The KitchenAid KPEXTA and KSMPEXTA are functionally the same attachment - the Gourmet Pasta Press. These different model numbers are used for various retailers or product updates, but both connect to your stand mixer's power hub to extrude fresh pasta dough into six different shapes, such as spaghetti, fusilli, and macaroni.
Here’s what this attachment does and how to decide if it's the right pasta-making tool for your kitchen.
KitchenAid Gourmet Pasta Press (KPEXTA / KSMPEXTA)
The Gourmet Pasta Press is a specialty attachment for your KitchenAid stand mixer designed to make shaped pastas that are difficult or impossible to create by hand. It uses an auger to push dough through one of six interchangeable discs and features a built-in wire slicer to cut the noodles to your desired length as they emerge. It simplifies the process of making complex shapes like fusilli and rigatoni.
- What it is: A stand mixer attachment that extrudes fresh homemade pasta dough into six different classic shapes.
- Key features: Comes with 6 pasta discs (Spaghetti, Bucatini, Rigatoni, Fusilli, Large Macaroni, Small Macaroni), a dough pusher, and a built-in wire cutter. Includes a storage case for all parts.
- Price: Around $219.99
- Dimensions: Attaches directly to the front power hub of any KitchenAid stand mixer. Storage case is approximately 10" x 5" x 3".
- Materials/Construction: The main housing is made of durable white plastic, while the internal auger and the pasta discs are metal.
- Style: Functional design that visually aligns with KitchenAid's standard white attachments.
- Pros: Makes complex shapes like bucatini and fusilli easily. Comes with a convenient storage case to keep all the small parts organized. The process is straightforward after a little practice. Simple to assemble on the mixer hub.
- Cons: Requires a much drier, stiffer dough than pasta rollers. Can be difficult to clean, requiring special tools and letting excess dough dry completely before removing. Plastic housing feels less premium than KitchenAid's all-metal attachments.
This attachment is for the creative home cook who loves shaped and hollow pastas like macaroni and rigatoni and wants an automated tool to produce them consistently.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/attachments/p.gourmet-pasta-press-attachment.kpexta.html
KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Set (KSMPRA)
Because the KPEXTA and KSMPEXTA are the same product, a more helpful comparison is with KitchenAid's other popular option: the 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Set. This set is for making flat, sheet-style pasta. It includes one roller to flatten dough into thin sheets for lasagna or ravioli, plus two separate cutters to slice those sheets into perfect spaghetti or fettuccine noodles.
- What it is: A trio of all-metal attachments for rolling pasta sheets and cutting them into spaghetti and fettuccine.
- Key features: Includes one Pasta Roller with 8 thickness settings and two Pasta Cutters (Spaghetti and Fettuccine). Made in Italy.
- Price: Around $219.99
- Dimensions: Each of the three attachments fits onto the front power hub of the stand mixer.
- Materials/Construction: Commercial-style stainless steel for durable, long-lasting performance. The attachments are heavy and feel incredibly robust.
- Style: Premium, polished stainless steel that has a professional, classic aesthetic.
- Pros: Creates perfectly consistent pasta sheets for lasagna, ravioli, and tortellini. All-metal construction is exceptionally durable. Easier to clean than the pasta press (usually just needs brushing). Very satisfying, hands-on process.
- Cons: Cannot make extruded shapes like fusilli or macaroni. Requires more active participation as you feed the dough through the rollers multiple times. The three separate pieces can be bulky to store if yours doesn't come with a case.
This set is ideal for pasta purists who love making fresh lasagna, ravioli, fettuccine, and spaghetti and value professional-grade, all-metal tool construction.
Shop this product: kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/attachments/p.3-piece-pasta-roller-and-cutter-set.ksmpra.html
Pasta Press (KPEXTA) vs. Pasta Roller Set Comparison
Type of Pasta & Versatility
This is the most critical difference. The Gourmet Pasta Press (KPEXTA) makes extruded pasta. Think fun shapes: fusilli (corkscrews), bucatini (hollow spaghetti), and macaroni. It excels at creating shapes that are impossible to form by hand or with simple rollers. If you love baked ziti with rigatoni or a classic mac and cheese, this is the tool you need.
The 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Set is exclusively for flat and cut noodles. Its primary function is to roll out beautiful, thin sheets of pasta dough. These sheets are essential for making lasagna, filled pastas like ravioli and tortellini, and hand-cut noodles. The included cutters then slice these sheets into classic fettuccine and spaghetti strands. It has a more traditional, foundational purpose in Italian cooking.
