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Original poster

Help with buying a Cake mixer! Hesitation between 2 Kenwoods.

26 replies

coffeecake · 09/01/2012 14:29

Hi after much hesitation, I have narrowed it down to the Kenwood Kmix and the Kenwood Titanium KM010.
The first one looks so much better and feels very sturdy (not far off the Kitchenaid) but has a massive 5 litre bowl and I'm worried it won't do too well with small batches.(it has been mentioned as a downside by some reviewers on Amazon).

The second one looks a bit like a sewing machine, so not as nice and sleek, and the body is plastic and feels flimsier. But it is 1400watts as opposed to 500w for the first one.

Also the bowl is only 4.6 litre and reviewers from amazon have said it's ideal for both large and very small batches. It comes with a glass liquidiser which feels very solid and strong, and also a food processor. But I was not bothered about those extras (I've already got a food processor which admittedly is very old and I usually use a hand liquidiser for soups) when I started my search for a mixer.
The Kmix is £299 at John Lewis with a free 1 year garantee. The reviews have an average of 4.5 stars for 42 reviews.
The Titanium is £338 from amazon with free delivery. The reviews have an average of 5 stars for 204. Impressive.

Please anyone, this is giving me a headache as it is quite a lot of money to invest.
DH won't forgive me if I start complaining about my new machine! Has anyone got either of the two at home, and if so, could you give me the pros and cons?
Or which one would you go for?
P.S: I do a lot of cakes (weddings, birthdays etc...) for friends and family.

OP posts:
goingtoofast · 09/01/2012 14:36

I think they have different types motors which is why there is such a difference in power.

I have this Chef and find it really good. The bowl size is great. If I had to replace it I would get the same again or if I had the money the second one you linked to.

valiumredhead · 09/01/2012 16:55

I have the same as going tbh you wouldn't want any bigger in your kitchen unless you cooked for a living and I cook a lot.

Original poster
coffeecake · 09/01/2012 20:09

I am leaning more and more towards the Kenwood Chef as opposed to the Kmix. Basically I have done so much research and a lot of people seem to be very much in favour of the Chef. Ok it's ugly and it will have to live on my worktop, but it's sturdy, reliable (according to reviews) and powerful.
And on top of that, it comes with different attachments.
I would think I was wasting my money a bit if I went for the Kmix, which is basically a Kitchenaid lookalike. I think you mainly pay for the looks.
So I have made my mind up.
Thanks for your replies!

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 08:39

It's not that ugly, I have grown very fond of mine Wink

Original poster
coffeecake · 10/01/2012 10:21

I see what you mean, things can become beautiful when they are so useful!
Even if they didn't look that good in the first place.
And vice versa of course! You could become very bitter when having to look at something expensive, pretty that you hardly use.

OP posts:
Original poster
coffeecake · 10/01/2012 10:24

One thing I forgot to ask though, is does the chef have a slow enough setting to "fold things in" like when folding dried fruit into a fruitcake mixture, or when making a chocolate mousse and folding the egg whites into the melted chocolate?
Because that is one feature that attracted me in the Kmix, that "folding" setting that they have. Very very very slow indeed.

OP posts:
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 10/01/2012 10:29

with kmix you definitely are paying for the look. i have a kmix coffee machine it's good but no different to any other coffee machine really (it was a prize).

valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 10:38

Yes the there is a very slow setting - I would buy one again if I ever needed to. I did have the budget for a Kitchen Aid but my Grandmother had had her Kenwood for over 40 years, it was proper vintage, so that's good enough for me Wink

Original poster
coffeecake · 10/01/2012 10:52

Sorry to be a pain but I am about to click the "buy" button on amazon and I would like to make sure of something. Is that very slow setting suitable for folding things in?
I went on the Kenwood website and it said "Folding option: No". I just think it's a very useful option because if I make a 12' fruit cake for a wedding or something, it would save my arms if I could fold in the fruit in the machine.
But it doesn't have to have that option if the slow setting is slow enough for that purpose.
My friend has a Kitchenaid and she says she still folds in the fruit by hand to keep the air in, as she finds that it overbeats the mixture otherwise.
It defeats the object doesn't it?

