Smeg Forte Stand Blender review: Great power and mixed results

The Forte, which comes in up to seven colors depending on where you buy it, has a Direct Drive motor that offers 10 speeds to switch between, as well as a soft start setting. With this setup, the attachments are intended to gain momentum to reach your set speed rather than jump to breakneck speed. Although I wasn’t expecting the setup to start at a slow pace, I found it to be more of a half-speed start than a smooth ramp-up. The Forte’s speed settings can be adjusted via the chrome knob located on the top of the blender rather than on the side. I found that this was just for looks, not comfort.

With tilt-head mixers, you usually see the top of the mixer bounce with thicker dough – and the Forte is no exception to this. The Smeg team actually told me that they were supposed to do this, and that this motion best mimics “hand kneading” of dough. This seemed a bit strange to me, as most tilt-head mixers move while kneading. However, with the renewed bread hook attachment, the Forte consistently threw up some tough dough—more on that in a minute.

What concerned me the most was the vibration of the mixing bowl, even at low speeds. I always checked that the pan was locked in place and that the tilt head was working, but it kept happening. This is not something I’ve experienced with any other stand mixer. In the end, what I concluded was this: The Forte’s greatest powerhouse, the 750-watt motor, may actually be too powerful for the rest of the blender, especially considering its 5-quart capacity. Maybe if I offered more production with the mixing bowl and body, Like the Ooni Halo Pro With its 650-watt, 7.3-liter engine, it will be an even match.

Push to start

Photo: Julia Forbes

To move the Smeg mixer head up and down, press a button on the back of the head instead of moving the latch, as with the KitchenAid. While maneuvering the head, the button also uses a safety lock that locks the mixer and prevents the tilt head from colliding. The sheer weight of the 28-pound cast aluminum body, coupled with anti-slip feet to keep it in place on the tabletop, is also intended to enhance stability. All mixers are heavy, but the Forte had 2 to 3 pounds more weight than the KitchenAid Artisan and Artisan Plus series mixers.