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A Homemade Pasta Machine for Slow Food Enthusiasts

A Homemade Pasta Machine for Slow Food Enthusiasts

(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- For all of Italy’s noodle knowledge, the country hasn’t had the same success creating pasta machines. But Marcato’s Atlas 150, produced in Campodarsego, about 20 miles west of Venice, has been around for more than 50 years. At 5 pounds, the $100 device is lightweight but sturdy, with a steel body and anodized aluminum rollers. An adjustable dial offers three settings—for lasagna, fettuccine, and tagliolini—and 10 thickness options, ranging from paper-thin, for ravioli, to ¼-inch, which works well for udon.

The Competition

• Another Italian brand, Imperia, makes an $80 model with seven thickness settings, but it can’t go as thin as the Marcato.

• For a crank-free experience, KitchenAid’s three-piece set ($200) uses the motor of a KitchenAid mixer (from $380).

• The $350 Philips pasta maker automates weighing, kneading, and mixing before extruding the dough through one of eight plastic discs—all in about 15 minutes.

The Case

Unlike an electric appliance, the lightweight Atlas 150 is easy to clamp onto your countertop—the Philips option comes in at more than 16 pounds—and needs no power outlet. It lacks the speed of other machines, aiming instead to satisfy slow-food enthusiasts. It also comes in five colors, including pink and stainless steel. $100; surlatable.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Gaddy at jgaddy@bloomberg.net

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