Philips Viva Pasta Maker Single Product Review

Is the Philips Viva Pasta Maker worth buying?

Pasta is a meal that usually pleases everyone at the dinner table. Whether you serve classic spaghetti and meatballs, rich fettuccine alfredo or spicy penne arrabbiata, you can find a hearty dish to satisfy your family and friends. 

While your pantry may be stocked with plenty of dried spaghetti and penne, fresh pasta always tastes better. Making pasta from scratch can be a tedious process, so having a pasta maker in your kitchen is a no-brainer for anyone who loves pasta.

The Philips Viva Pasta Maker is an automatic pasta machine that mixes and kneads the pasta dough and then extrudes it into your chosen noodle shape. It has a slim design that comes in white and black and fits well in most kitchens. Its parts are also detachable, allowing for easy cleaning at the end of pasta night. 

Testing the Philips Viva Pasta Maker

While brands make many claims to promote their products, BestReviews doesn’t buy into marketing hype. Instead, the BestReviews Testing Lab uses a team of impartial testers to try products in real-world conditions to see how they really stack up. For the most complete look at the products, the team includes both experts with thorough knowledge of a product and everyday consumers who are only interested in whether it can help simplify their life. 

When evaluating the Philips Viva Pasta Maker, the testing lab paid particular attention to the machine’s overall ease of operation, performance, size and cleaning process. 

What is the Philips Viva Pasta Maker?

Some paster makers are manual devices that only roll out the dough into a sheet and cut it into specific noodle shapes. However, the Philips Viva Pasta Maker is an automatic model, meaning it not only kneads and cuts the dough but also mixes it, simplifying the pasta-making process considerably.

The machine is compact, measuring 13 inches long, 5 inches wide and 11 inches high and weighing just over 10 pounds. This makes it easy to move around your kitchen — you can leave it on the counter or keep it out of the way in a cabinet. Its integrated storage drawer lets you store the cutting discs and power cord. 

The Philips Viva Pasta Maker reduces the time it takes to make pasta. It can produce two to three servings in just 18 minutes, so you can use it to make pasta for special occasions and weekday dinners. It even disassembles to make cleaning easier.

To see how the Philips Viva Pasta Maker compares to other products in its space, check out our reviews for the best pasta makers.

Philips Viva Pasta Maker price and where to buy

The white Philips Viva Pasta Maker regularly costs $179.95. It’s available on Amazon.

How to use Philips Viva Pasta Maker

When trying the Philips Viva Pasta Maker, the BestReviews Testing Lab found the machine was fairly easy to set up and use. Philips recommends washing and thoroughly drying all the components before the first use but warns against using scouring pads or other abrasive cleaners that might scratch the plastic. 

Once the parts are clean and dry, place the main unit on a stable surface and slide the mixing chamber into place. Next, position the mixing paddle in the chamber and insert the squeezing tube inside it with its large opening facing upwards. The squeezing bar is placed in the mixing chamber next, sliding through the tube and paddle into the main shaft of the pasta machine. Select a shaping disc, and attach it to the mixing chamber outlet with the flat side facing outward. Finally, press the disc through the shaping disc holder, place it on the mixing chamber outlet and turn it clockwise to lock it in. When you attach the lid to the mixing chamber, you can make pasta. 

To make a batch of pasta, remove the lid and pour the required flour for your recipe into the mixing chamber. Next, measure your liquid ingredients with the included water cup, so they’re ready to pour in when the kneading starts. Plug the pasta maker in and replace the lid. Turn the machine’s knob to the automatic pasta-making setting and press start. When the kneading starts, gradually pour your liquid into the slot in the lid. The Viva Pasta Maker beeps a few times when it’s finished kneading to let you know that it’s about to extrude the pasta. Make sure to have a container beneath the outlet to catch the formed noodles, and cut the pasta to your desired length with the cleaning tool. 

Philips Viva Pasta Maker benefits

The BestReviews Testing Lab loves the Philips Pasta Maker’s simple setup — it's easy to assemble, even without looking at the instructions. Its compact design is another bonus because it lets you keep the appliance out and ready to use without worrying about losing too much counter space. It efficiently kneads the ingredients into a soft, pliable pasta dough, requiring just minutes until it's ready to be extruded. Cleaning isn’t too difficult, either. All in all, it makes preparing fresh pasta more accessible for the average household. 

Philips Viva Pasta Maker drawbacks

While the testing lab appreciates how well the Philips Viva Pasta kneads pasta dough, it doesn’t extrude quite as efficiently. The machine may not push the dough toward the extruder outlet if there isn’t enough dough in. The lab found it had to stop the machine and push it toward the outlet before restarting for it to extrude the pasta. Also, if you don’t make pasta too often, the price may be steep. 

Should you get the Philips Viva Pasta Maker?

The Philips Viva Pasta Maker is a solid starter machine for beginner to medium-level home chefs who want to make their own pasta without having to hand-roll dough for hours. It can be a fun option for families because it makes the pasta-making process much faster and easier and lets the kids get involved.