mixing cakes, cookies, frosting and creaming butter, saying, “The planetary mixing action of the mixer, combined with the bars in the flat beater, gives you thorough ingredient mixing for your recipes.” For whipping creams or egg whites, opt for the wire whip to achieve stiff peaks without a sore arm. The dough hook works for all doughs, including pizza, bread and pasta. 

The Artisan Mini features 10 speeds and a soft start that gradually increases the speed of the mixer. It also has a locking tilt-head that allows you to easily add more ingredients or scrape down the bowl and keeps the head from lifting at high speeds. It effortlessly handled an entire batch of chocolate chip cookies (about 3 pounds of dough) and meringue with 10 egg whites.

KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer benefits

The KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer's size is its most attractive feature and undoubtedly what will entice most users to this 3.5-quart model. It’s easily movable with one hand, takes up little counter space, fits under overhead cabinets and doesn’t require much storage space. Plus, it has the same attractive aesthetic and build as the entire line of stand mixers. 

Even though it’s smaller, it has the same standard-size power hub, allowing it to accept all specialty attachments — if you have the pasta maker or meat grinder, it will fit on the Mini model. The Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Stand Mixer has the same durability and quality you expect from KitchenAid, making it a useful tool in any kitchen.

KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer drawbacks

If you love the 3.5-quart size of the Artisan Mini Stand Mixer, you’ll find little fault with this model. The main drawbacks are that it can’t quite mix tougher batches of dough as thoroughly as its bigger siblings and even got a little warm at one point while working on a heavy dough. That’s not a deal-breaker for those attracted to the size, but it’s something to keep in mind, as heavy wear and tear on the motor may burn it out sooner. 

Similar to its small size is less mixing capacity, especially with the petite attachments. Basically, if you opt for the Artisan Mini, don’t expect it to perform the same jobs as the bigger stand mixers. Also, those new to KitchenAid mixers may find it slightly tricky to connect an attachment, as they’re not super intuitive.

Should you get the KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer?

Overall, the KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer is an unbeatable appliance for any kitchen. Older cooks with compromised movement or strength will appreciate the size and weight, and those with smaller kitchens can finally use a stand mixer that doesn’t take up the entire countertop. Even seasoned chefs or bakers can use this mini model for small batches of sauce or frosting. If you have a need for a lightweight stand mixer, the KitchenAid Artisan Mini 3.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is a quality tool.