I can't testify to the other models of Kitchenaid, but I have the Artisan - one of the smaller models that was on all the store shelves a few years ago for around $200 if I remember correctly, and I love it. Anyway, you have to (or should) use the ingredient ramp (I didn't know that's what it was called!) to add flour and stuff while it's turning, but I rarely bother with that, as it's awkward. I usually just stop the mixer, lift it up, add whatever I need to, then lower it and start it again. Or, sometimes, when I'm feeling impatient, I just do my best to add whatever, usually flour, and make a mess doing it.

It has enough power for most of what I do, other than the large batches of whole wheat bread I sometimes make. It has a problem with heavy bread doughs, so I either start them in the mixer and switch to hand kneading, or I just hand knead them from the get-go. If I had it to do over again, and we had the money, I would have hinted very strongly to DH to give me the more powerful one for Christmas, instead of the one he did give me. Nevertheless, I love using it!

It fits under my counter, even when tilted up. I haven't measured, but the distance from my counter to my cabinet is around 18" to 20". I shove it into a lower cabinet when I'm not using it, and keep it out when I'm using it a low. Yes, it is heavy, but I don't have enough counter space to keep it out all the time.

Hope this helps.

Sally

If you want to use it a lot for bread baking you may want something with a little more 'oomph' than the Artisan. I have a 350 watt KA, the kind that has a vertical lift rather than a tilting head, and it's just barely adequate for dough kneading.

The reason you use an 'ingredient ramp' is so when you add your ingredients from a glass measuring cup, the mixer's rotor doesn't whack the measuring cup and knock a chip of glass into the dough. (Ask me how I know...:) You can, of course, add stuff while using a plastic cup or one of those flexible plastic cutting mats.

I've never used the mixer at the link, but you may want to take a look at it. (Bed Bath & Beyond carries them, so you can look at it in person.) Yes, it's a little pricier than the Artisan but seems to have more going for it. FWIW, read the reviews; there are a few people who have happily changed to it from the Artisan.

Here is a link that might be useful: cuisinart mixer

Hi Mom:
I bought a Classic Model and sent it back, because the dough would ride up the dough hook.
I bought the next Model up " the Pro "
It worked fine for me.
Don't know about storing it ???

I leave mine out on top of a Drawer thing, alongside my worktop.
All the accessories are in the Drawer thing.
I purchased it at Walmart.

I even mix my meatballs in the Pro model.
They are great and all the grissle is pulled out of the meat, on to the Paddle beater.
LOU

Are you committed to a KA Brand? I would highly recommend the Bosch Universal model if you are not. Doesn't need a ramp, will handle all your baking needs, is very light yet stable, easy to store and bring to the counter, fits under the upper cabs and last but not least - looks good.

{{gwi:1472353}}

There is also the compact version which is an incredible deal and comes with a blender and slicer but requires the use of a ramp IIRC:
{{gwi:1472354}}

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/bosch_compact_mixers.aspx

Here is a link that might be useful: Bosch Universal

I have a Kitchen Aid Classic, and it's OK for my purposes.... I do like the classic look... but if it died I think I'd replace it with the Breville they have at Williams Sonoma. It looks good and even comes with a batter blade, and I've been pretty impressed with Breville quality. My KA mixer sounds like the gears are crunching and grinding every time I use it for anything heavy. I'm sure they have reviews on Williams Sonoma and Breville.com if you were interested in at least checking it out.... I think it's about 300 dollars.

For adding ingredients, I just stop the mixer and raise the head. Seems easier than fooling with the splash guard/ingredient ramp.... those things just get in the way and are one more thing to wash!

Sounds like your needs would justify a better than basic model. America's Test Kitchen just did their test of stand mixers and they liked the KitchenAid Pro 600 and the Cuisinart 5.5 qt unit. They said they use them both and I'd guess they get a pretty good workout there. I don't know if they get any sort of a deal on them for promotion or not, but I'd doubt they do.

The cheaper KitchenAid units use plastic gears and are not made for heavy mixing. As I recall from other threads they have a limit on the amount of wheat flour they can handle for instance. Someone posted that the Pro 600 has metal gears now and that would be believable. But that Cuisinart gets good reviews and is cheaper than the KA. Looks like it might be a lower profile too since you want it to fit on the counter.

One thing that I see a lot of people doing with KitchenAids is to put the flour and such on wax or parchment paper and use that to add to the mixer