Kitchen mixer taps: types and the 8 best-selling brands

Even kitchen mixer taps have to keep up with the times. Increasingly minimalist design, square or rounded shapes, finishes and combinations, pull-out showers, taps, countless brands… too much choice can be confusing! But don't worry, you're in the right place. Today we are here to make your ideas clearer by showing you which are the leading brands you can find in our catalogue, the most popular finishes, the advantages and disadvantages that differentiate a mixer from a tap, and the types!

Most searched brands

We don't waste your time. If you already know what kind of mixer you want, we start with the most reliable brands right away.

Franke kitchen mixer taps

One of the best-selling brands is Franke, a historic brand of Swiss origin. Known initially for its steel sinks, today it stands out for the quality of its materials and design at an excellent price-quality ratio. While its market used to be mainly Italian, it became international in the 1990s, expanding into the household appliance sector. A great experimenter, Franke is famous for its Fragranite, a unique material, among the hardest in the world, capable of integrating not only the excellent properties of quartz and acrylic resin, but also shine and a pleasant feel. A Franke mixer tap is definitely a safe harbour.

Barazza kitchen mixer taps

A great competitor is Barazza, a brand with 50 years of experience behind it, originally from the Veneto region, more precisely the Inox Valley. In fact, all its products are made of high quality steel: AISI 304 and AISI 316. Barazza exports Made in Italy excellence, design and innovation to over 50 countries worldwide.

Foster kitchen mixer taps

Another all-Italian gem, Foster Group has been in the field since 1973. Highly specialised manufacturers, attentive to the preservation of the territory and sustainability, they too rely on excellent steel workmanship, ISO 9001 certified. In particular, they combine the quality of material and workmanship with a love of aesthetics and art.

Blanco, Elleci, Nobili

The German Blanco and the Italian Nobili and Elleci, of which the latter is the youngest, have also won great trust. All three are united by excellence in design, technological innovation, quality materials, a commitment to sustainability - a topic that is now a must for all companies - and a strong international presence.

Smeg e Gessi

Smeg and Gessi are two iconic brands of Italian design, united by their focus on aesthetics and innovation. Smeg stands out for appliances with a vintage and contemporary design, combining functionality and art. Gessi, on the other hand, is a leading manufacturer of taps and fittings and bathroom solutions characterised by a minimalist and sustainable design. Both brands emphasise quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, but operate in separate sectors: Smeg in the kitchen and Gessi in the bathroom, albeit with kitchen solutions. Their shared passion for Made in Italy makes them symbols of elegance and innovation at an international level.

Wall-mounted kitchen mixer tap

If you are wondering why anyone would buy a wall-mounted kitchen mixer tap, here are some interesting evaluations you might consider. True, such an installation is more complex and limits the possibility of future repositioning, although, on the other hand, it allows you to install it at the height you desire. However, if you like a minimalist style, a sink and worktop without a mixer tap are easier to clean and leave more space for other accessories.

Kitchen mixer tap with pull-out hand shower

There are many good reasons to opt for a kitchen mixer tap with hand shower, starting with functionality. You can comfortably reach every corner of the sink, clean even the bulkiest pots and pans without too much manoeuvring, and enjoy a modern design. There is no real disadvantage to having a mixer with a hand shower, but you should consider that, compared to a classic mixer, it may require more maintenance and a higher initial financial investment. Also, if you have limited space or a classic kitchen, it may not necessarily be the best match.

3-way kitchen mixer tap

When we speak of ‘ways’ we are referring to water channels. A 3-way kitchen mixer tap has one channel for hot water, one for cold water and one for filtered water. In this way, filtered water (with the appropriate filtering system, from simple activated carbon filters or other more complex systems) can be delivered without contact with untreated water and without the need for an additional installation: literally, a 3-in-1 solution.

Mixer or tap?

Although these two terms are often used indiscriminately, there is a difference, and a decisive one at that. A mixer has only one lever, whereas a tap offers the classic two knobs marked blue for cold water and red for hot water - just like at grandma's house.

In short, the advantages and disadvantages are self-explanatory. A mixer tap allows you to regulate the water temperature more intuitively and precisely, whereas with a kitchen tap you have to dabble in being a little dosing chemist. Needless to say, mixers are the stars of the contemporary age and present a wide choice in terms of design, cleaner and more minimalist. If, on the other hand, you love the aesthetics of yesteryear and are constrained by the presence of a three-hole sink, it must be said that a tap is the easiest to maintain and also the most economical choice.

Most popular finishes

And that is undoubtedly the best part! If steel bores you and you also want to express your creativity in kitchen design, know that our catalogue has an interesting selection of finishes and materials. A small word of caution: to be sure that the sink and mixer/faucet have the exact same finish, it is always best to opt for the same brand and the same material, as two colours of the same name but from different brands could present discrepancies.

So, besides the classic stainless steel, smooth or satin, you might not have bet on it, but the most sought-after finishes are white and black! These are, of course, particular choices, especially the white kitchen mixer taps, which are closely linked to the design of the kitchen, which tends to be modern and has a sink in the same colour. The black kitchen mixer tap, on the other hand, is very striking. But fear not, in our catalogue you will find more neutral colours, such as oat, grey or anthracite, but also ultra-sophisticated ones, such as gold, rose gold and copper. Also highly sought after is the brushed effect, available in various finishes.

Now you have all the most important references for a reliable and personalised choice! The features you can evaluate are certainly not finished here: pay attention, for example, to whether the mixer spout is pull-out or only swivelling, or consider a mixer with remote control!

Finally, do not underestimate other brands, such as Paffoni kitchen mixers or Grohe kitchen mixers.

Our team is always at your disposal. Do not hesitate to contact us for any questions or a customised quote!

Your Vieffetrade Team