Philips Pastamaker: My experience after 2 years!

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I have been using the Philips pasta maker* to make fresh pasta for over 2 years now. During this time, I’ve learned a lot about the appliance: in this article, you’ll find out what I currently love about the machine, but also what potential disadvantages there are that you should be aware of before buying.

Last updated: January 5, 2024

There is a new version of the test winner: the Pastamaker 7000 from Philips (formerly Avance) has a new design, but the functions are almost identical.


You can find a detailed video on the subject on my YouTube channel:


In my comparison of 10 pasta machines, the Pastamaker 7000 from Philips is the current test winner.

I regularly use it to make pasta and in my course “Secrets of pasta making with the Pastamaker” I show everything using this machine as an example.

Philips Pastamaker 7000 (formerly Avance)

The pasta machine with the best price-performance ratio.

Nevertheless, there are a few things you should know before you buy, especially if you are not familiar with pasta making.

In this article, I address important questions:

In the end, you will know exactly whether the Philips pasta maker is right for you.

The most important facts in brief

  • The Philips pasta maker is robust enough to withstand many years of regular pasta making.
  • Pasta production takes between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the quantity produced. The Pastamaker can make between 250 and 750 grams in one run.
  • Cleaning the pasta maker takes about 5 minutes. When dry, the dough can be easily removed from the individual parts, which then only need to be washed off.
  • After each use, around 30 grams of dough remains in the machine. The leftover dough can be frozen, chopped up and reused for the next pasta production.
  • Included in the scope of delivery are 8 shaping discs for capellini, spaghetti squares, spaghetti, fettuccine, tagliatelle, pappardelle, lasagne and penne. In addition, there are also forming disks for hundreds of pasta types, which can be purchased for €20 to €30 each.
  • The recipe options with the Pastamaker are extensive: pasta with egg, pasta without egg, wholemeal pasta, colorful pasta, seasoned pasta, Asian or gluten-free pasta are just some of the many examples.
  • My family and I think the pasta from the Pastamaker tastes great! The taste and consistency are easily distinguishable from dried pasta from the supermarket.

How does the Pastamaker work?


The fully automatic pasta machine from Philips is based on the extrusion principle. In contrast to handmade pasta, the dough is not rolled but pressed into the desired shape by a die.

Before I go into details, I would first like to explain how the Pastamaker works.

In contrast to hand-operated appliances, the Philips Pastamaker is based on the extrusion principle.

Extrusion principle explained simply

  • The ingredients are filled into the machine’s flour chamber and mixed thanks to the kneading arms.
  • The dough is then conveyed through a pressing screw to the exit.
  • The dough is pressed through the forming disk to give it its shape.
  • The noodles can be gradually cut to the desired length.

To the instructions: Make your own pasta with a pasta maker

In contrast to the roller principle, this type of pasta production offers advantages, but also some disadvantages, as we will see in the course of this article.

Is the Pastamaker robust enough?


The Philips pasta maker is robust enough to withstand many years of regular pasta making.

In contrast to professional appliances, the machine is largely made of plastic, but the components that are exposed to the most pressure are made of steel.

I found out that this is important in my first test with 5 fully automatic pasta machines: Back then, the dough hook on the Nina machine from Springlane broke during the first few attempts.

Dough hooks broken during the endurance test with wholemeal flour (Nina from Springlane)

You can see what kind of pressure is created during pasta production by looking at the front of the Philips machine when the pasta is dispensed:

It’s not bombproof and curves slightly. But the frame is held together by two sturdy screws and I can’t imagine them breaking.

The appliance comes with a 2-year guarantee, and if one of the components should break, you can easily and relatively cheaply obtain spare parts from Philips.

How quickly can you make pasta?


Pasta production takes between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the quantity produced. The Pastamaker can make between 250 and 750 grams in one run.

Philips advertises that you can make fresh pasta in under 10 minutes with the Pastamaker. This is true, but only applies to the production of 250 grams of pasta.

Speed test with the Pastamaker 7000 from Philips.

It takes around 15 minutes to make the maximum amount of 750 grams. This means that the Philips machine is not noticeably faster than other fully automatic pasta machines.

Duration of pasta production with a fully automatic pasta machine

2min.

WEIGH INGREDIENTS

3min.

MIXING PROCEDURE

10min.

NOODLE OUTPUT

5min.

CLEANING

20min.

