Bosch Compact Kitchen Machine

Performance reviews for the Bosch Compact Kitchen Machine indicate that isn't a good less expensive stand mixer. Its design is different from competing mixers, and higher-priced versions of the Kitchen Machine include attachments to turn the machine into a blender and a food processor. As a stand mixer, reviewers say the Bosch does an admirable job with standard tasks, and handles stiffer dough well considering its price. One reviewer notes that the beaters hit the side of the bowl when you raise the mixer's arm. In this price range, we also read good reviews for the Hamilton Beach Eclectrics 63221 (*est. $180) stand mixer, which gets more feedback from owners.

The Bosch Compact Kitchen Machine gets its main endorsement from Cook's Illustrated magazine, which tested the Bosch stand mixer in comparison with seven other under-$200 mixers. While the Bosch didn't completely ace tests, its performance didn't trail the top-rated model by far. We checked Consumer Reports and Good Housekeeping magazines for reviews of the Bosch Compact stand mixer, but neither has yet included the Bosch mixer in comparison tests. We did find a handful of owner-written ratings for this unit, which is hard to find in stores.