When you first see it, the Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine doesn’t seem to be packing anything special under its hood. However, first impressions are deceiving, as it’s actually ten kitchen appliances all in one shiny package.
It’s a handy machine with all the functions of a bread maker, cookie dough maker, sausage maker, pasta maker, stand mixer, cheese and nut grinder, meat slicer, blender, berry press and a powerful food processor. It’s downright amazing, how many attachments this baby has. The only thing it’s missing is a fridge and a microwave, but maybe Bosch has a suggestion box.
The Bosch Classic Machine packs several features that you can’t find in similar machines. I don’t think there are any machines similar to the BCKM. It has a powerful 400 to 600 Watt belt motor, three speeds and a pulse button. Additionally, unlike stand mixers which use a hook or a crane to lower the mixer into the bowl, the BCKM’s the drive mechanism and attachment holder is on the bottom of the bowl.
The Bosch Kitchen Machine comes in two sizes: standard, and compact. The compact is, quite obviously, 
smaller; and takes up less counter space than the standard. Compacts are meant for use in smaller kitchens and RVs. The standard’s mixer bowl holds five quarts, while the compact holds four. The compact has a 6oo watt motor, which is less than that of the standard, but with the compact’s smaller bowl, it doesn’t really matter much.
The Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine, with its 600 watt motor, belt drive transmission (a standard feature in all Bosch mixers), three speeds and pulse button, will cost you about $300. That’s the basic machine. If you get all 11 attachments, it will cost you $500 to $600 extra. This may seem a lot of money to spend on buying just one kitchen appliance, however, don’t forget to factor in the fact that you’ll actually be getting the functions of eleven kitchen appliances.
If you play for the eleven appliances separately, it will cost you a lot more money than if you just buy the Bosch with all the attachments. It also takes up very little space, and can be put away when not in use. This product is great for first kitchens, and for people who like to cook and make things from scratch.
However, Bosch has already discontinued the Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine, so if you want to buy one, you’d have to make your purchase online. Most websites are sold out, but there are still a few sites that offer it, like eBay.
Even if you can’t find the Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine online, don’t worry. Bosch has released an amped-up version of it called the Universal Plus Kitchen Machine with improvements such as a stronger motor (800 watts), four speeds and a pulse button. Bosch has also exercised foresight by making the old attachments compatible with the new machine, and vice versa. In fact, all attachments fill all of the Bosch mixer models, from the UM3 to the current UM6 series. The only con in a very long list of pros is that the Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine goes for around $400.
One of the websites I visited featured a built-in Bosch mixer with a 700 watt motor. This product is a great choice if you have a new home and you’re still shopping for appliances, or when you’re remodelling your kitchen. Bosch kitchen mixers can last for as long as twenty years, which saves you a lot of money in the long run as you won’t need to pay a professional to remove and repair the mixer, which you might find yourself needing to do if you have a built-in mixer from another brand.
All Bosch mixers come with a three-year product warranty for the motor and transmission, while the rest of the machine comes with a one year warranty. Bosch has issued a guarantee that the transmission failure rate is only 1 percent over twenty years. This guarantee, in a world where we expect appliances to break down within a year of purchase, has garnered Bosch a lot of loyal fans.
To sum it all up, if you’re the type of person who would like to own a kitchen appliance that can do pretty much everything and save you money at the same time, you should buy one of these machines while they’re still available.
