GoKawiilKitchenAid’s beloved tilt-heaD stand mixer is generationally renowned for its durability, efficiency, and often, longevity—making it a staple in wedding registries and among new homeowners since 1919.
My family has an heirloom collection of four KitchenAid stand mixers that spans generations: a 1963 model from when KitchenAid was a subsidiary of the larger Hobart; a 1990s model; and a more recent 2017 KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart tilt-head stand mixer. They all keep trucking along with careful usage and upkeep. There have been subtle design changes over the years, with newer models offering extensive colorways and upgraded attachments, such as the wooden bowl included with 2024’s Evergreen Design Series stand mixer. But on March 30 of this year, the news broke that for the first time in over 70 years, KitchenAid is revisiting its stand mixer blueprint with a new Artisan Plus tilt-head stand mixer model.
I tested my family’s lineup of original KitchenAid stand mixers head-to-head with the new Artisan Plus to see if the upgrade is worth it.
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Torch Bearer
KitchenAid mixers have always been a focal point atop many counters. Now, with the Artisan Plus, there are new color options and a new “crinkle finish” textured coating. This offering comes in two new colors, Wild Blueberry and Sun-Dried Tomato, as well as traditional satin-metallic Iron Ore Bronze and Oat options. My test unit was the crinkle-finish Wild Blueberry; its matte appearance reminded me of stucco siding. The finish doesn’t hide sprinkles of flour or ingredients that splash out of the bowl, but cleanup was no worse than with my metallic 2017-era stand mixer. Both are easy to wipe down.