VS.
I got an email last week asking me about mixers, so here's my opinion on Hobart vs. Kitchen Aid:
Basically, I think the Hobart is a better way to go than a Kitchen Aid for "power" bakers but the Kitchen Aid does well for the average home cook.
The Hobart has a much better single speed motor with gears to change between the 3 speeds. Think of it as a manual transmission, you have to stop the mixer to change speeds but it has a much higher top speed than other home mixers and when you're in a hurry it makes all the difference. They're naturally more expensive but a terrific investment if you're thinking long term. You can find out more about them here.
Most Kitchen Aid models out there have 5 or 6 speeds and have a lot of available attachments. It's not nearly as robust as the Hobart, though, and I have a real beef with its ability to scrape the bottom of a mixture. The Hobart kicks its butt in that regard.
So which one is for you? I'm a Hobart guy but I own a KA that I got as a gift and it works okay. It does a lot of things but to me it doesn't do an amazing job doing any of them. I've used a lot of Hobarts over the years in professional kitchens and I have to say you see a lot of the home Kitchen Aids used in restaurants these days because it's a cheap way to add extra mixers for small stuff.
I hope this helps. Anyone else have an opinion to share or any buying tips? Leave them in the comments.
