There are few things as comforting as a belly full of homemade pasta. Get your fix on the regular with our picks for best pasta makers.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Learn more
You best believe when the idea for this article was first floated, my hand shot up like a first grader for it. Like most, I derive much joy from delicious meals – but none so much like fresh, homemade pasta.
It doesn’t matter the kind – spaghetti, tagliatelle, fettuccine, vermicelli, linguine, lasagne – there are few foods that soothe me more.
RELATED: Clever trick to making at-home lunches gourmet
RELATED: Expert’s free trick to a better tasting smoothie
There is, however, an entire internet landscape full of pasta makers to choose from. Many look the same – but you can trust that the quality is not. We distinguish the premium from the pretenders for you below.
From options that will appeal to your wallet, to the premier picks that are sure to last a lifetime, there’s a pasta maker for every kitchen counter here.
• Best Overall Pasta Makers – Marcato Atlas 180 Pasta Machine, Amazon Australia, $130.30 – Al Dente Pasta Machine with Detachable Cutters, Matchbox, $44.95
– Baccarat Gourmet 150mm Pasta Machine – Black, House, $69.99
– Marcato Atlas 150, Amazon Australia, $119
• Best Automatic Pasta Maker – Philips Avance Pasta & Noodle Maker, Myer, $399
• Best Cheap Pasta Makers
– The Cooks Collective 150mm Pasta Maker, Myer, $44.97
– Bialetti Pasta Machine – Gloss Red, Amazon Australia, $63.99
– Progressive PL8 Professional Pasta Maker, Mega Boutique, $99.95
• Best Pasta Making Attachments – KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachment, KitchenAid, $299
– Cuisinart Pasta Extruder Attachment, Catch, $24
• Best Vegetable Pasta Maker – Ortega Kitchen Spiral Vegetable Cutter, Catch, $15.95
We can almost smell the fresh dough from here. Read our guide to find the best pasta making machine for you.
BEST OVERALL PASTA MAKERS Marcato Atlas 180mm Pasta Machine, Amazon Australia, $130.30
Receiving just shy of a five-star rating with more than 2,000 reviews on Amazon is this world famous pasta machine from legacy Italian brand, Marcato.
Made from chrome-plated steel, purchase of this pasta machine comes with a 10-year warranty, so you’re guaranteed of many nights of fresh lasagne whenever you please. Customise your fettuccine, tagliolini and lasagne to your liking, with 10 knob options to choose from and the ability to adjust the dough thickness from 0.6mm to 4.8mm.
One impressed customer, who gave it a five-star review, described it as “Low fuss, high quality – everything you need from a pasta making machine, no more, no less.”
• Accessories included: 13 add-on accessories, including specific cutters for pastas such as linguine, spaghetti alla chitarra, spaghetti and linguine.
Al Dente Pasta Machine with Detachable Cutters, Matchbox, $44.95
From beginners to expert homecooks, this Al Dente Pasta Maker with Detachable Cutters is designed to suit all skill levels.
Ideal for making spaghetti, fettuccine and lasagne – arguably the most commonly loved pasta types – the manual model comes with a bench clamp to keep it secured to your countertop and prevent any slipping.
It’s also said to be made from high-quality stainless steel, so you can enjoy making (and eating) homemade pasta for longer.
• Accessories included: bench clamp, 150mm detachable cutters and recipe book.
Baccarat Gourmet 150mm Pasta Machine – Black, House, $69.99
Australia’s largest homegrown cookware brand, Baccarat knows quality stainless steel construction, making this easy-to-use model’s considered price even more enticing. This 150mm pasta machine offers choice of different cutting blades, allowing you to move between spaghetti and fettuccine as you please; while an optional bench vice mechanism holds the machine securely to bench tops.
Sitting convincingly on a five-star rating, enthused owners love its diminutive stature and ease of use, one saying, “Great little pasta machine and not too big and clunky to store away”; while another summarised their experience with, “Easy to use and clean. A great accessory to the kitchen if you like to make pasta from scratch.”
• Accessories included: bench vice mechanism and cutting blades.
Marcato Atlas 150 Pasta Machine, Amazon Australia, $119
The Marcato Atlas 150 is listed as one of the top picks on Amazon, with a 4.6-star rating on average to back it up. “I’ve never made fresh pasta before getting this but it changes your life! Nothing can bet homemade fresh pasta and this machine is fantastic. Easy to set up, easy to use and easy to clean,” a satisfied customer wrote.
