Countertop appliance with physical and remote motor control

A countertop appliance comprising:

• a base having a lower surface for resting on a work surface and an upper portion, the lower surface having an extension upon which a mixing bowl can be placed for food preparation operations performed by the countertop appliance;
• a housing comprising a rotatable attachment mount, at least one of the housing and the base movable with respect to the other of the housing and the base between at least a first position wherein the attachment mount is juxtaposed with the extension on the lower surface of the base, and a second position wherein the attachment mount is moved away from the extension on the lower surface of the base;
• a motor having an output shaft operably connected to the attachment mount and configured to provide rotational motion to the attachment mount when powered;
• an actuator mounted to at least one of the base or the housing and operably interconnected with the motor, the actuator having a handle movable along a path that is accessible from the exterior of the countertop appliance by a user and a positioning assembly configured to impart movement to the handle of the actuator along the path upon receipt of a position signal by the positioning assembly, wherein the actuator comprises a first end and a second end and the handle is mounted for movement between the first and second ends thereof;
• a wireless communication interface operably interconnected with the positioning assembly adapted to provide the position signal to the positioning assembly;
• wherein, upon receipt of the position signal by the positioning assembly or physical movement of the handle of the actuator by a user, movement of the handle of the actuator between a plurality of positions generates a signal from the actuator to the motor representative of a speed of the output shaft of the motor.