So, I'm FINALLY in the market for a KitchenAid (very excited) and, in trying to price match (and get the best value) it seems like there are so many different "kinds" from artisan, ultra power, professional, classic and then various models of each. So, I guess my question is...how do you decide the one that is best????

Normally I would google and research it for weeks on end but, figured I would post here, where I'm sure most everyone has one and, has already done all the research, and see what the consensus is on "the one" to have!

I have an Artisan and have been considering upgrading to a Professional, mainly for more power and the bigger work bowl

I have the Artisan for small stuff, and the Professional, it is the one I use the most! I had it first, then was given the Artisan from a friend who didnt use it. If you can swing the cost, go for the Professional. Worth the money in my opinion.

Couple of things that might help.

Couple things to consider is how much are you mixing? I went from a 4.5 Qt to a 600 Professional (and honestly it may be too much). Some of the smaller batters I do almost seem to disappear into the bowl--or there is not enough butter to make effective use of the paddle attachment.

Lift versus tilt. I do prefer the lift system of the professional series as opposed to the tilt heads of the Classical and the Artisan. This may not seem like a big deal but the more I used the tilt head the more I was dissatisfied with it and have never wished I had a tilt head since I switched.

Hope this helped.

Pro series for sure! I have a kitchen aid classic, which I use for small jobs and a kitchen aid Pro series 600, which I use for the big jobs. If you can afford it, get both. It really does make a difference (atleast for me) and start your search on cragslist. HTH!
Fedra

I have the Professional 600 and have NO IDEA how I survived before I bought it. I count it as one of my most treasured possessions.

I just bought a professional 550...I'm so excited to use it. That was all that was available on island, luckily it was the series I wanted! Happy shopping!

I have three. My first is a wonderful, 15 year old Heavy Duty that runs like a Pro6. I then have the Pro6. My third is a recent purchase, the Artisan. I wasted my money on the Artisan. First and worst, the motor is either situated differently or it just gets hotter because it is smaller. When making European buttercreams, subtle warm air can be felt around the top above the bowl, making these buttercreams harder to make. Second, it just makes no sense to get this vs. the Pro6. Save your change (not kidding, do what you have to do to get this one) or just wait and get the one that will meet more needs.

For the Pro6 and all models, the Beater Blade will make it able to mix even the smallest of ingredients. Even if you are whipping a few egg whites, you can start with this blade and get some volume. I have actually whipped egg white the whole way with that blade in the Pro6 (by mistake, but it's nice to know it works).

I own 2, the 450 watt-5qt and the Pro6. Both are fabulous and I have absolutely no complaints. However, if you decide to buy one of those beaters with the silicone sides, make sure you buy the one made by Kitchen aid. I fell victim to the other brand bc the price was lower and it was sold in stores. Well not long after using the thing, the plastic on the beater broke and subsuquently my mixer malfunctined as well. The source of the problem was that beater. Apparently that beater causes does something to the motor and causes the gears to strip. Luckily it was repared for a nominal cost...

Enjoy your new toy; And don't buy the off brand beater blade.

Sur La Table, amazon, and many other reputable companies have been selling the Beater Blades for years with fantastic reviews. There is plenty of information on the internet to substantiate this.

You guys are AMAZING! So nice to hear opinions of those that have and use them!

I am a cupcake baker so, generally don't mix up more than 24 at a time right now but that may change if i get busier!

I am definately going to see. If I can get a good deal on a pro, it seems that is the way to go!

If you have a bed bath and beyond nearby, you can use the 20% off coupon to buy your mixer

I've had 3 of them and currently own two.
First one I bought was back in 1980 and it was a 5qt - Loved it but I got to a point where it wasn't big enough. This machine is still in use, I gave it to my mother.

Next one I bought was a Professional 6 with 525 watts - LOVE IT

I also have a tilt head KA45 with 300 watts and although I use it, it is not my "go to" mixer. I have never been a fan of the tilt head versions for two reasons. #1 - there is no handle on the bowl and #2 - I feel the bowl is too deep and not wide enough at the bottom. Aside from those issues, which are really my issues, the mixer does a fine job on smaller batches of things, and on occasion, I do make small batches. I also have no room to complain about this mixer as I won it at a MI ICES event last year.

Whoa! Thanks for the suggestion to try Craigslist. I found this one:

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/hsh/2485023633.html

and will have to go and check them out. I will take a few scratches to save hundreds on a pro mixer!!

Que, I do have the ones where one side barely hits and the other does the real scraping. I only started buying them a few years ago. I just recently had to replace my Pro6, and the blade had obviously conformed to the old bowl. Just when I was going to replace it, I guess enough hot washings had caused it to perfectly conform to the new bowl.