TOTAL

In comparison, handmade tagliatelle takes considerably longer, a whole 60 minutes:

Duration of pasta production with a hand-operated pasta machine

15min.

MAKE DOUGH

30min.

LET IT REST

10min.

ROLL OUT THE DOUGH

5min.

NOODLE SHAPES

60min.

TOTAL

Incidentally, pasta production is not fully automated in the sense that you can simply leave the site while production takes its course.

You have to stand next to it to empty the ingredients into the chamber, check the consistency and cut the pasta to the desired length when it is dispensed.

TIP: There are methods that increase the preparation time slightly, but improve the quality of the pasta considerably. For example, you can leave the dough to rest to achieve a more stable consistency.

You will learn this and much more in my video course “Secrets of pasta making with the Pastamaker“.

If you are buying a Pastamaker, this course is the perfect way to exploit the machine’s potential right from the start!

How easy is it to clean?


Cleaning the pasta maker takes about 5 minutes. When dry, the dough can be easily removed from the individual parts, which then only need to be washed off.

Philips advertises that the removable parts of the pasta maker are dishwasher-safe. This is true, but the truth is that they take up so much space that I hardly ever clean them this way.

However, it is difficult to remove the dough from the pieces by hand, unless you proceed as follows:

Immediately after making the pasta, I dismantle the Pastamaker, remove any rough dough residue and leave the rest to dry:

After about an hour, the dried dough can be easily removed from the pieces:

Appropriate tools must be used for some areas:

Afterwards, all you need to do is rinse them briefly, leave them to dry and the pasta maker can be set up for the next use. The whole process takes me no longer than 5 minutes.

You can find out more about cleaning the Pastamaker here.

Philips Pastamaker: How to clean quickly & easily

Is there any dough left in the machine?


After each use, around 30 grams of dough remains in the machine. The leftover dough can be frozen, chopped up and reused for the next pasta production.

One disadvantage of the pasta maker is that between 30 and 50 grams of dough get stuck in the machine after each use.

Although you can ensure that as much dough as possible is dispensed by manually feeding any dough left over in the kneading chamber into the pressing screw, a small amount always collects in the forming disk.

Rommelsbacher has solved the problem better with the fully automatic Pastarella pasta machine: the slightly different design means that almost all of the pasta dough is always dispensed.

Fortunately, the leftover dough is not lost, as it can be reused.

The best way to do this is to collect the leftover dough in a freezer bag for a longer period of time. As soon as enough has been collected, chop it up in a blender and use it for the next pasta production.

However, the dough does not have the same quality as with fresh ingredients, so I only use leftover dough to make spaghetti.

What types of pasta can you make?


Included in the scope of delivery are 8 shaping discs for capellini, spaghetti squares, spaghetti, fettuccine, tagliatelle, pappardelle, lasagne and penne. In addition, there are also forming disks for hundreds of pasta types, which can be purchased for €20 to €30 each.

When it comes to the selection of pasta types, the Philips pasta maker stands out from all other appliances. In addition to the eight included shaping discs, there is an almost endless selection of dies to order.

Examples of pasta varieties

Here you can see examples of pasta shapes that can be made with the Pastamaker.

However, each die costs between €20 and €30, so choose wisely. I’ve put together a list of the best mold plates that I would buy first.

To be honest, I’m not super enthusiastic about the attachments supplied. There are three attachments each for vermicelli and tagliatelle, which are very similar to each other.

These molded discs are supplied.

In my opinion, at least 2 of these attachments could have been dispensed with and instead a shaping disk for twisted (fusilli) and for shell pasta (conchiglie) could have been offered.

Supplied molded discs VS how it could look.

The forming discs for ribbon noodles and for tube noodles are also a little too thick for my taste, which is why I have already bought a finer die for tagliatelle.

NOTE: There is probably a reason why Philips has opted for this particular selection of shaping discs. I go into this in more detail in the video linked above (chapter on the complexity of pasta making).

What recipe options are there?


The recipe options with the Pastamaker are extensive: pasta with egg, pasta without egg, wholemeal pasta, colorful pasta, seasoned pasta, Asian or gluten-free pasta are just some of the many examples.

A major advantage of fully automatic pasta machines is that a large number of recipe variations are possible for the pasta dough.

Both the type of flour and the liquid can be freely selected as long as the mixture forms a stable dough when dispensed.

Instead of wheat flour, you can use spelt flour, rye flour, kamut flour, chestnut flour, wholemeal flour and gluten-free flours.

