The KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PSBOB is a premium stand mixer aimed squarely at keen home bakers and cooks who want reliable, consistent results. With its classic tilt-head design in Onyx Black and solid metal build, it feels every bit the statement piece on the worktop.
This model offers a generous 4.8-litre stainless steel bowl plus an extra 3-litre bowl, a direct drive motor and planetary mixing, so it’s built to handle everything from small batches of whipped cream to heavy bread dough. It sits at the higher end of the price range for stand mixers, but its 4.9 out of 5 rating from over 500 customer reviews suggests owners feel it’s worth the investment.
If you’re looking for a long-term kitchen workhorse rather than a cheap stopgap, this Artisan is designed to be exactly that.
This KitchenAid Artisan is ideal for enthusiastic home bakers who cook regularly and want consistent, professional-style results. The 4.8-litre main bowl can comfortably handle large cake mixes, family-sized batches of cookies or dough for several loaves of bread, while the smaller 3-litre bowl is perfect for everyday tasks like whipping a few egg whites or mixing a quick batter.
It suits households that bake for a family or entertain often. With a cake mix capacity of 2.7 kg, dough capacity of 2 kg and room for up to 12 egg whites, you won’t feel held back when baking in bulk. If you only bake once in a blue moon, this may feel like overkill, but for weekly bakers it makes life significantly easier.
Budget-wise, it’s a premium choice rather than a budget mixer. You’re paying for build quality, brand heritage and a strong 5-year domestic warranty, so it will appeal most to those who see baking as a long-term hobby or part of everyday cooking. First-time bakers can still enjoy it – the controls are simple and the speed range is very forgiving – but it’s particularly well suited to passionate bakers stepping up from a basic hand or stand mixer.
If you value durability, a timeless look and the flexibility to tackle both light and heavy mixes, this model is a strong fit.
The combination of a 4.8-litre main bowl and a 3-litre mini bowl is a real highlight. It means you can switch between large and small batches without washing up in between, which is especially handy when making layered bakes or multiple components.
The 300-watt direct drive motor delivers plenty of torque without needing a huge wattage figure, so it can knead up to 2 kg of dough without struggling. Direct drive motors are also typically quieter and more efficient than belt-driven alternatives, making this mixer more pleasant to use for longer sessions.
Planetary mixing action ensures the beater reaches right to the edge of the bowl, reducing the need to stop and scrape down. Combined with the flex edge beater, you get thorough incorporation of ingredients for smoother batters and less wasted mixture stuck to the sides.
Seven included accessories – wire whisk, flat beater, dough hook, flex edge beater, two bowls and a pouring shield – give you a complete toolkit out of the box. Many rival mixers offer fewer tools as standard, so there’s little need for immediate add-ons.
Dishwasher-safe bowls and attachments keep cleanup simple, and the ergonomic handle on the main bowl makes lifting and pouring safer and more comfortable, particularly when it’s full of a heavy mix.
This Artisan sits in the premium price bracket, so it won’t suit tighter budgets or occasional bakers who would struggle to justify the cost. You are paying partly for the iconic design and brand name as well as the performance.
There’s no dedicated pulse function, which some users like for quick bursts when folding or adding delicate ingredients. You can work around this by nudging the stepless speed control, but it’s not quite as straightforward as having a dedicated button.
At 36 cm tall and 37 cm deep, it does have a solid footprint on the worktop. If you have very limited counter space or low wall cupboards, you’ll need to check it fits comfortably, especially as it uses a tilt-head design.
Finally, while it boasts 10 speed settings, there are no automatic programmes or timers. This won’t bother confident bakers, but if you prefer one-touch presets you won’t find them here.
Day to day, the KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PSBOB feels reassuringly sturdy. The tilt-head mechanism gives easy access to the bowl and attachments, so swapping from the flat beater to the dough hook or whisk is quick and straightforward. The ergonomic handle on the main bowl makes it simple to lock into place and lift off again, even when loaded with a heavy mix.
