Breville is a leading brand when it comes to kitchen appliances like toasters, blenders, coffee makers and more. Breville toasters in particular are known for their sleek, modern designs and innovating toasting technology. But are Breville toasters actually worth the often higher price tag compared to other brands? Here we’ll examine the key features, pros and cons of Breville toasters to help you decide if investing in one is the right choice for your kitchen.
Key Features of Breville Toasters
Breville toasters stand out for several innovative features not always found on competitors’ models:
Cutting-Edge Toasting Technology
Many Breville toasters utilize the brand’s patented “Element IQ” technology that allows for more precise and accurate toasting. It uses a network of heating elements and smart algorithms to detect the bread’s surface, moisture level and thickness in order to adjust heat distribution as needed. This helps ensure more even browning from edge to edge regardless of the bread type.
Digital Controls and LCD Displays
Higher-end Breville toasters incorporate easy-to-use digital controls like buttons, dials and LCD displays. This allows you to precisely select settings like toasting level and presets for bagels, frozen items and more. The LCD display often shows the toasting progress and countdown.
High Lift Toast Carriage
For easier removal, many Breville toasters have a toast carriage that lifts the bread significantly higher off the slots once done toasting. This prevents potential burning your fingers trying to dig out smaller pieces.
Wide and Long Slots
Breville toasters tend to have wider slots (up to 1.5 inches across) that can accommodate thicker artisanal breads, bagels and buns. The slots are also longer, often exceeding 9 inches, so regular sliced bread won’t get stuck halfway down.
High Wattage for Faster Toasting
With wattages up to 1,800 or more, Breville toasters can toast quicker than many lower wattage models. This allows you to churn out batch after batch of toast faster when needed.
Removable Crumb Tray
For easier cleanup, most Breville toasters include a removable crumb tray to empty out debris that collect at the bottom from repeated toasting over time.
Pros of Breville Toasters
Here are some of the biggest advantages of choosing a Breville toaster for your kitchen:
Even Toasting
The proprietary “Element IQ” heating technology Breville uses in many of its toasters receives high marks for ensuring bread and other items brown more evenly from top to bottom and front to back. This prevents cold spots or charring.
Toasts a Wide Variety of Items
Thanks to features like wide slots, long slots and smart toasting algorithms, Breville toasters can handle everything from thin slices of white bread to thick bagels and waffles with consistent results.
Precise Browning Control
With lots of toasting settings and presets to choose from, plus digital controls and displays, it’s easy to achieve your perfect level of light or dark toasting. No more burnt toast or underdone bread.
Extra Lift for Safer Toast Removal
The high lift toast carriage found on most Breville models brings small pieces up safely away from the hot slots for easier grabbing without burning fingers.
Quick Toasting Cycles
Breville’s combination of high wattages up to 1,800W along with optimized heating design means quicker toasting so you can satisfy big breakfast crowds.
Sleek, Attractive Design
Breville toasters feature lots of polished stainless steel and modern styling that looks great on any kitchen countertop and complements other appliances.
Cons of Breville Toasters
Despite their innovative features, here are some potential drawbacks to consider before purchasing a Breville toaster:
Higher Price Point
Given their cutting-edge technology and premium materials, most Breville toasters range from $120-$260 which is pricier than many basic models under $50.
Electronics May Fail Over Time
The digital controls and electronic components on Breville toasters could potentially fail after several years. Replacement parts may not be as readily available.
Small Footprint Limits Batch Toasting
Some Breville toasters have a small footprint, so you may not be able to toast as many slices at once compared to larger slot models.
Crumb Tray Needs Frequent Emptying
Users note Breville’s removable crumb trays fill quickly with fragments and need emptied after every few uses for optimal performance.
Not as Many Color Options
Those wanting a fun, retro-look toaster in vibrant hues may be disappointed by Breville’s limited color options, often just stainless steel, black or red.
Top Rated Breville Toaster Models
Here is an overview of some of the best-rated Breville toasters currently available based on customer reviews and ratings:
Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast 4-Slice Toaster
- 1800 watts for fast toasting
- 4 extra-wide 1.5” slots with auto pop-up
- Lift-assist lever raises carriage 5/8″ for easy removal
- 7 browning settings plus defrost, bagel, reheat, cancel options
- Backlit LED panel for mid-cycle toast cancelling
Breville BTA735XL Bit More 4-Slice Toaster
- 1800 watts with “Bit MoreTM” button
- 4 extra-wide 1.5” slots with auto pop-up
- High lift feature raises toast for easy removal
- A Bit MoreTM button for extra toasting time
- Sound alert, defrost & bagel functions
Breville BTA840XL Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster
- 1800 watts with patented “Element IQ” technology
- 4 extra-wide 1.5” auto pop-up slots
- Motorized auto lift-and-look feature
- Backlit LED panel with progress indicator
- Selectable settings including defrost & bagel
Conclusion
In the end, Breville consistently ranks among the top brands when it comes to high-performance toasters with advanced features. Models like the BTA830XL, BTA735XL and BTA840XL receive high praise across the board for even toasting, easy operation and consistent results across bread types. While the price tags run higher than basic toasters, those looking for quality construction paired with the latest toasting technology will appreciate the value Breville toasters can bring to the kitchen. Just be prepared to empty the crumb tray frequently and take care of the electronics to maximize the toaster’s longevity. With the right model, Breville can be a worthy investment for serious toast lovers who want café-style results at home.