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 10:53

I'm going to go a double check for you brb!

Original poster
coffeecake · 10/01/2012 10:54

Thanks!! I appreciate it Smile

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 11:01

Ok, just got it out and put it on the slowest setting - it IS slow. I can't answer your question about fruit cake as I haven't made one in mine since I've had it, sorry. I think you could put the fruit into the machine while it is on 'slow' but don't hold me to it! Even if you turned it off and bunged in the fruit then put it on again on slow, I still think it would be ok tbh.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. I really don't think you would be disappointed with it, it is a very impressive bit of kit and very heavy, as I said it lasted my Gran 40 years!

valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 11:02

One thing you DO have to do with these mixers is to be prepared to stop it every now and again and use the spatula to scrape down the sides to ensure everything is thoroughly mixed.

hermionestranger · 10/01/2012 11:05

I have the k336 too and it's brilliant. I have used mine for fruit cakes and I always fold them with the k beater. It's slow setting is very slow. I adore mine!

valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 11:07

Oh there you go OP - press BUY IT NOW immediately! Grin

Original poster
coffeecake · 10/01/2012 11:15

Yeah that's fine, I can cope with that! It's the same with the Kitchenaid I'm sure. But thank you so much for having checked that.
To be honest, on the picture of the Kenwood chef, there is a fruitcake mixture in the bowl, with the fruit in, so I guess it answers my question.
For mousses and stuff, I'm not sure even the "fold" setting on the Kmix would work as well as by hand anyway, so it's just another gadjet that you're paying for I think.
Thank you, you have helped a lot by telling me that the slow setting was very slow. I know yours is not the Chef titanium, but I am sure they are similar, apart from the power. I'm going to buy it.
P.S: I too had the budget for the Kitchenaid, but personally I think they are way overpriced. In our society nowadays, it's all about looks and the latest trends.
I off to save some money!! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
coffeecake · 10/01/2012 11:17

Sorry, I meant "I AM off to save some money", and thanks Hermione!

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 11:19

I have heard mixed reviews about Kitchen Aid - my feelings were perhaps style over substance.

ChippyMinton · 10/01/2012 11:21

There's a Chef that's the same size as the one linked too but has a more powerful motor. Hang on and i'll find it.

startail · 10/01/2012 11:21

My Kenwood chef is 21 years old, my mums very heavily used on is approaching it's 40th birthday.
I worked in a cafe where we made all our cakes in one. They are brilliant.

ChippyMinton · 10/01/2012 11:22

the chef premier

sorry to throw a spanner in! I was going to get this one.

wannaBe · 10/01/2012 11:28

£300 for a food mixer. Shock Shock Shock

Original poster
coffeecake · 10/01/2012 11:58

I've done it. I've clicked "Place order". I'm glad I did. Hopefully I won't regret my decision,
Anyway I heard that Kenwood customer service is fantastic so if there is a problem, I'll get in touch with them.
Kitchenaid's on the other hand... apparently it's appalling, they don't even answer the phone, and they get quite a lot of faulty ones from what i've read.
Yes wannaBe, it seems a lot, but when you have been waiting for years for one and are planning on using it a lot, then I don't think it's that bad.
Well yes it is a lot actually, but that's why I have been researching for weeks.
Plus this one includes a lot of extras.. (I'm not trying to convince myself, honest!!) Wink

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 10/01/2012 13:10

OP update please when you have made your first few cakes! :)

Caz10 · 10/01/2012 16:20

Coffeecake my Kenwood chef arrived today! It is still in the box but I am beyond excited already. Do let us know how you get on!

btw I was swithering between that and the Kitchen Aid - my hope is that the KC will do the cake mixing just as well, but then I also have the food processor bit for blitzing things, seems like 2 gadgets in one, plus you can also get things like a grinder attachment.