Breville vs Cuisinart Bread Maker (2022): Which Bread Machine Is Better?

As people adapt to their home confinement, there is also growing emphasis on home-cooked meals. Beyond lunch or dinner recipes, however, today’s kitchen crusaders are reaping the benefits of whipping up staples, including bread. Now, if the idea of homemade bread sounds daunting, think again. Today’s bread machines have simplified the process so that the nutritious food staple is doable — even for those with a full-time schedule.

Breville and Cuisinart are just two names that will help you knead and bake at home. The Breville Custom Loaf, for instance, is a premium bread machine designed for the hands-on and hands-off baker. Meanwhile, those on a budget will probably take to the Cuisinart CBK-200 Convection Bread Maker, which is $100 less. But are you scrimping on features with the CBK 200 compared to the Custom Loaf? Or is Cuisinart simply a better deal over Breville? In this review, we compare the two bread machines to see which is the better purchase.

Breville vs Cuisinart Comparison Chart

Design

Both Breville and Cuisinart offer heavy-duty, stainless steel bread machines.

Both the Breville Custom Loaf and Cuisinart CBK-200 sport a brushed stainless steel exterior that lends the bread machines some heft and sturdiness. The Custom Loaf, however, has a sleeker appearance. Breville keeps its outer shell unadorned, save for the black handle and mix-in dispenser. Meanwhile, the CBK-200’s lid is marked by ridges and thick black bezels. While this design feature gives it a distinct texture, the Custom Loaf’s understated approach is more stylish.

Breville’s minimalist design philosophy extends even to the logo. On the Custom Loaf, the branding is subtly etched on the exterior. It’s not as noticeable at first glance, too. Cuisinart, on the other hand, embossed its logo on the CBK-200, so you know exactly the machine you’re getting. Despite its more in-your-face branding, the Cuisinart CBK-200 has a few low-key features as well, including an unassuming stay-cool handle and secure metal snaps on the sides.

When it comes to dimensions, the Breville Custom Loaf and Cuisinart CBK 200 aren’t too different from each other. Both machines are over 16-inches long, with an average depth of 9.9 inches. They also weigh around 16 pounds each. If you’re someone who likes to move appliances around, keep in mind these aren’t the most portable bread machines.

Control Panel

Breville’s Custom Loaf allows for customized settings unlike the Cuisinart CBK-200.

Since they’re designed to make bread-making easier, it comes as no surprise that the Breville and Cuisinart bread machines are packed with features. Now, the most obvious aspect of their functionality would be the control panels. On the Breville Custom Loaf, all of the settings can be managed and adjusted using an intuitive dashboard. This control panel also features a large backlit LCD to navigate across settings.

The Cuisinart CBK-200 bread maker also features a display window but is much smaller compared to Breville’s. It isn’t backlit, too, making it hard to read the information at times. However, the CBK-200’s control panel still does its job well, allowing users to access its 16 pre-programmed menu options. In addition to these pre-set options, the CBK-200 bread maker also has three color crust setting to choose from.

Breville’s Custom Loaf bread maker, on the other hand, offers slightly fewer menu options. But as its name suggests, you will get access to a full suite of customizable settings. This means you can modify every phase of the baking process — including bake time and temperature — to suit your recipe. The best part is that you can save up to nine of these custom programs. With more control over bread making, Breville has even included 60 recipes in the Custom Loaf’s manual.

Of course, the two share features as well. Both bread machines come with a delay timer so you can program baking for a later time. You also get sound alerts to notify you of progress, updates, and errors.

Kneading and Baking

You get uniform kneading and consistent bake results from Breville and Cuisinart.

One of Breville’s key features is its collapsible kneading paddle, which automatically folds after the kneading process and just before the baking starts. On the Cuisinart, you will have to manually remove the paddle before baking your dough. In addition to the kneading paddle, Breville includes a fixed paddle with its Custom Loaf machine. This accessory is used only for making jams.

Both bread machines, however, employ a single paddle. Given the power behind these appliances, this setup translates to a lot of noise, shaking, and rattling. But that’s about the only gripe one can have concerning kneading. The most important part is that kneading is at least uniform with these machines.

In terms of baking, the Custom Loaf and the CBK-200 deliver consistent albeit different results. Cuisinart’s bread maker uses a convection feature to circulate hot air inside the baking chamber. This results in bread with an evenly colored crust. Nonetheless, users have mentioned that the medium and dark settings can lead to burnt or darker crusts than anticipated. In this aspect, Breville delivers a more dependable crust color based on settings. However, because the machine doesn’t have top heating, the bottom or sides of the bread usually have darker crusts.

If you’re a fan of adding fruits and nuts to your bread, then you’ll appreciate Breville’s Custom Loaf more. Breville’s machine comes with a built-in dispenser that automatically adds the mix-ins at the right time. Cuisinart also has a mix-in feature, but the process is carried out manually. Instead, users are notified with a sound alert when to add the fruits and nuts.

Ease of Use and Care

The Breville Custom Loaf and Cuisinart CBK-200 bread machines are easy to clean.

There’s no doubt that both machines are easy to use. Breville’s emphasis on automated operations really makes the baking process convenient. It’s as hands-off an appliance as you want it to be. Cuisinart’s CBK-200 is also beginner-friendly but will require a baker to be more attentive during the kneading and baking process. While it means fewer automated features, users do get alerts when to remove the paddle, add mix-ins, and more.

Breville also has a slight advantage when it comes to setting up the bread machine for use. Users attach the kneading paddle while the bread pan is out of the baking chamber. In contrast, Cuisinart requires users to insert its paddle only after locking the bread pan to the machine. While it sounds easy, some bakers makers securing the pan with the metal locks can be quite cumbersome.

Cleaning the Breville Custom Loaf and the Cuisinart CBK-200, however, is pretty straightforward. Both machines can be wiped using a non-abrasive cloth. For their baking chambers, users can take out crumbs using a damp cloth or soft brush. Besides, the paddles and baking pan of both bread makers are dishwasher friendly.

Bread Menu Options

Both the Breville and Cuisinart bread makers offer plenty of pre-set menu options.

As mentioned before, both Breville’s Custom Loaf and Cuisinart’s CBK-200 bread makers come with pre-programmed menu options. To give you an idea of where and how you can use these machines, listed below are the bread types you can make using both.

Verdict

The Breville Custom Loaf is perfect for bakers who want more control, while the Cuisinart CBK-200 is better suited for beginners.

With its sleek design and impressive automated features, the Breville Custom Loaf bread maker is a great addition to any kitchen. Thanks to the machine’s bright LCD and intuitive control panel, operating the Custom Loaf is easy, too. Nonetheless, Breville’s customizable bake settings make this an appliance for those who want more control over the bread-making process.

For $100 less, you will get comparable features with the Cuisinart CBK-200 bread maker. It’s not as sophisticated-looking as the Breville, but it’s similarly sturdy thanks to the stainless steel construction. It also doesn’t have automated functions and customizable bake settings. But if you’re someone new to bread machines, you’ll like how Cuisinart isn’t too dependent on programmed settings. This makes for a more engaging bread-making experience.

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