We bake hundreds of cookies a month and use the 5-quart Pro model. We tried the artisan with the tilt head and found it to be more cumbersome. The Pro can do small or very large batches. We've had 6 cups of flour plus sugar and butter in the mixer and it handled it just fine. As far as dragging it out of the cabinet, the Pro is heavy and better off left on the countertop with a sliding pad underneath.

By the way, the Pro is currently $200 off directly from Kitchenaid. We just ordered a spare!

Because of the size and weight I now have the Artisan.

1. it will not do a double batch of cookies.

2. The Pro will also do small batches.

3. The tilt is easier

4. The Pro is a heavier lift. (Which is why I now have the Artisan.)

5. The Artisan bowl is smaller.

I had the big one and it was more versitile but too heavy for me to lift safely from the cupboard. One big thing I learned was to watch the motor power of the different models. You want the biggest you can get, and the ones on sale, or at a discount store, are frequently the lower power. I paid more for my old one at Williams-Sonoma and never regreted it; same with the Artisan. Perhaps the one on sale from KA is a more powerful one, but do check that.

I've only used the old Hobart and the Artisan, but have tried out the bowl lift models. The smaller old Hobart (Mother's) did double batches of cookies, and I've done it on my Artisan, and it was fine. I supose it depends on the size of your ”batch”. I think my doubles are about 7 dozen normal sized cookies. Either would also do a three loaf batch of bread dough, though the old one would get the dough climbing the dough hook, which rarely happens with the new one.

The biggest inconvenience of the Artisan is that you have to tilt to scrape, whereas on the old one you could sneak a scraper in to just push down the sides or worry the surface—but that's probably a safety feature for those inclined to turn it on before removing the scraper. Similar for adding things. You can get a drizzle in while beating, but much requires tilting the head. I have the chute and special spouted bowls made for the purpose, but neither works well enough.

Otherwise, I much prefer the tilt head for ease and access to the bowl, One thing to watch for is that there's a pin that holds the head on. Thumpy bread dough, or a high vibration recipe, with the mixer on an uneven surface (artisan tile) makes the pin work its way out. Just checking now and then and pushing it back is easy—and it's not too hard getting it back in if it comes all the way out, but, of course, you have to get it back in before you tilt the head. This is unlikely to happen on a true flat surface. The bowl to beater height adjustment is really easy on the Artisan. I've heard mixed things about bowl lift models—it's something to make sure of.

I don't like my bowl lift as well as I liked my old tilt head. It is more powerful which is good, as I do use it to make bread and I like the 6 qt capacity, but the tilt head was easier to use and easier to clean.

I like my bowl lift; to me it's less likely to slop on the countertop. You will enjoy whatever you get, I am sure. Take care with the flour and the mixer speed to avoid a flour shower.

I’m not sure if anything has changed since then, but many years ago, after having had a tilt-head for several years, I purchased a lift bowl with a larger motor, don’t remember if it was 500 or 600; got it home and discovered it was LOUD, so much louder than my tilt-head. It was so loud I ended up returning it…no way I could stand listening to that!

But I did eventually purchase a 7qt Pro-Line lift-bowl; it has a DC motor as opposed to AC, which makes it powerful, yet very quiet. I love it!

https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/bowl-lift-stand-mixers/p.pro-line-series-7-quart-bowl-lift-stand-mixer.ksm7586pca.html

I have the Costco Kitchen Aid 6 Qt, 1 HP, bowl lift model. It does small jobs quite well too. It is heavy. So heavy, and is about 1/16th" inch too tall to slide back under my upper cabinets. My mixer lives on an Ikea butcher block cart with wheels that lock, in my pantry. It rolls out easily into my kitchen where I have two places I can use it without it being in my way.

If I'd had no choice but to lift it from a cabinet (my kitchen does not have one of the lifting/locking appliance shelves), I wouldn't have bought it. I likely would have cried over missing out on the price....it was reduced that month at Costco and there was a rebate coupon as well from Kitchen Aid - making it one of my better priced appliances.

I bought a 1974 model for $25 about 15 years ago! Found a bunch of atachments at a thrift store for $18! I'm good!

Recommend no matter which model, buy an extra bowl and whisk beater. Best accessories I ever bought!

I second jakkom's suggestion.

DD inherited the lift bowl mixer from my aunt. I have the tilt head. DD discovered that in 2 houses, she cannot set the lift bowl mixer on the countertop. It will not fit under the upper cabinets. My tilt head fits under the cabinets. I think mine is a 4.5 qt which is more than sufficient for my needs.

DD has to stop her mixer and lower the bowl to add ingredients. With my tilt head, I can add them while the mixer is running.

I also agree with jakkom, get a second bowl. My second bowl has a handle that I like. I did not need a second whisk. I got a second paddle; then I got a third paddle. The paddle that came with my mixer was aluminum so it oxidized or something everytime I put it in the dishwasher. I got a second paddle that is enamel coated so it can go in the DW. Then I got a 3rd paddle with the built in scraper. That is the one that I use most.

The coated scraper paddle works great until the coating starts peeling off into your food, and disappointingly, it doesn’t take much use for that to happen. I ended up purchasing a heavy duty stainless steel paddle and dough hook so I could put them in the dishwasher.

@bbstx — I strongly advise against putting the beaters and hooks in the dishwasher. I believe they are made of enameled cast aluminum and the strong detergent of the dishwasher corrodes aluminum. The enamel can get microsopic cracks and allow the detergent to reach the cast aluminum.

I always hand wash mine. It is okay to allow them to briefly soke in warm water to loosen dried on dough.

lisbeth, I hope you enjoy your new mixer.

Oh yeah. Hubby bought me a fabric thingy to put under mine so it's easy to slide out on the counter! Very handy!

DD put felt chair-leg pads on the back two ”feet” of my KA mixer. To move it out of the corner, I only have to lift the front a tiny bit and slide it out. Leaving the front 2 feet as-is keeps it from ”walking.”

More power!! I have a smaller one and thought it burnt it out making marshmallows several years ago. I would not hesitate to get the 500 watt one.

I just saw a baking competition on food network where they had lift bowl KAs. I don't know the model. One gal had her bowl off the pegs and leaning tilted toward her as she added ingredients. I don't know why. Maybe she's just short. But maybe it's an access thing related to the normal bowl position. Another reason to compare how they feel.