The stepless speed control lets you start slowly to avoid flour clouds, then ramp up to higher speeds for whipping or vigorous mixing. With 10 settings to play with, it’s easy to fine-tune the speed to your recipe rather than being stuck with just a couple of presets. The absence of a pulse button is noticeable if you’re used to one, but most users will adapt quickly.
The included pouring shield is practical, especially for adding ingredients mid-mix without splashing. Combined with the planetary mixing action and flex edge beater, there’s very little need to stop and scrape the bowl, which makes longer bakes less fiddly. When you’re done, both bowls and all attachments are dishwasher safe, so cleaning up doesn’t undo the time you’ve saved by using the mixer.
Noise levels are relatively contained for a powerful stand mixer, thanks to the direct drive motor. It’s not silent, especially at higher speeds or when kneading dense dough, but the sound is more of a low mechanical hum than an irritating whine.
Performance is the Artisan’s strongest card. The 300-watt direct drive motor translates into real-world power, with the ability to handle up to 2 kg of dough without stalling. Unlike high-wattage budget mixers that rely on speed rather than torque, this delivers consistent mixing at lower speeds, which is ideal for bread and enriched doughs.
The 4.8-litre stainless steel bowl gives ample capacity for family-sized bakes, while the 3-litre mini bowl is excellent for smaller jobs such as whipping cream, beating a few eggs or making icing. This dual-bowl setup effectively covers both everyday cooking and big batch baking without compromise.
Planetary mixing action is a key feature: the beater travels around the bowl while rotating on its own axis, sweeping ingredients from the sides and bottom. Paired with the choice of attachments – flat beater for cakes and batters, dough hook for bread and pizza, wire whisk for meringues and creams, and a flex edge beater to scrape the bowl – it delivers even results across a wide range of recipes.
The 10 stepless speed settings give granular control. You can gently fold in flour on low speeds, mix batters on medium and whisk egg whites or cream to stiff peaks on high. There are no smart features or digital displays here, but the simplicity is part of the appeal; mechanical controls are intuitive and reliable.
Other thoughtful touches include the ergonomic handle on the main bowl for safer handling, dishwasher-safe components for easy cleaning, and a robust 5-year domestic warranty that underlines the brand’s confidence in its build quality. For many buyers, that long warranty is a major reassurance when spending at the premium end of the market.
In terms of price, the KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PSBOB is firmly a premium stand mixer. It will usually sit above the average cost of more basic mixers, especially entry-level models with plastic bowls or shorter warranties. However, the combination of build quality, performance and accessories goes a long way towards justifying the higher outlay.
You’re getting two high-quality stainless steel bowls, multiple beaters including a flex edge, a pouring shield, and a sturdy metal body backed by a 5-year domestic warranty. Many cheaper mixers offer only a single bowl, fewer tools and a far shorter guarantee, which can make them a false economy if you bake regularly.
The impressive 4.9/5 rating from over 500 customer reviews strongly suggests that owners feel they’ve had good value from this model over time, both in reliability and results. If you are an occasional baker on a tight budget, a simpler machine may make more financial sense. But if you bake weekly and plan to keep your mixer for years, this Artisan offers strong long-term value despite its upfront cost.
The KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175PSBOB is an excellent choice for serious home bakers who want a reliable, stylish and powerful stand mixer that can stay on the counter for years to come. Its dual-bowl setup, strong direct drive motor, planetary action and generous accessory bundle make it a flexible workhorse for everything from delicate meringues to sturdy sourdough.
It is not the cheapest option, nor the most feature-laden in terms of smart tech or automatic programmes, and there’s no dedicated pulse function. But what it does, it does very well, with a focus on solid engineering, ease of cleaning and consistent performance.
If you bake little and often, or see baking as a long-term hobby, this Artisan justifies its premium price and is likely to become one of the most-used appliances in your kitchen. Those on a strict budget or with very limited counter space may want to look at smaller or more basic mixers, but for most keen bakers this is a top-tier choice.
