Are you an Apple or Android fan? Maybe an Xbox or Playstation gamer? What about Coca-Cola or Pepsi? At heart, we are all creatures of habit. We become loyal to one brand and find it hard to steer away from what we know and love.
When it comes to stand mixers, Kenwood vs KitchenAid might be one of the biggest rivalries that spring to mind. Both companies offer a range of high-quality stand mixers that have been at the top of their game for decades. If you are having trouble with the KitchenAid vs Kenwood conundrum, you are certainly not alone. It’s no easy feat to separate these kitchen appliance kings.
KitchenAid has been a countertop icon since the 1920s and has brought a splash of style to millions of homes around the world.Although KitchenAid introduced the world to the first stand mixer in 1919, it’s their classic, award-winning tilt-head design that was first released in 1937 that really helped build their cult-like customer base.
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| Model | Bowl Size | Motor | Transmittion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Top | KitchenaidArtisan Mini | 3.5 Qt | 250 watts (DC) | Direct Drive | Check Deal |
Top Top | KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 | 5 Qt | 325 watts (AC) | Direct Drive | Check Deal |
 Top | KitchenAid Professional 600 | 6 Qt | 575 (AC) watts | Direct Drive | Check Deal |
 Top | Kenwood Chef Titanium | 7 Qt | 800 (AC) watts | Belt Drive | Check Deal |
 Top | Kenwood Chef Titanium | 5 Qt | 750 (AC) watts | Belt Drive | Check Deal |
While they might not have the legions of loyal fans like KitchenAid, Kenwood has also been making stand mixers for a long time. Since 1947, the British company has been building a reputation for reliable, and often innovative, kitchen appliances. Kenwood is known throughout the baking world, although its stand mixers are especially popular in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe.
With millions of content customers and decades of proven experience making world-class appliances, choosing between KitchenAid or Kenwood is a tricky task. If you have already done a bit of research on either brand, you will probably notice that few bakers can agree as to which appliance brand is the better of the two.
In this article, I want to compare some of the most important factors you should consider when buying a new stand mixer and help you find the perfect stand mixer for you.
KitchenAid or Kenwood? Kitchen Credentials
Before we dive into their comparing each brand stand mixers, let’s refresh ourselves with each company’s kitchen credentials.
KitchenAid
KitchenAid’s story started in 1919 after the creation of the first stand mixer, the H-5. Now owned by the Whirlpool Corporation, which bought this iconic brand from the Hobart Corporation in 1985, the company has continued to uphold its reputation by producing durable and versatile mixers, all of which are made in their factory in Greenville, Ohio.
KitchenAid has maintained the manufacturing of their stand mixers in this same factory since 1919. The factory has over 1400 employees who paint, assemble, and test each individual KitchenAid stand mixer, which is part of the reason why KitchenAid stand mixers are so expensive.
KitchenAid is undoubtedly the leader of the stand mixer market, enjoying a 30% market share in the USA. The company doesn’t just stop at stand mixers though, they offer a range of hand mixers, blenders, cookers, fridges, and plenty more fashion-conscious kitchen appliances.
Kenwood
Rising from humble beginnings, the Kenwood legacy began in 1947 when Kenneth Wood launched the A100 toaster. A revolutionary design that would toast without the machine touching the bread, designed in Wood’s South London garage.
Soon after, in 1948, Wood designed the first Kenwood mixer, the A200. Kenwood’s first stand mixer featured 4-speed settings, two bowls, twin beaters, a mince grinder, juicer, whisk, and even a cutlery buffer. The A200 became an instant hit, partly thanks to the machine’s impressive array of features.
In 1950, Kenwood introduced the first Kenwood Chef which paved the way for all the Chef mixer models that followed. This stand mixer was the first one in the Chef line to use the ‘planetary motion’ which offered efficient mixing motion. In 1989, Kenwood moved production of its British mixers to a factory in China.
Throughout the decades, Kenwood has moved to a more slender, aesthetically-pleasing design, stainless steel bowls and an array of additional attachments. Not to mention their impressive innovations like built-in scales and touchscreen functions.
Like KitchenAid, you can find plenty more than just stand mixers in the Kenwood product range. They have a popular selection of kettles, toasters, blenders and other kitchen appliances.
KitchenAid vs Kenwood Stand Mixers: Which is better?
Stand Mixer Range
KitchenAid has been in the stand mixer game for over 100 years, so it’s hardly surprising that they have one of the most extensive mixer ranges of any brand. As it stands, KitchenAid has over 10 different mixers in the US market alone, all with varying levels of motor power, bowl capacity and, of course, price.
