Amesser A-65 vs Kitchellence 3-Stage Manual Sharpener Side-by-Side Comparison
We tested how the Amesser A-65 performed against the Kitchellence 3-stage sharpener. Here are our results and analysis.
Specifications
Design
While the Amesser A-65 isn’t among our best performing sharpeners, it’s certainly one of the best built. The unit feels solid and sturdy from start to finish. The parts fit well together and the grip is only half a point shy of the perfect mark.
We fell in love with the Kitchellence the moment we had it in our hands: It’s neat, simple, and strikes an excellent balance between aesthetics and functionality. We could tell the maker of it paid attention to every detail.
Usability
The Amesser A-65 is straightforward to use since it doesn’t have any quirky features to be wary of. With the sharpening order progressing in a natural flow, you should have no trouble following the steps. And while the result didn’t turn out particularly well for the slippery countertop test, it represented more of a slight drawback that many people could see coming rather than a serious dealbreaker.
Its weight and design makes the Kitchellence a breeze to use: if you know how to use a knife, you will have no problem working with this device. The only mild problem is when you try to sharpen on a wet surface — but hey, it’s not hard to give your countertop a quick wipe, right?
Performance
The Amesser A-65 will certainly make a dull edge keener, though admittedly not to a remarkable level, and leave a nice, smooth edge. On the other hand, it does shear off more metal from the blade than you would expect given the achieved sharpness.
The Kitchellence could bring the knife to a serviceable keenness level without peeling a bunch of swarfs off the blade. However, it was slow to sharpen, which defeats the purpose of a ‘convenient sharpener’.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Affordable
- Instinctive and easy to use
- Well-built with a solid design
- Grippy and comfortable handle
- Safety glove included
- Easy to use, intuitive design
- Soft, comfortable finish
- Extra weight near the base for stability
- Affordable price
- Included glove for added safety
- Tapered base
- High center of gravity
- Tapered base
- Awkward base pad
Conclusion
Without the brand names printed on the products, we wouldn’t be able to tell the Amesser A-65 and the Kitchellence 3-stage sharpener apart. In fact, they received equal ratings for design and ease of use. The Kitchellence, however, stood out when it came to actual performance.
Both sharpeners are made with quality materials and boast a robust build with a weighted, though tapered, base and ergonomic grip. They have identical slots in their working sections, with substantial sharpening rods.
It’s not surprising that the two took roughly the same amount of time to sharpen a knife and achieved the same level of keenness in our maximum sharpness test. The Amesser seemed more aggressive to the knife’s edge, though: It removed a lot more material and also left a much rougher edge compared to the Kitchellence, hence the lower performance rating.
It might have been a matter of individual products but as far as our testing went, the Kitchellence proved to be the better of the two.
Behind the Comparison
Anh Ngo is a writer with 9 years experience at different media outlets, covering from public news and events to product testing and analysis. At HealthyKitchen101, she works across different departments, communicating closely with its network of writers, editors, and health, tech, and search engine experts to provide a meaningful and pleasant reading experience for visitors.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
