We were pleasantly surprised with the results of our tabletop pasta maker test: All 10 units we tried got pretty good scores. This OxGord machine is the least expensive of the bunch, with only minor disadvantages over much pricier machines, so it's a great choice for beginners. If you want to try homemade pasta for the first time, this gadget can get you started for a minimal investment. GLAMOUR tested review: Super easy to use and looks high-quality on my countertop, this machine made delicious, evenly cut fettuccini and wasn't hard to wipe down afterwards, either. Cons: The noodle cutter takes a bit of getting used to, and works best with thinner sheets of pasta. Cons: You will need to buy separate accessories to make the remaining pasta shapes - spaghetti etc. This only applies to extruder machines, but each model has an ideal batch size. If the mixing chamber is too full or too empty, the dough can get over-kneaded, which makes it harder to push through the dies. You can end up with uneven-textured noodles, or not be able to get the dough through at all. Different brands performed totally differently in this respect during testing—some worked better while completely full, and others liked smaller batches.

This popular manual model is from an Italian company that's been crafting pasta machines for generations. It’s made from sleek, chrome-plated steel and is impressively well-built, with a clamp that held it firmly to the table with no wobbling through the full round of testing. The crank handle is removable for easy storage, but it doesn't fall out while you're using it, a problem a lot of other hand-cranked machines have. Marcato offers 10 years of warranty, whereas Imperia models only come with a 1 year warranty. This is a significant difference between the two manufacturers and is alone one of the main reasons that I personally use a Marcato. Since a pasta maker is essentially a machine with gears and other mechanisms, they can break! So it is important to look at the warranty. Both pasta makers feature a 6-inch wide roller, which means that the maximum width of the dough sheets are 6 inches. This width is perfect for when you are making homemade pasta, as it will provide enough pasta for you and your family (and friends of course). That being said, the width of 6 inch is an almost universal standard on all consumer pasta machines.They are not interchangeable. The Atlas attachment does not work with the Imperia machine. The Imperia motor attachment does not work with the Atlas machine. You will need to get the appropriate attachment that matches your pasta maker.

One thing can be said for sure: if we are looking at the design of the pasta rollers, the Marcato Atlas 150 Wellness would definitely be the winner of the two. Featuring a classic and high-class design, you get the feeling you are looking at a high quality product. From the beautiful beveled logo to the nine different colors that the Marcato is available in: it just looks and definitely feels right. If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, you might have noticed the little cap on the front that's held on with a screw. This little access port allows you to connect a wide variety of attachments to the motor, which can do anything from grind meat to mill grain into flour. The KitchenAid pasta maker is our favorite one of those because it's so easy and works so well compared to manual models.

Video showing the Marcato Atlas 150 in use

The Imperia on the other hand has a very basic design, as the Imperia looks very comparable with all the other pasta rollers out there on the market. The design doesn’t reflect the quality of the machine and the Imperia definitely looks good in your kitchen. Especially the wooden handle is a lovely touch and it lovely on the shiny Imperia. Customers are saying: Is stylish, makes rolling pasta easy and comes with a recipe book to make kneading and preparing the dough all the more straightforward before you actually roll and cut it. As I don’t own the motor attachment for the Imperia, I wasn’t able to test it out. From what I have read theI can tell you that the Imperia attachment won’t fit on your Marcato model. The connections aren’t the same, so to motorise your Marcato you will have to get the proper Marcato motor attachment. Accessories: Most pasta makers can make two different kinds of noodles, but some come with tools and parts needed to create a wider variety—while other brands sell them separately. Machines also might include custom-shaped cleaning tools, while you have to supply your own brush with others. We considered the accessories included in the box, as well as the availability of additional attachments.

If you're contemplating whether investing in a pasta machine is worth it, then consider the fact that the only other alternatives are making pasta by hand or buying store-bought pasta. If you're not impressed by these alternatives, then let's look at the advantages of a pasta machine and Imperia pasta machine attachments. We were impressed with this inexpensive model's clamp. It has a concave washer that holds tightly against any flat surface. Once screwed down finger-tight, the thing wouldn't wobble no matter how much we tried to move it. The removable crank also turns very smoothly and easily, but it doesn't attach very securely into the side. It slipped out several times in testing, especially while cutting. We love the Imperia and so do all our Italian friends. However, if you want to read more about it and what other people think, follow this link to our personal review of the Imperia pasta machine, where you'll also find the best price online if you decide to buy it. The Marcato Atlas 150 is equipped with Wellness rollers which are made of anodized aluminum. Anodized aluminum is twice as hard as stainless steel, making the chance of metal particles less likely with rollers made from anodized aluminum. As Marcato has patented this technology, there are no other pasta rollers that have this same feature. If you and your family try to avoid aluminum with cooking altogether,Both these machines are excellent pasta rollers, but there are some differences between them that you should know about. In this pasta roller comparison we will look at the differences, reviewing both what we like and dislike about these pasta makers. We will compare the Marcato Atlas versus the Imperia, and at the end of this review you will know which pasta roller suits you the best. Now I have bought a new (chrome color) Welness model. Compared to th eolder it has plastic parts underneath the cutters to seperate the cut sheets from the cutters. Also the cutters are for fettuchine and tagliatelle. The old model had a real nice spaghetti cutter in place of the tagliatelle, and a metal dough seperation was done by metal parts. These days, though, time is at a premium and not everyone is able to make fresh pasta from scratch. Even the most traditional families in Italy have a pasta cutter in their cupboard. The one that's the most popular by far is the Imperia pasta machine.