My KitchenAid Mini Stand Mixer saved my baking when I lived in a tiny city apartment

I've tested all of the major KitchenAid stand mixers, and I still reach for the Artisan Mini most of all. Here's why I love it.

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Even when I lived in a tiny city apartment with a galley kitchen, I wasn't willing to forgo having a stand mixer. The best stand mixers make quick work of all sorts of batters and doughs, and anyone who has ever tried to make a batch of bagels by hand will understand just how indispensable they are for certain kitchen tasks. 

Fortunately, right around that time of my life, KitchenAid came out with the Artisan Mini, a petite stand mixer made for tight spaces. I've been pleasantly surprised at just how adept this little mixer is. Even after moving on to bigger kitchens and testing nearly every KitchenAid model for our guide to the best KitchenAid, I reach for the Mini most. Read on for my experience testing the Mini and advice on who should and shouldn't buy it.

Design and specs

Design-wise, the Mini looks exactly like a shrunken-down version of your classic KitchenAid stand mixer. While it's just a few inches smaller than the most popular KitchenAid model (the Artisan 5-quart), those inches can make all of the difference in a small kitchen with precious little counter space. My Mini fits inside one of my lower cabinets, while my Artisan does not and subsequently has to live on the counter. 

The biggest size reduction between the Mini and other models is in the machine's weight. Fully loaded with the bowl attached, the Mini weights about 18 pounds; 7 pounds less than any other KitchenAid model and 14 pounds less than professional models. The lower weight is a welcome change, especially for those without the grip strength to lift heavier appliances. The bowl and attachments are more petite, too, perfect for a small dishwasher or sink.

Here's a look at how the Mini's specs compare to other popular KitchenAid models:

KitchenAid stand mixer comparison

Performance

Even though I now have a full-sized KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart stand mixer, I often find myself reaching for the Mini instead. Most of the time, I'm baking for just me and my husband, which means single or half-batches of cookies, pancake batter, or pasta dough. It seems like a waste to lug out the big machine and dirty a bigger bowl when the Mini mixer will do just fine. 

Right now we live in the Kansas prairie and have a big enough kitchen for two stand mixers, but when we move to New York City later this year, the Mini will be the one that comes with us. The Mini has handled every task I threw at it for the last five years. 

That said, I've spent more than a decade in professional kitchens, so I know that the Mini does have limits to be aware of. Its lighter weight means it sometimes shakes on the counter when running at high speed. I haven't encountered it "walking" off the counter yet, but the shaking does make me feel like I should be nearby to keep an eye on things.

Durability

The Mini's 250-watt motor is the smallest of all the KitchenAid stand mixers, so you have to be careful just how much work you ask of it. I once burnt out the worm gear (a piece of the motor that controls torque) on a Classic KitchenAid, which has a slightly more powerful motor than the Mini. I was trying to knead a stiff dough for hand-pulled noodles and left the stand mixer running on high for about 10 minutes, rendering my stand mixer unusable. 

While that experience was with KitchenAid's budget model, I imagine the Mini's smaller motor makes it susceptible to the same issues. If you need a stand mixer that will handle long and heavy mixing tasks, I recommend forgoing the Mini for one of the alternatives mentioned further below. However, if you're like me and only really bust out your stand mixer a few times a year, the Mini should be perfectly sufficient for single batches of cookies, bread dough, and pasta dough.

Who should buy it?

I think the KitchenAid Mini is a fantastic and well-designed machine, but it's not for everyone. If price is your primary consideration, I have some surprising news: the Mini is actually more expensive than some full-sized KitchenAid mixers. Essentially, you actually pay extra for the convenience of a lighter, more compact machine. Because of this, I'd think closely about whether you actually need a small stand mixer before buying this model. 

Here are some situations where I think the Mini might be the best choice for you:

• Limited grip strength: A full-sized mixer is hefty to move around the kitchen. The Mini's smaller size and lighter weight makes it a good option for kids and older adults.
• Space: You do not have the space to keep your mixer on the counter and instead would need to store it in a cabinet or on a shelf.
• Beginner bakers: The Mini's low wattage makes it more susceptible to burning out with heavy use, but that should not be a problem if you aren't planning on making double batches or very heavy doughs (such as challah or bagels). 

What are your alternatives?

As mentioned before (and in our guides to the best KitchenAid and best stand mixer), the Mini is the smallest KitchenAid model, but it's actually not the cheapest. If you have a bit more counter space to spare, you can save $50 by opting for the KitchenAid Classic, our best budget pick. You'll also get a higher bowl capacity and slightly more mixing power. 

Finally, our favorite KitchenAid is the Artisan 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. We think it has the best balance of power, capacity, and price for most people, though it takes up more counter space than the Mini. It also has the most color options if that's important to you. 

The bottom line

Overall, I highly recommend the KitchenAid Mini to anyone working with a smaller kitchen. It's also a great bet for beginning bakers and kids or older adults who may have trouble lifting and maneuvering larger models. 

Pros: Perfectly sized for small kitchens, easy to maneuver, makes single batches of most recipes well, ideal for occasional bakers, a good size for kids, work bowl has a handle

Cons: Too small for double batches, shakes a lot when running at high speed, more expensive than higher capacity models