I've been checking out the kitchen stores around my area for a beater blade. I stopped at Williams and Sonoma and they didn't have it.

However, they did have a mixer by a company called Breville that supplies a blade attachment that's the same concept of a beater blade. That's just the standard blade attachment that comes with the mixer. I did notice too that the mixer had a nice handle on the front that you grasp to lift the mixer head.

Has anyone ever used one of these? Normally I wouldn't consider getting a new mixer ($300) but I've noticed my kitchenaid making some funny sounds after about 10-15 of mixing buttercream. Sounds like the gears are working extra hard or something.

Price wise they are both the same, but I'm wondering performance wise. Actually, if you're getting a beater blade attachment with it, then the Breville is about $30 cheaper than Kitchenaid.

I don't know how their mixers are, I own one of their nice espresso/latte machines, and it is very well made. They have very good customer service also. I have owned it 3 years now and have had ZERO issues with it. I saw the mixer in a catalog I got in the mail, and it looked very interesting! Let us know if you take the plunge and get it.

I also don't know about their mixers but I bought their juicer @ 5 years ago and in my opinion it's the best on the market. After researching motor specs it is much better than any other (even the high end ones). It is probably the last one I will own and that says a lot about a juicer I use daily. That said, I would trust any of their other products. Check out the specs on the motor and compare to KA, that will tell you eveything you need to know. hth

Wow, I just looked at their mixer and the motor is 550 watts with a load sensor and comes with the scraping paddle attachment. The KA's motor is 325 watts but you have options to use attachments (I've never done that). It looks like a great mixer with lots of power... and a great price.