KitchenAid vs. Bosch: Which Stand Mixer is Best?

Which Stand Mixer is Best: KitchenAid or Bosch?

We compare 5 metrics which we feel most important when considering your purchase of a mixer.
1. Attachments - Does one brand have better attachments over the other?
2. Personalization - Which on is most customizable. More options, colors, size.
3. Size or Capacity of the mixer.
4. Power or Strength of the motor.
5.Price or What is the mixer going to cost?

Attachments: They both come with similar standard attachments. Both come with a dough paddles, dough hook, wire whisk. Bosch does come with a bowl scraper standard where as the KitchenAid does not. One additional difference is KitchenAid mixers are made to only use one whisk/hook/paddle where as the Bosch has two of each. Each have multiple attachments that do not come standard with the mixer. KitchenAid is known for the food grinder, food processor, pasta cutter/press, ice cream maker, pouring shield, juicer, and a few others. Most of these attachments have a starting price point of around $79.99 plus. Bosch attachments include: slicer/shredder, food processor, meat grinder, noodle cutter/roller, blender, ice cream maker, juicer. Most of these prices start around the $59.99 price point. Over all they both have similar attachments. However due to price and the option of adding a blender we feel like the Bosch has the slight edge.

Personalization - The KitchenAid Stand Mixer has an option of a glass bowl vs a metal bowl. But the biggest benefit with the KitchenAid is the color options. So many color options that you can choose from to match your kitchen or favorite color. KitchenAid also has multiple models to choose from giving additional flexibility and hundreds of possibilities. Bosch on the other had comes in one size only and the only customization is you can purchase a metal bowl vs the plastic bowl. If personalization is important to you then KitchenAid has the advantage.

Size or Capacity: The Standard Bosch mixing bowl is larger than the standard KitchenAid Bowl. We found however that with smaller batches the KitchenAid did a better job. Large batches Bosch performed much better. The time it take a Bosch to mix is quicker because it uses two attachments vs. just one. Looking at the consistency of the dough the Bosch seemed to make it creamer over the same period of time. Advantage Bosch.

Power: This was hands down advantage to Bosch. It performed better with a double batch vs. the KitchenAid's single batch. Even on the single batch There were times when the KitchenAid seemed to be struggling some. It ended up being able to do the mixing just fine but you could tell the difference.

Price: Bosch comes standard at the price point of $389.99. This price point seems high however, when you compare anything with similar specs on the KitchenAid side it come in at a lower price point. If you are looking for stand mixer and price is the most important KitchenAid stand mixers can be purchased under $299. You will just loose out on attachments, capacity and power. We lean towards Bosch when you are comparing apple to apples.

COOKIE RECIPE: Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars on high speed for 3-5 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and beat for 1 minute more.
4. Mix in flours, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Measure 1/3 cup of dough and form into a ball. Pull the ball in half, then press it back together with one of the jagged edges facing up. Place the dough balls on the prepared cookies sheets, 2 inches apart (6 cookies per sheet).
6. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until cookies are just golden. Do not over bake. Let sit on cookie sheet for ten minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ingredients:
* 1 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
* 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 1/2 cups cake flour
* 1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 cups milk chocolate chips

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[Lucky]

If you only want to get yourself one just get the Bosch. It’ll probably outlive the KitchenAid… I got mine on my wedding day circa 1975 and it still works! And I have used the hell out of it!

[smsstuart]

Both brands of mixers have their advantages/disadvantages - most of which were blithely dismissed. In the end a case can be made for either one, or both. The comparison was not very helpful for a number of other reasons. First, a single batch of cookie dough was compared to a double batch. Where's the sense there-? The KitchenAid could've handled a double batch of dough, had you insisted on it. Also, comparing the wattages of the two machines was just as deceitful: 800-watts for the Bosch; 450-watts for the KitchenAid. The Bosch design uses a belt-drive, while the KitchenAid uses a geared, direct-drive mechanism. A belt-drive system isn't as efficient at transferring power from the motor to its intended 'load', and as such requires more power than a direct-drive system. So, the KitchenAid would need less power for equivalent 'rotational torque' - the only measurement that really matters when it comes to the actual "power" at any of the attachments. (And both companies conveniently fail to disclose those numbers; preferring instead to use wattage, which 'sounds better', as it can be a big number, but is essentially meaningless). Additionally, the Bosch *needs* more power - no matter how you measure it - as it has a 30% greater capacity than the KitchenAid.

[loveisall]

I purchased my first Bosch in college in the 70's. It still works perfectly! I had it 'tuned up' by Sandy Bosch in Utah a couple of years ago. Original Makrilon bowl, dough hook, etc. I now own two other Universals but find myself returning to that 'Magic Mixer'. I used to make 10 loaves of bread at a time--try that with a KA...

[loveisall]

I purchased my first Bosch in 1977 when I was in college. I still have it and it works fine! These days I also own two Universals, one with electronic controls, and also two Compacts. Mystifies me, as it always did, why people would want those nasty old KA mixers, being heavy, hot and weak. I usually use one of the Makrilon bowls, but for larger batches of w.w. bread I'll use the stainless bowl with the hook in the bottom. Why the hell would anyone buy a kitchen mixer based on the color?

