KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender review—does the iconic brand live up to the hype with this blender?

KitchenAid might be known for its stand mixers, but they also sell some hugely popular blenders—one of them being the KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender, which our expert has put through its paces in testing to bring you her honest thoughts and opinions on the popular product.

The Artisan K400 blender certainly combines retro-style curves and glossy colour, with the performance and functionality that’s synonymous with KitchenAid. At around $249.99/£279, it's definitely somewhat of an investment appliance. You can find it at many popular retailers, although they may not stock all the colours available—for the full selection you’ll likely have to head to KitchenAid’s online shop.

What’s particularly smart is this blender’s adaptability; it offers variable speeds (handy for keen cooks who are picky about texture) alongside automatic programmes (great for those who prefer the machine to handle blending for them). Should you want your blender to do more than simply blend, the base works with other accessories—such as small-batch jars, a citrus press or personal blending cups—which is why it's also made it onto our list of the best blenders to buy. But read on to see our tester's full thoughts on the machine's capabilities and strengths, as well as its weaknesses.

And if you're still stuck on what blender to buy, you can also read our in-depth reviews of the ever-popular NutriBullet Combo and Vitamix Ascent A2300i blender, which is fabulous for serious cooks.

What is the design of the KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender like?

This is one blender you’ll definitely want to make room for on the worktop. Unlike others that tend to be purely functional (in aesthetics, as well as on the inside), the Kitchenaid K400 puts style front and center (as they also do with many of their best hand blenders, too), with a tactile metal control dial, signature KitchenAid styling and a gently rounded button for starting and stopping the blender. 

Its individual parts have been designed thoughtfully too, with carry handle notches at either side of the base, a drop-on jug that requires no twisting in, a push-on leak-proof lid with a neat lip to help pull it off, and a sturdy 1.4-litre glass jug with a notch at the bottom for a snug fit. Inside, three angled blades, plus a flat one, do an excellent job of tackling even the toughest of ingredients, such as seeds and nuts.

Perhaps the only place where this machine’s design could do better is with a more versatile cable; there’s only about 80cm of flex, meaning you’ll need to keep it near a plug socket, and there’s no cable tidy to keep it neat when not in use. 

What functionalities does the KitchenAid Artisan blender have?

Working out how to use a blender can be tricky, but the KitchenAid Artisan K400 makes it easy. It’s not just five speeds and three automatic programmes that make this blender one of the more superior models out there—it’s also how these functions actually work (and what this, in turn, brings to the table). For example, each has a soft-start feature to reduce the splatter that comes from a sudden burst of power. 

The motor also adapts to the contents to maintain optimal speed for blending, making it great for easy smoothie recipes. The programmes themselves are fairly drinks-led—ice crush, icy drink and smoothie—leaving the speeds to do the heavy lifting of blitzing soups, sauces, doughs and frozen desserts. There’s also a pulse, which is ideal for chopping, and a self-cleaning programme that whisks away food debris in 45 seconds.

How did the KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender perform?

One thing the KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender isn’t short on is power—the 1.5hp motor (around 1200W) ensures that, so it's great for all kinds of blender recipes. But it wasn’t all that surprising then that the smoothie programme was pretty noisy. The resulting drink was foamy, but there wasn’t a trace of any residue, grit or flecks of spinach. The ice programme was equally efficient; while it was set to run for 30 seconds, we stopped it halfway through as the cubes had already been turned into even snow that was perfect for cocktails. Our soup, blended using the variable speed, turned from a chunky mixture into a smooth purée in about 30 seconds—so there's no doubt that this blender performs on all fronts very well.

What is the weight of the KitchenAid Artisan K400?

At a combined weight of 6.62kg, the base unit and glass jug are fairly heavy. While this means that the blender stays steady on the worktop when in use, it’s probably best to find a spot for it to live permanently. Pouring from the glass jug can also be a challenge, especially when it’s full, so it might be worth buying the compatible 1.6-litre plastic jug for everyday tasks and keeping the glass one for hot liquids.

How easy was it to clean the blender?

The jug’s weight meant cleaning it thoroughly by hand was tricky, so the self-cleaning programme really does come into its own when it comes to clearing up the mess you've made. The parts are dishwasher safe, too, which is a real time-saver and makes it much easier to clean parts of the blender that are a bit more delicate and fragile. But, seeing as this handy machine is sure to get lots of use, the self-cleaning programme may prove to be your favorite method of cleaning, given how well it works and how easy it is. 

And if you want to see a step-by-step breakdown for cleaning, look no further than our guide to how to clean a blender.

What is the warranty?

This KitchenAid Artisan K400 blender’s obvious build quality and durability is backed up by a five-year guarantee on the whole machine, which is great for a little extra peace of mind. Generally, the warranty of most blender's is between one year and seven years, so five years is a great middle ground and should provide plenty of time  for you to feel secure in the quality of the blender. 

Plus, five years is one of the longest warranty's around for KitchenAid products, so you can feel really safe in the knowledge that this product should last for years to come.

w&h's overall verdict on the KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender

Overall, the KitchenAid Artisan K400 Blender does a great job of catering for a variety of needs. In testing its performance was faultless, it was easy to use as well as being easy on the eye. Plus, for a premium machine, the price point feels reasonable. 

The only sticking points for some will be its weight – pouring steadily from a heavy jug can be a challenge—and overall capacity, which didn’t match up to comparable machines that offer bigger pitchers. However, if you’re looking for an attractive all-rounder this ticks the boxes.