KitchenAid has a variety of bowl-lift or tilt-head mixers, making them suitable for both home and commercial use.
Although Kenwood doesn’t have quite the same range as KitchenAid, they still have a handful of brilliant machines to choose from. Currently, Kenwood has 3 different mixing series; the Kenwood Chef, the Kmix and the Prospero+, all of which are tilt-head machines designed for the home. All three ranges can be easily found in the UK and across Europe.
In the USA, the Kenwood stand mixer selection is very limited. You can only find two stand mixers from the Chef range, the Chef Major and the Chef Titanium.
When it comes to choosing a Kenwood or KitchenAid stand mixer, you definitely have more options with the KitchenAid.
Machine Specs
To make it a fair comparison of mixer specifications, I will compare the specs of the Kenwood Kmix and the KitchenAid Artisan. Not only are these machines the most popular models from both Kenwood and KitchenAid but they also both have similar specs.
To start off, let’s see some of the specifications for both of these mixer stand mixers.
Kenwood Kmix
- 1000 watts
- 5 litre capacity
- 38.5L x 24W x 35.5H cm
- 9.1kg
- Tilt-head mechanism
- 8 speed settings
KitchenAid Artisan
- 300 watts
- 4.8 litre capacity
- 37L x 40W x 36.9H cm
- 10.9kg
- Tilt-head mechanism
- 10 speed settings
At first glance, there are a few interesting differences, but let’s dive a bit deeper.
Disclaimer: The specs for KitchenAid stand mixers are slightly different in the US. In the US the Artisan is advertised as having a 325 watt motor and a 5-quart bowl.
Mixing Action, Motor & Gears
If you take a quick glance at the specs I mentioned above, you would be forgiven for thinking that the Kenwood (1000 watts) would be more powerful than the KitchenAid Artisan (300 watts). While it’s true that the KitchenAid Artisan motor only clocks in at 300 watts, less than half the input wattage of the Kmix, this doesn’t necessarily mean that this machine is less powerful.
How is that possible? Because what really matters here is a mixer’s ability to produce torque, rotational force, not its input wattage.
When it comes to the torque a mixer motor can produce, there’s a multitude of factors that will come into play. Some of these include if the machine uses an AC or DC motor, direct or indirect drive transmission, motor wattage, and even the size of the mixer head and attachments.
Kenwood has a larger motor, but only it has a belt pulley transmission, which is a less efficient process for transferring the motor’s output into torque. KitchenAid has a direct drive so it doesn’t need to work as hard and doesn’t need as many watts.
Because I can’t give exact figures on the torque output of each mixer (this would require a torque sensor) it’s hard to give a definitive answer on which machine is more powerful.
The image above gives you an insight into the inner workings of both machines.
KitchenAid stand mixers don’t use belts and pulleys, so there is a more effective drive transmission. This, along with the metal mixer gears, also contribute to extending their mixer’s lifespan.
It’s also worth remembering that both stand mixer brands use planetary motion to incorporate ingredients, which offers efficient mixing. Planetary motion both mixes and folds batter thoroughly by spinning the shaft clockwise and the attachment anticlockwise.
Price
For most of us, price is going to be a big factor for choosing a stand mixer, as it is with everything we purchase. After all, who doesn’t love a good bargain?!
When it comes to kitchen appliances, I have been through all the different price ranges. I have bought appliances at every price level. Everything from rock-bottom bargains to appliances that feel like I should apply for a mortgage before purchasing.
Regardless of what your budget is, ultimately the most important quality and durability.
To get your hands on a product that isn’t just going to give up after a week you will need to spend some extra cash. In return, you get a product that will last years.
Both the Artisan and Kmix are of the mid-range price with the Kenwood Kmix coming in at £380 on Amazon and the KitchenAid Artisan at £399. Having browsed the internet for lower prices, you won’t really find either mixer any lower than that unless there is a sale on. The price also changes depending on the color you go for.
The most expensive KitchenAid you can find in the UK can set you back around £800, while the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL can cost as much as £1,250.
If you are in the US, the KitchenAid Artisan is around $429, and the Kenwood Chef Major and Titanium are $530 respectively. Prices change depending on if there are any sales on so they can be found for much cheaper.
KitchenAid stand mixers in the US start from $349 for the Artisan Mini Series and can go all the way up to $999 for the Pro and Commercial lines.