Materials & Construction
The Pasta Roller Set is the clear winner in terms of materials. Made from commercial-style stainless steel, these attachments are heavy, solid, and built to last a lifetime. They give you the feel of premium, professional kitchen equipment.
The Pasta Press is constructed mainly of durable hard plastic for its housing, with a metal auger and pasta plates. While perfectly functional and sturdy for its job, it simply doesn't have the same high-end feel as its all-metal counterpart. For some users, this difference in feel and long-term durability is a significant factor.
Usability & Cleaning
Both attachments have a learning curve. The Pasta Roller set requires a more hands-on technique - you have to flatten the dough slightly, guide it into the roller, fold and reroll several times, and then change attachments to cut. The process is easy to learn and very rewarding. Cleaning is simple: you just let any dough dry and then brush it off.
The Pasta Press process is more automated. You feed small balls of dough into the top, and the mixer's motor does the work of extruding it. The trickiest part is getting the dough consistency perfect - it must be much drier and stiffer than a typical pasta dough, or it will gum up the machine. Cleaning is more complex. The main housing must be disassembled, and leftover dough has to be poked out of the small crevices and discs, usually after it has dried completely.
Price & Value
Both the Gourmet Pasta Press and the 3-Piece Roller set retail for the exact same price: about $220. The "value" is therefore completely dependent on how you define your pasta goals. Neither is a better deal than the other, they are just priced for different outcomes. Your choice depends entirely on which type of pasta you'll make more often.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both attachments make excellent fresh pasta, but they are designed for completely different results.
Choose the Gourmet Pasta Press (KPEXTA / KSMPEXTA) if:
- You predominantly want to make shaped pastas like penne, fusilli, macaroni, and bucatini.
- You have kids (or are a kid at heart) who would love making fun pasta shapes.
- You want a more automated process and are okay with a sometimes-tricky cleanup.
- You already have a manual pasta roller and want to expand your pasta-making shapes.
Choose the 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Set (KSMPRA) if:
- Your favorite pasta dishes are lasagna, ravioli, or fettuccine Alfredo.
- You value the longevity and premium feel of all-metal, commercial-grade tools.
- You appreciate a more traditional, hands-on pasta making process.
- You're just starting with homemade pasta and want to master the foundational techniques first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real difference between the KitchenAid KPEXTA and KSMPEXTA?
There is no functional difference. They are both model numbers for the same product, the Gourmet Pasta Press. The different numbers are often used for sales in different retail stores, regions, or to denote minor packaging updates. Both versions are interchangeable and offer the same features.
Do these pasta attachments work with all KitchenAid stand mixers?
Yes, both the Gourmet Pasta Press and the 3-Piece Roller Set are designed to fit the front power hub of every KitchenAid stand mixer, from the smaller Artisan Mini to the largest Pro Line models.
Which KitchenAid pasta attachment is better?
Neither is "better" - they just do different things. If you want spaghetti or lasagna, you need the Pasta Roller Set. If you want rigatoni or fusilli, you need the Pasta Press. The best one is the one that makes the kind of pasta you want to eat.
Is the Gourmet Pasta Press hard to clean?
It is more challenging to clean than the rollers. You have to disassemble it and use the included cleaning tool to poke dough out of the pasta discs. The best method is to let all leftover dough dry overnight, which causes it to shrink and fall out much more easily.
Can you make filled pasta like ravioli with the Pasta Press?
No. The press only extrudes dough into solid or hollow shapes. To make ravioli, you need flat sheets of pasta, which can only be made with the Pasta Roller attachment.
What type of dough is best for the pasta press?
The press requires a very firm, dry dough made with semolina flour and water, often with no eggs. A dough that is too wet or soft will not extrude properly and will jam the auger. It's much less forgiving than the dough used for the roller set.
Is the plastic on the Pasta Press durable?
Yes, the plastic housing is made from a heavy-duty, food-safe material that is built to withstand the pressure of pasta extrusion. While the stainless steel rollers feel more premium, the press is durable and designed for its specific task.
Why are there two different models, KPEXTA and KSMPEXTA?
Companies often create unique model numbers for the same product to sell through different retailers like Target, Williams-Sonoma, or Amazon. This helps them track inventory and sales channels. It can also signify a minor cosmetic or packaging refresh, but the core product remains identical.
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