You can make three pasta shapes (lasagne, fettuccine and tagliolini) of varying thickness levels, with 12 bonus accessories also included in the box. The machine can alternatively make non-pasta dishes such as pita bread, dumplings, noodles and pastelitos.
Unlike other models, this unit comes in a few colours including black, green, blue, light blue, Pink, red and the classic silver.
But if you’re particularly set on getting a certain colour, double check the reviews before buying. One shopper loved the product, but noticed her appliance did “not look remotely Pink” when it arrived.
• Accessories included: full aluminium roller and over 10 pasta accessories.
Philips Avance Pasta & Noodle Maker, Myer, $399
Want a quick and healthy meal but don’t have time to get last-minute groceries? The Philips HR2375/13 automatically mixes, kneads and extrudes ingredients to make two to three serves of fresh homemade pasta and noodles within just 10 minutes.
It comes with several shaping discs to make spaghetti, penne, fettuccine and lasagne, plus a storage compartment for convenience.
The automatic pasta machine is additionally constructed from dishwasher-safe parts and BPA free, sturdy plastic and stainless steel.
One happy customer gave it a five-star review, commenting, “We always wanted to make our own pasta and noodles but it always seemed too hard. This is a game changer and super easy to use!”
“Great product, we now live on fresh, tasty, healthy pasta,” another person wrote.
• Accessories included: four shaping discs, one cleaning tool, one measuring cup and a recipe book with 15 pasta dishes.
The Cooks Collective 150mm Pasta Maker, Myer, $44.97
Costing similar to a night out, The Cooks Collective stainless steel maker is a great way to enjoy delicious fresh pasta on a budget. It comes with the usual roller and easy-to-use handle, plus a bench vice secure it to your countertop and keep it wobble free.
This pasta maker is exclusively available from Myer, which also stocks 150mm models in red and black from the same brand.
• Accessories included: bench vice.
Bialetti Pasta Machine with Suction Base – Gloss Red, Amazon Australia, $63.99
If you’re looking for an option that’s kind to your wallet, this glossy red model from Bialetti is just the thing. Just shy of a five-star rating with over a dozen customer reviews, the nine position adjustable thickness dial, quality anodised aluminium rollers and cutters, and suction base round out this affordable model. Take it from this five-star review, which stated, “Sensational. Could not be more impressed with the excellent quality of this product. Great price and speedy delivery.”
The Italian brand additionally offers a five-year warranty.
• Accessories included: bench clamp and cutters for spaghetti and fettuccine.
Progressive PL8 Professional Pasta Maker, Mega Boutique, $99.95
For a professional-grade pasta maker without the premium price tag, check out this Progressive model. It has a stainless steel and carbon steel design, plus nickel plated rollers and a clamp to secure it to your countertop.
The hand-crank pasta maker allows you to choose from seven thickness settings when whipping up three classics – linguine, fettuccine and lasagne.
• Accessories included: recipe book.
BEST PASTA MAKING ATTACHMENTS KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachment, KitchenAid, $299
Trawl the internet for the pick for best premium pasta maker attachments – but don’t, I already did that for you – and there isn’t one list worth considering that doesn’t make mention of this three-piece pasta roller and cutter attachments from luxury kitchen appliance brand, KitchenAid.
Powered by the hugely popular KitchenAid Stand Mixer, this attachment gives home cooks the ability to roll pasta sheets, and cut fettuccine and spaghetti without taking up more space than their favourite mixer already does.
“If you love homemade pasta and you’re hesitant about buying one, don’t be, they are wonderful!!” a shopper wrote.
Another impressed customer described the set as a “practical, smooth, and a workhorse piece of equipment.”
Cuisinart Pasta Extruder Attachment, Catch, $24
If you have a Cuisinart Precision Master Stand Mixer, this extruder is a budget-friendly way to get the most out of your machine.
It can make several types of pasta, including spaghetti, small and large macaroni, rigatoni, fusilli and bucatini.
There’s also Cuisinart’s Pasta Roller & Cutter attachment which can create lasagne sheets, fettuccine and spaghetti.
BEST VEGETABLE PASTA MAKER Ortega Kitchen Spiral Vegetable Cutter, Catch, $15.95
For those who want to enjoy pasta but still get their vegetables in, or may not be too convinced by making gluten-free pasta in a pasta maker just yet, there are always fun vegetable cutters like this one.
