KitchenAid Proline Edition Stand Mixer, Copper Pearl, 7 Qt

As I've mentioned in some other reviews, I'm an amateur when it comes to cooking, but I've been taking various classes and trying to practice those skills. Some of the classes I've taken involved using this mixer, although of a different color. I used to have the Artisan model of KitchenAid mixer and it did alright for what I used to ask of it. However, I ran into some challenges with stiffer dough or larger quantities, which is why I decided to upgrade. It's early days yet, but I haven't been disappointed so far.I've made a few different kinds of cookies and a variety of biscuit and pastry doughs and they've all come out as I expected. The mixer has a bit more horsepower and torque than the Artisan and it shows. It's been able to knead dough effortlessly and much more quietly than the Artisan. I like some of the simple features such as the gradual ramp-up in the speed when you turn it on, which helps avoid flinging flour all over the kitchen. My occasional bouts of idiocy can overcome any technology, but this feature helps a bit with that particular bit of carelessness. I've found the plastic guard to be basically alright although I wished it attached in a more secure way -- I'm forever bumping into it an knocking it out of position.Cleanup has been straightforward. I don't put the attachments in the dishwasher so I can't speak to how well they hold up in that environment. However, cleaning everything really doesn't take much time and doesn't require special cleaners so it isn't that much of burden to me.A few things of interest. I recall seeing a review where the process of getting the bowl seated seemed to be a challenge. I can't speak to anything that might have simply been defective on that particular unit, but I have found the process to be simple. The bowl will tell you when it's seated properly. If you're struggling with it you might be overthinking it -- I saw that happen a time or two in my cooking classes by folks who weren't familiar with the process. Follow the instructions and you should be fine.The unit is heavy, so you likely won't want to constantly be moving it to and from the counter. It also has non-skid feet to keep it from "walking" all over the place. That helps with some of the heavier doughs I've made, but it can be a bit of a pain if the only place you can store it is under the overhang of a cabinet. In my case, I need to pull the unit out from under the overhanging cabinet to get easy access to everything. Those non-skid feet make that interesting since they grip very well. Be prepared to find some way to move it around if you're in a similar situation. I've taken to using some heavy duty shelf liner beneath mine to make it a bit easier to relocate without compromising its grip.Something else I needed to get used to was the changing out of the attachments such as the whisk, beaters, and dough hook. On the Artisan you could tilt the head up and swap out the attachment. With this unit you need to detach one tool, remove it and the bowl, add the new attachment to the bowl, move the bowl and attachment into position, and then attach the new tool to the mixer. It isn't hard, but it feels clunky. It's just a side-effect of the lift-bowl system as they've designed it.Another comment that I've seen a time or two is that there isn't a spring to exert pressure to keep the attachments in place on the mixer. This is something the Artisan had and I can understand the logic behind it. However, with this mixer, I haven't noticed the attachments bouncing around at all while the unit is in use, so I've stopped worrying about it. The way the tools attach to the mixer makes it fairly unlikely that they'll pop off -- the weight of the tool and the orbital rotation of the mixer are enough to keep everything in place.So, in summary, I've found this to be a solid upgrade from my Artisan. It works well and it works more quietly. There's a small learning curve in terms of finding your preferred way of dealing with the bowl and the attachments when you want to switch them out, but it isn't all that complicated. The unit is heavy, so I'd suggest finding a good place for it on your counter and just leaving it there. That will also keep you more inclined to use it if the mood strikes you.

This review may be premature as I have only had this machine a few hours as of this writing. However, I researched many, many stand mixers and the one thing I noticed, regardless to what you look at there is someone who has a horror story about any mixer you consider. So, I decided to go with the KA because it is what I owned and lasted 30+ years. Now, we KNOW things are not made the way they used to anymore. However, my expectations are still high for this mixer. The first one I got was the Pro 600 after considering the Artisian. But, I changed my mind and opted for the Pro7. The reason I chose this model, is the 5 year total replacement limited warranty and the DC motor. Yes, it cost more but this was my Christmas present from my husband. When he asked what I wanted, I told him a Louis Vuitton (smile). When he regained his composure and picked his jaw up from the floor, I told him I would settle for a KA mixer. He was happy to accommodate!I spent days researching, watching videos, calling people that bake a lot (hubby's family are true bakers), and reading, reading, reading. My final choice was this model. I love how quiet this model is. From what I understand, it is because of the DC motor. Noise bothers me and I would not want to listen to a mixer as loud as the AC models can be. Now, what I DON'T like! The lift bowl is nice, I understand why it is needed if you are doing a heavy batch. However, I like tilting the mixer, stirring, and scraping as that is what I am used to. I had a difficult time doing these things with the lift bowl. Yet, I believe I can get used to this method after a few cakes. Next, this is not so much an "I don't like" but, I plan to order a smaller bowl. The 7 qt capacity is way too big for a basic pound cake. The paddle mixed extremely well, all was incorporated and I did not have to stop and scrap the sides regularly, but a smaller bowl would serve well. I also plan to order the slicer/shredder. Other than those two additions, I think I will be a very happy customer. I gave the machine a 3 star for easy to use because I have only used once. However, I do like how easy it is to clean. I don't know how durable it will be but it is very, very sturdy, quiet and tough. Coming from Alabama (a southern girl), I used to always bake cakes, pies, bread, and all in between. Then, I moved to Florida and discovered Publix! So, I gave up baking. Now, retired, I've decided to began again because my husband loves homemade cakes, bread, and other stuff we don't necessarily need! Also, there is a feeling of joy and accomplishment when you bake your own.Well, that is my review! Happy Baking and do not hesitate to try this machine. You know you can always send/take back. This price is the best I have found. And don't forget the 5 year warranty!I just wanted to add, that I ordered a 5qt bowl for this mixer. For me, the only time I needed the 7 qt bowl was when making large batches of breads. The 5 qt is great for everything else. You might wonder why I did not order the 5 qt Artisian mixer. I like the quiet of this one even though it is quite pricey. Plus the 5 year warranty. Also, the paddle gets closer to the bottom without having to adjust. I will say, finding the 5qt bowl and especially the flex edge mixer blade is challenging. I was able to purchase both from Everything Kitchen even though the mixer blade is on backorder. I do notice Amazon have the flex edge paddles now with limited supply. I love this mixer and have baked 4 loaves bread, 2 cakes, and looking for something else to bake. Happy Baking!!Just to add, I also purchased the flex edge beater for use with cakes. Next, I ordered the stainless steel flat beater and as previously mentioned, the 5 qt bowl - which I LOVE. Having the smaller bowl is easier to handle. Well, off to bake again!