The cheapest Kenwood stand mixer in the US is the Chef Titanium.
Attachments and Accessories
Naturally, since we are on the topic of price, let’s see what you actually get for your money with each stand mixer. You do get more in the box with the Kenwood, but is it worth it?
With the Kenwood Kmix stand mixer you get:
- ‘K’ beater
- Whisk
- Spiral Dough hook
- Splash guard
- Tool to adjust height of attachments
With the KitchenAid Artisan you get:
- Beater
- Whisk
- C shaped dough hook
- Splash guard
The Kmix does seem to offer much more in the box than an Artisan, but not by much. The only additional attachment you get with the Kmix is the tool to adjust the height of the attachments. Useful, but not a deciding factor when choosing between the two.
Taking a look at the rest of the range, Kenwood definitely offers more with every type of stand mixer. Many of the Kenwood stand mixers in the UK offer features like built-in scales and heating elements.The Kmix is definitely their ‘standard’ stand mixer.
When it comes to the range of extra accessories available to purchase separately, KitchenAid takes the lead. There are over 80 extra accessories you can purchase added to your stand mixer which attaches to the multi-purpose hub at the top of the mixer. The KitchenAid mixer attachments are endless. You can get pasta rollers, meat grinders, ice cream makers, grain mills and many more.
Kenwood has 2 multi-purpose hubs and offers additional attachments, although not to the same extent as KitchenAid.
Speed Settings and Functionality
Having a variety of different speeds will allow you to mix, whip and knead with accuracy. The Artisan has 10 speeds while the KMix has 7, including a ‘fold’ speed setting. But, there is one huge difference between the two. The Kmix has a soft start feature while the Artisan doesn’t. The soft start features on all Kenwood stand mixers.
The soft-start feature allows the Kmix to start slow on each speed setting and gradually build up the speed. Not only does this prevent any spillage, or ingredients flying out of the bowl, it can also help safeguard against damage to the motor and gears.
Surprisingly, most types of KitchenAid stand mixers have this feature, apart from the Artisan.
Another obvious difference in the speed is the placement of the lever. On the Artisan, the speed lever is on the top side of the mixer next to their logo while on the Kmix, the speed settings are placed on the body of the mixer and have a dial.
In terms of functionality, both stand mixers do what all stand mixers do; whip, beat and knead. That said, many of the higher-end Kenwood stand mixers can do more than just these standard functions.
There are Kenwood stand mixers available with built-in heating elements, touchscreen displays, the ability to connect to your phone and built-in scales. These types of stand mixers are readily available all over the UK and in Europe, but if you are in the US, it will be hard to get your hands on one.
Weight and Size
Size and weight matter when it comes to storing your stand mixer. The Kmix weighs around 9.1kg while the Artisan is a bit on the heavier side, tipping the scales at 10.0kg. Almost 1kg more. This might not seem like a huge difference, but you’ll definitely feel the weight of the Artisan when moving it around.
Both are of similar size, so If you are tight for space, you won’t have any trouble fitting either mixer in a cupboard. Both can also fit nice and snug in a corner of your kitchen counter without taking up too much space.
Colors
You don’t need to be an expert on stand mixers to know that KitchenAid offers an incredible range of colors. After all, this is what they are best known for. The Artisan Series offers over 40 color options alone, while overall KitchenAid has over 90 colors between all types of stand mixers.
Kenwood on the other hand does have some color options but only a few. The only Kenwood range that has a variety in colors is the Kmix with 13 colors to choose from. The other machines come in simple stainless steel.
Which stand mixer is better?
Both stand mixers are great and have been the proud owner of both a KitchenAid and a Kenwood, it is hard to say which is better. Kenwood has more power and is able to tackle tougher batters and dough easily. KitchenAid has a larger selection of mixers, colors and extra attachments.
However, what it really comes down to here is availability. There are nowhere near as many Kenwood products in the US as there are in Europe, so for that reason alone, KitchenAid is the best and most accessible option.
If you are in the UK and Europe though, I would definitely lean towards a Kenwood. Yes, KitchenAid is a masterpiece, but the performance of a Kenwood is undeniably better due to it being able to mix tougher ingredients with ease.
If your heart is set on buying a KitchenAid but want it to have a stronger motor, then it’s worth taking a look at the strongest KitchenAid stand mixers with larger motors.
If you want to take a look at some of the more expensive Kenwood, then the Chef Baker XL with built-in scales or the Titanium Chef Patissier XL with touch screen and heating elements are definitely worth your time.