[kappadappa]

Very strange video which appeared tilted in Bosch's favor from the beginning. The inability of the Bosch to handle cold butter was simply dismissed but it's important for many recipes. Also, you were using the wrong attachment on the KitchenAid for cookie dough - that calls for the paddle not the whisk, so of course the texture is off. Also, using different sized recipes is going to easily cause different results.

These machines both have pros and cons and it would be nice to see those actually highlighted with each machine being used as intended with equal recipes and proper attachments used, and cleanup also being shown. Unfortunately this video missed the mark and I hope people do more research before purchasing either machine.

[vickyburton]

I absolutely adore my Bosch. I cook all the time and have no need for the Kitchen Aid. Bosch makes a smaller version also. The Bosch is so much more powerful and can do either small or really large batches. It is more quiet and has a transmission that adjust speed for the need like gears in a car. I love the white. It is clean looking and sturdy machine.

[aldenpines]

Thanks for the comparison. We have a forty-five year old Hobart KitchenAid lift mixer. One main reason I am thinking of getting the Bosch is the fact that the KitchenAid, even with the flour shield, throws stuff out and leaves a mess all over the counter. Another benefit to the Bosch is that all ingredients can EASILY be added whereas you have parts of the mixer in the way with the KitchenAid. I noticed you had a sort of flour shield on the Bosch while mixing. Can the bowl be totally covered when mixing?

[deannas]

You aren't supposed to use hard butter in the Bosch, you can break the plastic mixers. This isn't fair using the dough hook for it. You should have used the dough hook on the kitchenaid.

[Mark]

About twenty years ago I was in the market for a mixer with the attachments, and I had to choose between a Bosch Universal and/or a Kitchenaid. I wanted the Kitchenaid so, so bad. I just liked the design of it and the aesthetics, but in my heart of hearts, I could not justify the purchasing of a Kitchenaid because the Bosch was head and shoulders over and above the Kitchenaid, in my opinion.
I suppose the best comparison I can come up with is in looking for marriage material, what are you going to go for? The beautiful gorgeous, well, proportioned, Kitchenaid, or the homely strong, dependable Bosch?
In my opinion, the Bosch, hands down!

[opal]

I've just bought one of these, ordered just before Christmas. Can't wait to get using it.. I ordered from a Germany company as Amazon and Bosch had it out of stock. No issue with the purchase.

[IAmGravityRabbit]

Bosch also seems to be easier to add ingredients in since there is nothing on top. Aesthetics-wise it takes up a little more space, but you can use a variety of materials (even vinyl stickers) to customize a design. Overall I'm team function-over-form.

[alexmartins]

The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Metallic Chrome is the best mixer I have had in the 53 years of marriage! It is a delight to use. I didn't think that we needed a mixer as I rarely made cakes or rolls because of our heart safe and dibetice diets. Previously our old mixer (another brand) burned out from making rolls. My Mother kept insisting that I needed a mixer. She bought this one for me. We are so happy that she insisted. The hook beater blends meat loafs, cookies, hamburger recipes so well that I don't have to use my athritic hands and does a quicker cleaner job. Also, it will help to make bread and roll recipes. Buying this mixer would not have been a problem for us. We just did not know that it would be useful. It's powerful motor allows us to cook more than we thought we could.

[meganstiles]

Having had both, I was very interested in this comparison. A couple things were useless information (watts) 2 completely different power systems. Things I hated so much about my Bosch that made me get rid of it is how poorly the Bosch cleans the bowl, even with the scraper. Also of significant note: the Bosch has the weird grooves for the lid that get filled with gunk. It is difficult to scrape the Bosch bowl clean, especially one-handed. Another deal-breaker: It is VERY loud. I sold it and went back to my Hobart/Kitchenaid.

[Kona]

My Bosch Magic Mixer is over 43 yrs. old. I bought it new with many attachments. It's a workhorse & I have never had any problems with it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a fancy new machine, but why replace something that isn't broke. I like things that are made right and that last.

[nanceedole]

I’ve had three different KA, a Cuisinart 7Qt and a Bosch. The Bosch is by far the best among them. Yes, if you’re lucky enough to own the KA of years ago when they were made with metal parts, you’d probably be fine, but the ones of today are mostly plastic and strip easily. I’ve made quadruple batches of cookies and bread doughs in my Bosch, with up to 14 cups of flour and it never missed a beat. My other mixers probably would have caught on fire.

[ursulaandrea]

my grandma has the bosch and it passed down to me! it was great but we didn't really took care of it
so we purchase the new one. and I still love it

[debralarive]

I’ve had a couple of KAs but got rid of them and LOVE my Bosch. So much easier to add ingredients and less messy. Plus you get the added blender motor.

[allyoucancook]

Love my Bosh for large bread dough recipes, but it's a PITA to clean.

[JuanGuzman-msvw]

I think you went wrong with the attachments, the whisk is not for cooking dough, and the struggle test was not right, look you used the dough hook on the bosch and the paddle on the KA, if you've used the paddles on the bosch you would have the same struggle that ka had

[heRedBaron]

A few heavy users have had to replace or rebuild their KitchenAid mixers over time because the gears in the front of the mixer head wear out. It would be interesting to know how well the Bosch holds up over time. By spreading everything out across two whisks or two paddles, it seems not to be putting as much stress on either. Then, KitchenAid has many different models, and I would imagine the higher priced commercial models take more abuse as well. From outward view, the Bosch has a really sturdy appearance.