Marcato Atlas 150 Classic Stainless Steel - Best Overall Manual Pasta Maker

A top-tier, durable manual pasta maker ideal for beginners and experts, praised for its smooth operation, precise thickness control, and professional-grade construction.
- +Sturdy stainless steel construction with a secure clamp that prevents wobbling
- +Features 10 thickness settings, producing the thinnest sheets (0.59mm) in testing
- +Smooth, effortless rolling with a handle that does not slip out during use
- -Spaghetti attachment does not cut as cleanly as the fettuccine cutter, leading to clumping
- -Cannot be cleaned with water, requiring careful dry brushing to prevent rust
- -Only includes cutters for two pasta shapes, with others requiring separate purchase
The Marcato Atlas 150 Classic Stainless Steel consistently earns top honors across expert reviews for its exceptional build quality and user-friendly design. Its heavy-duty stainless steel body provides remarkable stability when clamped to a countertop, eliminating wobble during the rolling process. The machine offers unparalleled control with ten distinct thickness settings, allowing users to roll dough into sheets as thin as 0.59 millimeters for delicate pasta. The rolling action is notably smooth, and the handle remains securely seated, a common failure point in cheaper models.
The included fettuccine cutter performs excellently, producing sharp, defined noodles. However, the spaghetti attachment is a noted weakness, often failing to cut strands completely and resulting in clumped noodles that require manual separation. Cleaning is a dry process to protect the metal from rust, involving brushes to remove dried dough. While the initial investment is higher than some manual models, its durability and performance justify the cost, making it a cornerstone tool for any home pasta enthusiast seeking restaurant-quality results without electronic assistance.