Best Pasta Makers 2026: Hand Crank, Electric & Attachment

The Marcato Atlas 150 has been the benchmark manual pasta machine since Marcato began manufacturing in Parma, Italy in 1930. The 150mm (approximately 6-inch) wide rollers are the industry standard that all accessories are designed around, meaning dozens of third-party attachments (ravioli makers, lasagne cutters, fettuccine rollers, angel hair cutters) are compatible. Nine thickness settings allow everything from delicate angel hair (1mm) to thick pappardelle (3mm) and fresh lasagne sheets. Chrome-plated steel rollers are precisely machined to ensure even thickness across the full width — a critical factor for consistent pasta texture. The clamping system attaches firmly to most counter edges. Cleaning is dry-brush only (no water — steel will rust), which some users find inconvenient but pasta makers universally accept. The optional motor attachment ($55 extra) converts it to electric for large batch production. After 90+ years, the Atlas 150 remains the correct answer for serious manual pasta making.

Imperia has been manufacturing pasta equipment in Italy since 1932, making them one of the few companies whose heritage approaches Marcato's. Their SP150 pasta machine uses the same 150mm roller standard, allowing compatibility with Marcato accessory attachments — a valuable feature for bakers who already own Marcato accessories or want access to the broader accessory ecosystem. Chrome-plated steel construction is comparable to Marcato in quality. The 6 thickness settings (vs Marcato's 9) is the primary functional difference — gradations between settings are slightly larger, making it marginally harder to find the exact thickness for specialty pasta shapes. For most home pasta makers who use 3-4 thickness settings routinely, this distinction is inconsequential. The heavier build (actually a feature for stability during rolling) combined with the $10 price difference makes Imperia a rational choice for price-sensitive buyers who don't want to compromise on Italian quality.

The KitchenAid pasta attachment represents a different philosophy than manual machines: let the stand mixer's motor do the work. The attachment connects to the power hub on any KitchenAid stand mixer (4.5-quart and larger) and uses the motor to drive the pasta rollers at consistent speed. This eliminates the physical fatigue of hand-cranking through multiple passes of thick dough — especially meaningful when making pasta for 6-8 people. The set includes a roller attachment (for sheets) plus spaghetti and fettuccine cutters. Stainless steel rollers are precisely machined and easy to clean with the included brush. The main practical trade-offs: the mixer's consistent speed leaves less tactile feedback compared to hand-cranking, and pasta can dry at the cutters faster than a beginner expects. Setting up requires attaching and detaching the hub assembly. At $145, this attachment assumes you already own the $300-500+ stand mixer — for KitchenAid owners, the total cost per pasta batch over years of use becomes very reasonable.

The CucinaPro pasta maker makes the case that fresh pasta shouldn't require a $70+ commitment to try. Chrome-plated steel rollers with 7 thickness settings cover the full range of pasta shapes from thick lasagne to thin spaghetti. The included fettuccine cutter attachment provides immediate versatility. The lighter-gauge construction is the most obvious compromise versus Marcato and Imperia — the machine flexes slightly when working through stiff durum wheat dough, requiring consistent counter clamping and a steadier feed hand. For egg-based pasta doughs (which are softer and more workable), the performance gap narrows significantly. Beginners learning pasta technique — how to knead dough to the right texture, how thin to roll for different shapes, how to flour to prevent sticking — will develop all these skills on the CucinaPro. If pasta making becomes a regular kitchen activity, upgrading to Marcato makes sense. As a gateway machine, the CucinaPro is exactly right.