Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65)

The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker KVL65 is a high-performance stand mixer designed to meet the needs of serious bakers and home chefs. Known for its strong reputation in kitchen appliances, the Titanium Chef brings a premium mixer that promises not only incredible power but also a refined and stylish design.

Key Specifications

• Motor: Digitally controlled 1200 watts Chef Motor
• Speed: Variable + Pulse
• Bowl: 7.3 quarts Brushed Stainless Steel
• Body material: Die cast metal
• Attachments included: Aluminum K-beater, stainless steel whisk, aluminum dough tool, splashguard
• Weight : 25.8 lbs
• Dimensions: 9.4″D x 16.1″W x 13.5″H

Design & Build Quality

The first impression when you take the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) out of the box is that it’s a machine built for serious bakers. The mixer feels durable, and the materials are top-quality, highlighting Kenwood’s attention to detail. From its sleek design to its solid feel, it’s clear that this mixer is about both looks and performance.

Sturdy Construction

The Kenwood Chef Baker is made from die-cast aluminum, making the mixer both durable and lightweight enough for heavy-duty mixing. It measures 9.4″ D x 16.1″ W x 13.5″ H and weighs 25.8 lbs, so it requires sufficient counter space and storage. Its large size means it’s best suited for dedicated counter space rather than storage.

The 7.3 quarts stainless steel bowl is large enough to handle various tasks, from mixing cake batters to kneading bread dough. Its design balances professional strength with home kitchen style. The polished finish gives it a sleek, modern look that suits most kitchens, whether contemporary or traditional.

Powerful Performance with Smart Control

At the heart of this machine is a digitally controlled 1200W motor that smartly adjusts to whatever you’re making, ensuring you only use the power needed. Whether you’re working with dense bread dough, mixing large batches of cookies, or whipping up meringue, the motor automatically adapts for optimal performance. This delivers strong, steady power without overheating and handles large batches with ease.

The 8-speed settings are perfect for a variety of mixing tasks, from slow stirring to high-speed whipping. Additionally, the Kenwood Chef Baker includes a pulse function for tasks that need a quick burst of power. Whether you’re adding ingredients quickly or whipping something to perfection, this feature is very helpful. The variable speed control enables precise adjustments based on the recipe, making it a versatile tool for different cooking styles.

Tilt-Head Design

The tilt-head design adds convenience by allowing easy access to the bowl and attachment changes. The bowl stays securely in place during mixing, so there’s no need to worry about it slipping around while you knead thick dough or mix batters. The Chef Baker’s unique planetary mixing action covers the entire side, center, and bottom of the bowl. This is especially helpful when working with thick mixtures like bread dough or stiff cake batters, as it helps prevent the need to scrape down the sides frequently

Revolutionary EasyWeigh Scales Technology

The main feature of the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) is its built-in EasyWeigh scales, which allow you to weigh ingredients directly into the 7-liter bowl or any attached accessory. This eliminates the need for separate measuring bowls and helps keep the kitchen cleaner. The scales can measure in pounds and ounces or grams and kilograms, making recipe conversion easy.

Customizable PopTop Design

Kenwood’s first customizable Chef mixer allows you to change the top cover to complement your kitchen style, with 8 different color PopTops available separately and champagne cream fitted as standard.

Usability – Simple, Intuitive, and Reliable

Learning Curve

The Chef Baker XL KVL65 is very easy to operate. The learning curve is minimal. Most home bakers will find it straightforward to use, and for more experienced bakers, the variable speed control offers enough flexibility to try complex recipes. The clear, easy-to-read display shows which speed setting you are using, and the pulse function is a helpful feature when you need an extra burst of power.

Ease of Assembly and Operation

Assembling the stand mixer is straightforward, with the bowl twisting to lock into the base and attachments snapping into place on the underside of the tilt head. The tilt head release button is conveniently positioned at the back of the machine, and Kenwood’s LightLift head responds fully with only a gentle touch.

Regarding attachments, the Chef Baker XL (KVL65) includes three main tools: a dough hook, whisk, and flat beater. These attachments are made from durable materials and are tailored for specific tasks, such as kneading dough, whipping egg whites, or mixing batters. Additionally, the Chef Baker features a high-speed outlet that lets you connect other attachments, like food processors or pasta makers, adding extra versatility beyond simple mixing.

Performance Across Different Baking Tasks

Bread Making – The powerful motor and dough hook handle bread doughs exceptionally well, making light work of whole grain and enriched doughs that challenge lesser machines.

Cake Baking – While excellent for mixing cake batters, users need to scrape down the bowl multiple times during the creaming process to ensure proper incorporation. The integrated scales excel in this area, allowing for precise ingredient addition without interrupting the mixing process.

Pastry and Delicate Work – The mixer features a dedicated fold function for delicate mixes like meringues and mousses, ensuring you can achieve professional results with the lightest mixtures.

However, there are some considerations. When creaming butter and sugar, the mixer showed more wobbling than expected during the initial stages, even with soft, room-temperature butter. Once the ingredients were properly mixed, it settled down and performed excellently.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Cleaning the Kenwood Chef Baker is quite straightforward, as the bowl and attachments (dough hook, whisk, and flat beater) are all dishwasher-safe, making cleanup after baking quick and easy. The die-cast aluminum body can be wiped clean with a damp cloth, and the bowl is easy to clean, especially with the non-stick coating on the attachments.

One small drawback is that the motor base isn’t dishwasher-safe, so it’s important to keep it dry and avoid spilling ingredients on it. Fortunately, the design provides easy access to clean around the attachments and inside the bowl without much trouble. Overall, the Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) is low-maintenance, and cleaning is simple for most users.

Pros & Cons

Value for Money: Investment-Worthy?

Currently priced between $700 and $750, the Chef Baker XL competes in the premium stand mixer segment. Compared to similar capacity mixers from rivals like KitchenAid’s 7-Quart bowl-lift series, the Chef Baker XL offers competitive pricing along with unique features such as built-in scales. Additionally, it provides more power (1200 watts) and a larger bowl (7.3 quarts) than many other high-end stand mixers, making it perfect for large or difficult baking tasks. It delivers great value for serious home bakers who want commercial-level capacity without the commercial price.

Who Should Buy the Stand Mixer?

Buy if you:

• Frequently bake large batches or for big families
• Value the convenience of built-in scales
• Want a mixer that can grow with increasingly complex baking projects
• Appreciate customizable design elements

Consider alternatives if you:

• Bake only occasionally or in small quantities
• Prefer more compact, lightweight options
• Are budget-conscious and don’t need premium features

The Bottom Line

The Kenwood Titanium Chef Baker XL (KVL65) represents an excellent investment for serious home bakers who value innovation, capacity, and performance. The integrated scales alone justify much of the premium over basic stand mixers, while the substantial 7.3-quart capacity bowl and powerful motor ensure this machine won’t become a limitation as your baking ambitions grow.

It receives an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, making it one of the most compelling stand mixers in its price range.

Video Review

Credit – Kenwood World