Kenwood Chef Elite Stand Mixer for Baking - Powerful Food Mixer in Silver, with K-beater, Dough Hook, Whisk and 4.6 Litre Bowl, 1200 W, KVC5100, Silver [Energy Class A]

Over the last 30+ years, we've all become used to paying less and less for everything (in relative terms) and getting cheap crap made out of plastic or otherwise having corners cut in terms of bad design, poor components and a throwaway mentality that some new version or gadget will come along in a year or two. Whilst you would have no hint of this from looking at the Kenwood website, which is a train wreck of confusing and misleading information and poor marketing, but this is the BEST product in terms of quality that I have purchased in decades. It has a heft to it, with a heavy grade die-cast body, metal switches and levers, and the plastic it does have, for example the included splash-guard, has a feel of quality about it. It feels as if it will last for decades. The *clunk* as the head comes down into the bowl is like a quality BMW car door closing. Amazing. Quick explanation as the manufacturer website is so appalling. The Chef (classic) is the base model. The Chef Elite (this model) adds a slow speed 'folding' option and a 'pulse' option - both pretty useful IMHO. It has a more powerful motor, 1200w instead of 1000w. The Chef Titanium model adds a further motor upgrade, to 1500w and an upgrade from coated aluminium, but dishwasher safe, beaters to stainless steel. (the whisk is stainless with the Elite too, and perhaps the base Chef 'classic'). The Titanium also has a light to illuminate the bowl, in case you like cooking in the dark :-o . And then there is the regular, 4.6L capacity such as this item, or the XL ranges of each, which are larger. These latter, confusingly, seem to be called 'Major' on the Kenwood site in places, but not consistently - maybe a historical name? You can upgrade the beater to stainless steel for about £30, thus gaining effectively a Titanium spec model at slightly lower power for a saving of around £200. The Kmix models lack the high speed accessory port, so if you want a slicer or food processor or juicer or whatever, that's not an option. Summary: overall a fantastic, British-designed (but sadly no longer British-made) product at a great price, let down by one of the worst marketing teams and websites I've experienced in over 30 years in technical sales. Now: to start baking with it...

I only really make bread, and have made bread by hand for a long time. But this machine just makes the whole process far less physically daunting.It has no issues with dry or heavy dough, such as bagels (500gm flour). It can certainly handle much larger quantities according to the manual - but I would struggle. The kneading with the supplied dough hook is far better than I was achieving by hand, resulting in better quality loaves. And whilst it's kneading I can be cleaning up.Suprisingly, it's quite easy to move around the kitchen, from countertop to table or even to another room, just to make space. Given the price it's a shame it doesn't come with a basic dust cover, but that's honestly the only gripe I have.I did try the K beater to make a small batch of cookie dough. It worked fine - daughter was happy with the result! - but I decided to order the flexible beater, as the K beater did leave a thin film of flour around the bowl. It's expensive, and perhaps would be better as standard issue, but others may disagree and in fairness I'm new to this whole gadget.Overall certainly glad I chose this over the KMix. Especially with a stainless steel bowl vs glass.

Excellent service. The mixer works very well, and is much quieter than the last time we had a Kenwood mixer - admittedly a long time ago! No need to scrape the side or bottom, as the beater reaches right to the side/bottom. Easy to insert/remove beaters. Looks elegant, too. More expensive than other mixers, but I think that it's going to be money well spent.

I had a Kenwood chef in1976, and only got rid of it last year 2019, it still worked but was so tatty. I really missed it so bought a new one, must say this one is so much quieter and much more efficient, maybe my old one was to old! I am very happy with this model. It is sturdy, quiet, and up to the job. Can’t beat a Kenwood.

She said its the best mixer she ever had. What more should I say?

My son bought this for me as a gift and I have been blown away by it. Everything about this product is quality. It came with a balloon whisk, dough hook and the famous K beater, but you can add to it also with liquidiser, mincer and food processor.It is expensive, but it is a product that will last. I am very happy with it.

This is the first stand mixer I've ever had and I am loving it, have used it loads but it is less stable than my mum's Kenwood. (hers is about 3-4 years old and, i think, lower powered engine.)The thing is it moves a lot; the whole upper section vibrates, (the splashguard moves back and forth about 5mm in relation to the bowl) and the whole unit moves across the worktop, almost rotating; (the back section seems to stay still and the front end moves,) even when it's not on high speed or doing anything 'hard work', e.g. creaming butter and sugar for cake making, whisking eggs for meringue...Having never had a stand mixer before I'm not sure if this is a common thing, all i know is my mum's one doesn't do it...!

I bought 2 actually about 2 years ago for 250 £, from a well known shop (can't say it was John Lewis) and now i paid 400 £ for another one for my wife Christmas present, honestly i can't justify the price increase, good product, recommended, but as a price tag, way too expensive, i mean 250 was... let's say, more acceptable, but 400 is a small fortune for most of people