With options for three different sized spirals; a suction cup base for stability; and simple push and crank handle operation, there’s nothing that’s not been thought of – and all for $15. Simply mix with a pesto or tomato-based sauce and voila! A tasty gluten-free pasta alternative.
• Accessories included: blade tower, ribbon blade, thick spiral blade and thin spiral blade.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
From affordable buys that will get you closer to your goals of pasta maker extraordinaire, to the recipe books that deserve a spot on every home cook’s shelves, here are some things we think you’d like a peek at.
Avanti Pasta Drying Rack, Amazon Australia, $7.50
So you’ve rolled out your dough, and fed it through the pasta maker – now what? Ensure your hard earned dinner doesn’t lump together before you get the chance to cook it, with this bamboo pasta drying rack from Avanti.
It has six arms, which can be removed if you want to feed the pasta straight from the machine and onto the rack.
The product can also be taken apart for easy, space-saving storage.
Country Trading Co. Gnocchi Boards and Wooden Paddles, Amazon Australia, $17.90
This simple but effective gnocchi board-cum-butter paddle is all you need for perfect gnocchi – just take it from the hundreds of users who have given it five-star reviews.
Made from sustainable bamboo with deeply engraved grooves – ideal for holding as much sauce as possible – it’s quite the steal at its price … especially considering you get two with purchase.
Write To Me Recipes Passed Down Book, The Iconic, $49.95
Well, this is a little bit gorgeous. After you’ve nailed your homemade pasta recipes, ensure everyone in your household has access to the winning formulas, courtesy of this linen hardcover recipe book from local family-run brand, Write To Me. Featuring a contents page with page numbers (genius, honestly), and space for 94 recipes and their accompanying stories, this pretty, wine-toned recipe book is sure to be passed down through the generations.
Pasta Grannies: The Official Cookbook, Amazon Australia, from $30.79
If you’re not already aware of the YouTube channel that inspired this book, I propose you get on that delightful content immediately. A compilation of years-perfected pasta recipes from nonnas from all over Italy, each recipe – from Monica’s pasta baskets with ricotta and lemon, to Giuseppa’s fingernail pasta with tomato sauce – is accompanied by the stories of these remarkable women. We’re willing to bet you’ll never want to eat store bought pasta again.
WHAT PASTA CAN A PASTA MACHINE MAKE?
Whether you’re craving a fine and delicate pasta like capellini (or angel hair pasta), or something thicker and wider such as fettuccine or lasagne sheets, there’s a good chance you’re covered.
Automatic and manual pasta machines are super versatile and allow you to customise the size, shape and length of your pasta to your heart’s (and stomach’s) desires. You can find specific accessories for ravioli, spaghetti, tagliolini, fettuccine and more.
These attachments can alternatively be used to make non-pasta dishes such as noodles, pie crust, pastry dough, marzipan or fondant cake icing, dumpling and egg roll wrappers, flatbread, cookie dough and crackers.
ARE ELECTRIC PASTA MAKERS WORTH IT?
Electric pasta makers are definitely worth the investment if you’re looking for an automatic alternative to a traditional hand-crank unit, or regularly cook pasta dishes and want a convenient way to whip up a fresh batch (including gluten free).
For anyone thinking of switching from a hand-crank model, automatic pasta makers can offer a faster, simpler, and less messy alternative. But manual machines are generally cheaper, especially if you’re shopping for an entry-level unit.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PASTA?
There are hundreds of different types of pasta, each coming from different traditions, technique and local ingredients from regions all over Italy. According to the Encyclopaedia of Pasta, they can all be categorised by size: long, short, stuffed, cooked in broth, stretched, or gnocchi-like.
Enrich your home cooking with the best kitchen appliances on the market, including the smoothie makers for lump-free shakes and kitchen counter-worthy toasters from $34.
Read our reviews of the latest in kitchen appliances, including the much raved about Instant Pot and the ultra-luxe Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL.
Lastly, take a look at news.com.au Coupons, for deals from the most trusted brands, including Harvey Norman, Woolworths and Dell.
CHOICE has revealed the most economical ways to stay warm — including the renter-friendly option that’s a winner for “convenience”.
Want to make your table setting stand out? These tablecloths will ensure your dinner party is one to remember.
They are one of the hardest working items in our homes so it’s worth choosing the right ones from the start.