Well I used to love my kitchen aid mixer... then I was introduced to the vitamix and now I can see how big and how much room this takes up and there is a lot of clean up.

Don't get the Artisan model. Spend a little more and get the real one. This one bogs down and the connecting pin works loose and the bowl is too small and the beaters leave unmixed ingredients in the bottom.

I got this as an engagement present. I don't love it. I love the idea of it. There is constant pushing down the dry ingredients on the sides, and I find unscrewing the bowl from the base impossible. I mix things by hand now, and have a lot less to clean.