You can also give the pasta a great color with vegetables such as spinach, beet or tomato paste.

Spices can also be used: By adding turmeric, you not only get a great taste, but also a super nice, deep yellow color.

Examples of possible recipes with the Pastamaker

However, you cannot use the same recipes for the Pastamaker as for handmade pasta. They must be specially designed for the machine!

Here I have put together a small collection of the best basic recipes for the Pastamaker.

These are recipes that can also be found in my recipe book 30+ working recipes for the Pastamaker.

How easy is it to make delicious pasta?


The pasta maker is easy to use for beginners and the supplied shaping discs deliver good results. However, if you expect a perfect result or want to try out new molds and recipes, you will need to delve deeper into pasta making.

If you watch the Philips promotional video, you get the impression that there is nothing easier than making pasta with a pasta maker.

Simply select the desired ingredients, attach the shaping disk of your choice and you’ll get perfect results in no time at all.

In reality, it’s not quite so simple.

Certain conditions have to be in place for the crumbly dough in the flour chamber to turn into perfect pasta after dispensing.

Which ingredients you use and in what proportions plays an important role, as this directly influences the properties of the dough!

To achieve really good results, you need to adapt the recipe and the amount of liquid to the forming disk you are using. You should also develop a feeling for when the dough has reached the right consistency.

Because this sounds complicated, I have created a video course in which I explain everything I have learned so far in an understandable and structured way:

In over 20 concise videos, you will learn exactly when and how to adapt the recipes so that the pasta production succeeds with every mold disc.

You’ll also discover advanced methods for better results that aren’t mentioned at all in the Philips manual (and my recipe book with 30+ recipes is included for free).

How good does the pasta taste?


My family and I think the pasta from the Pastamaker tastes great! The taste and consistency are easily distinguishable from dried pasta from the supermarket.

Overall, the Philips pasta maker is an excellent investment for anyone who wants to improve the taste and quality of their pasta.

Thanks to the use of fresh ingredients, the ability to control the production process, the variety of recipes and pasta types and the quick preparation, the Pastamaker is a great alternative to store-bought pasta.

Conclusion


The Philips Pastamaker 7000* is my recommendation among the fully automatic pasta machines. It is easy to use and produces fresh pasta in record time. As there is a large community, you can find tried and tested recipes with all kinds of ingredients and pasta types. There’s never a dull moment, because in addition to the eight supplied pasta shapes, you can order more from a huge collection.


The Philips pasta maker has a high-quality finish, the front and dough hook are made of steel. Despite a slight wobble during use, the appliance remains stable. Philips offers a 2-year guarantee for the appliance. Spare parts are available directly from Philips in case one of the plastic parts should break due to carelessness.

The Philips pasta maker is very easy to use. There are 4 buttons and a display on the top of the appliance. To make pasta, press the on/off button and select the mode for with or without egg. Then add the flour to the flour chamber. The quantity is precisely measured by the integrated scales and shown on the display.

After closing the lid, the recommended amount of liquid is shown on the display. It varies depending on which mode you have previously selected, but does not adapt to the type of flour or shaping disk and therefore only serves as a rough guide. Now press the start button. The mixing process begins and the liquid is poured in. The pasta is then dispensed.

The entire process takes between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the quantity. On the downside, the machine leaves around 30 to 50 grams of dough residue each time it is used. The dough can be recycled.

The Philips pasta maker impresses with an outstanding variety of mold discs for numerous types of pasta, which you can buy in various online stores such as gaumen-freun.de and pastidea.com or on Amazon. I have put together a collection of my favorite pasta maker discs here.

There are several large groups on Facebook specifically for making pasta with the Philips Pastamaker. Here you can find endless inspiration with creative recipes!

Unfortunately, the recipe book is no longer supplied, only the online version is still available. A further point of criticism is that the supplied molds for tagliatelle and penne are a little too thick for my taste. That’s why I bought an additional disk for thinner tagliatelle.

If you compare the price with professional pasta machines (1000 € upwards), it is amazing what is possible with the Philips pasta machine.

The functionality and versatility offered in pasta production make the Pastamaker a worthwhile investment for anyone who values quality and efficiency without having to spend a higher budget on professional appliances.

Rating


Quality & processing8/ 10
Design & handling7/ 10
Pasta variety & recipes9/ 10
Price/performance8/ 10

Philips Pastamaker 7000 (formerly Avance)

The pasta machine with the best price-performance ratio.

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