Let me start by saying this mixer is a GAME CHANGER. As someone who bakes weekly (sometimes daily!), the KitchenAid Artisan has become my kitchen MVP. That almond cream color? Chef's kiss - it looks like a vintage dream on my countertop.

The 5-quart bowl is perfect for my sourdough batches - I can mix dough for 4 loaves at once without breaking a sweat. And that pouring shield? Genius design that keeps flour clouds contained (my black sweaters thank you). The tilt-head makes adding ingredients so easy - no more awkwardly holding the bowl while trying to pour vanilla extract.

Power-wise, this baby handles everything from delicate meringues to tough pizza dough. Though fair warning - when kneading dense bread dough at higher speeds, it might do a little cha-cha slide on your counter. Just keep a hand on it like you would with an excited puppy.

What surprised me most were the unexpected uses: blending chicken for salad (life-changing), making honey butter in seconds, and yes - you can even make fresh pasta with attachments. Though full disclosure, I eventually bought a dedicated pasta maker because once you go fresh pasta, there's no going back.

The only minor gripe? If you're using alternative sweeteners that create thicker batters, the motor works harder. But for standard baking? Flawless performance.

After six months of near-daily use, it still looks and performs like new. The stainless steel bowl goes straight in the dishwasher (no rust!), and cleanup is just a quick wipe-down. Worth every penny - this is one of those 'buy it for life' appliances that'll probably outlast me.