Head-to-head · Best Bread Machines

Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker vs Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (model # BB-PDC20BA)

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (model # BB-PDC20BA) comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.4 vs 4.8). The gap is mostly about fit for purpose — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Bread Machines

Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker

4.4

3 sources1 derived$399.95as of Jul 31

The Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker turns out high-quality bread with crispy crusts and a light crumb. Reviewers keep coming back to the automatic fruit and nut dispenser, along with how much of each recipe you can customize. TechGearLab called it a machine for recipe tinkerers, noting the included recipes give only average results. It's large and bulky enough to be a significant kitchen commitment, and the collapsible paddle is finicky and fragile. Serious bread makers who want customization more than convenience are the buyers.

Strengths

— Produces crispy-crust bread with light and fluffy crumb texture
— Features automatic fruit and nut dispenser that adds mix-ins at the perfect time
— Includes 9 custom settings to create and store personal recipes

Watch-outs

— Machine is bulky and takes up significant counter space
— The collapsible paddle can be finicky and is not scratch-proof

$399.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Bread Machines

Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (model # BB-PDC20BA)

4.8

2 sourcesall derived$454.95as of Jul 31

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (model # BB-PDC20BA) turns out consistent, fluffy loaves in under three hours, helped by dual kneading blades and a Crust Control setting that improves the bake. Reviewers point to the range of the 50-plus included recipes, which cover pizza dough and sourdough starter, and rate it well for sandwich loaves. It occasionally needs a manual dough punch-down and takes extra cleaning effort, but reviewers still call it a reliable machine for home bakers who want convenience and quality. Those who bake regularly and can spare the counter space are the fit.

Strengths

— Bakes a 2-lb. loaf of bread in under three hours with rapid recipes available in just 2 hours and 25 minutes
— Features dual kneading blades and an additional heater on the lid for thorough kneading and even baking
— Includes 50+ recipes in the included recipe book, with options for sandwich loaves, pizza dough, jam, and sourdough starter

Watch-outs

— Requires occasional manual punch-down of dough to prevent over-proofing
— Cleaning requires soaking the pan to loosen baked-on dough from the detachable paddles

$454.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker	Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker (model # BB-PDC20BA)
Capacity	1.5-2 pound loaves	2-lb. loaf
Programs	9 custom settings	50+ recipes
Dimensions	16.4" x 9.6" x 13.3"	18 x 10-1/2 x 12-7/8 inches
Voltage	120 volts	120 volts
Material	Brushed Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Model	BBM800	BB-PDC20BA
Crust Options	light, medium, dark crust	light, medium, or dark crust
Pan Type	Non-stick bread pan with handle	larger, rectangular pan
Timer	13-hour delay start timer	13-hour delay timer
Wattage	—	120 volts / 700 watts

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