Best Bread Machine: Zojirushi vs. KBS vs. Breville
Loaf shape, even baking, mix-in dispensers, ceramic vs. nonstick pans and the weak cake cycle: how Zojirushi, KBS and Breville bread machines compare.
A bread machine mixes, kneads, rises and bakes a loaf while you do something else. A good one turns out a soft, evenly baked sandwich loaf that rivals bread made by hand. A weak one makes loaves that rise into the lid, bake with gummy streaks, or come out half-baked on top. Beyond that, the differences are about loaf shape, how much you can customize, how mix-ins get added, and whether you care what the pan is coated with.
This guide covers what separates a good bread machine from a disappointing one, and which machine fits which kitchen.
Quick verdict
- Best bread machine overall: the Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker (BB-CEC20). Evenly baked, classic rectangular loaves, a simple control panel, two kneading paddles and a preheat step. It beat Zojirushi's own higher-end model on ease of use.
- Most programs and easiest to use: the KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker. Seventeen programs including gluten-free and yogurt, three loaf sizes, a ceramic-coated pan and an automatic nut dispenser.
- Best for customizing every step: the Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker (BBM800XL). Every knead, rise and bake setting can be changed, it has an automatic fruit and nut dispenser, and its paddle folds down to leave a smaller hole.
The bread machines side by side
| Bread machine | Shop | Loaf shape | Paddles | Pan coating | Mix-ins | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker (BB-CEC20) |  View on Amazon
| Long, classic rectangular 2 lb loaf | Two | PTFE nonstick | Beeps when it's time to add them | The best everyday sandwich bread |
| KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker |  View on Amazon
| Taller, shorter loaf; 1, 1.5 or 2 lb | One (spare included) | Ceramic-coated | Automatic nut dispenser | Many programs, gluten-free |
| Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker (BBM800XL) |  View on Amazon
| Tall, more rustic loaf | One, folds down | Nonstick | Automatic fruit and nut dispenser | Tinkerers who want full control |
Best overall
Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker (BB-CEC20)
A classic rectangular 2 lb loaf with an evenly baked, soft crumb, clear presets, a homemade setting that saves custom cycles and a preheat step.
- 2 lb loaf
- Two paddles
- 13-hour delay timer
Good for
- Families and sandwich loaves
- Easy cleanup (PTFE nonstick)
Skip it if
- Small counters (about 17 in front to back)
- Automatic mix-in dispensing
What makes a bread machine good
An even bake and a sensible loaf shape
The best machines bake a loaf with an even, fine crumb from bottom to top. Weaker machines made loaves with a gummy layer under a cottony top, or rose so high the bread hit the window and baked with a cracked, unappealing top. Shape matters more than you'd expect. A long, two-paddle pan like the Zojirushi's makes a loaf that looks like store-bought bread and slices into normal sandwich pieces. Tall single-paddle loaves make bigger slices, and some are too tall to fit all the way into a standard toaster.
Controls you can actually read
Some machines were loud, confusing and cryptic about what they were doing. The best ones have clearly labeled presets and a display that shows which stage is running. Even on the Zojirushi, the arrow for the cake, jam, sourdough-starter and homemade programs sits low on the panel and is easy to miss unless you lean over the machine.
Preheat, or warm your liquids
The Zojirushi preheats its ingredients before mixing, which makes its cycles longer. The KBS goes straight to mixing, so warming the water or milk slightly before adding it helps it rise well, especially with fridge-cold ingredients.
Mix-ins: dispensers versus a beep
Raisins, nuts and seeds have to go in partway through kneading or they get pulverized. Machines handle this two ways. An automatic dispenser drops them in for you, so you can walk away. A machine without one beeps when it's time, and the Zojirushi gives a generous window to add them. Dispensers aren't foolproof. On the KBS, a nut once slipped past the pan onto the heating element and burned, and on the cake program the dispenser failed to open one time and opened late another. The good machines spread mix-ins evenly: raisins came out well distributed through the Zojirushi's loaf, which wasn't true on every machine.
The cake program is the weak spot
Most bread machines have a cake or quick-bread program, and it's the least reliable setting. Banana bread on the cake cycle came out dark and dry in the Zojirushi, even with the light crust setting, and underbaked on top in the KBS, even with the 2 lb and dark crust settings. For quick breads, use the machine's dough program or mix by hand and bake in the oven.
Little habits that make a big difference
- Add ingredients in the order the recipe lists. Salt touching the yeast can keep it from working, and the wrong order can mix unevenly.
- Check the dough a few minutes into kneading. Scrape flour off the sides with a spatula, and add a tablespoon or two of water if it looks crumbly, especially with whole-wheat or freshly milled flour.
- Make sure the pan is locked in. The Zojirushi pan clicks into place on both sides. When it was seated on only one, the loaf came out half made.
- Set the loaf size on machines that have one. The KBS can default to 1.5 lb, and a 2 lb recipe baked better on the 2 lb setting.
The picks in detail
Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker (BB-CEC20): best overall
The Supreme makes a classic rectangular 2 lb loaf with an evenly baked, soft crumb. The two paddles at the bottom leave small marks that disappear once the bread is sliced. Its panel has clear presets across the top for basic, quick, wheat and dough, plus jam, cake, sourdough starter and a homemade setting that saves custom knead, rise and bake times. It beat Zojirushi's own higher-end model for being more streamlined and easier to use. It's slightly quieter than the KBS, has a 13-hour delay timer, and its PTFE nonstick pan is a little easier to clean than a ceramic one.
The trade-offs: it's long, about 17 inches front to back, so it takes more counter space. It has no loaf-size setting, and it has no fruit and nut dispenser, so you add mix-ins at the beep. It needs both paddles to work, so losing one means ordering a replacement. Its cake program over-bakes.
Best overall
Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker (BB-CEC20)
A classic rectangular 2 lb loaf with an evenly baked, soft crumb, clear presets, a homemade setting that saves custom cycles and a preheat step.
- 2 lb loaf
- Two paddles
- 13-hour delay timer
Good for
- Families and sandwich loaves
- Easy cleanup (PTFE nonstick)
Skip it if
- Small counters (about 17 in front to back)
- Automatic mix-in dispensing
KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker: most programs
The KBS is the easiest machine to use: pick a numbered program, a crust color (light, medium or dark) and a loaf size (1, 1.5 or 2 lb), then press start. Its 17 programs include gluten-free, sweet, whole wheat, dough, jam and yogurt. It has a 15-hour delay timer, a 60-minute keep-warm, and a 15-minute memory that resumes the cycle after a brief power cut. The pan is ceramic-coated, a draw for anyone avoiding PTFE nonstick, though bread sticks a little more if you don't let it cool first. Whole-wheat loaves came out soft and evenly baked, with a taller, shorter shape than the Zojirushi's.
It's about 13½ inches long, so it fits more easily on a counter. It has one paddle, with a spare included. On the downside, it has no real preheat and no custom program, it leaves more flour on the pan walls to scrape down, and its nut dispenser has been hit or miss.
Most programs
KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker
The easiest to use: pick a program, crust and loaf size, then press start. Seventeen programs, a ceramic-coated pan and an automatic nut dispenser.
- 17 programs
- 1, 1.5 or 2 lb
- Ceramic-coated pan
Good for
- Small counters
- Gluten-free baking
Skip it if
- A classic long loaf shape
Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker (BBM800XL): best for customizing
The Custom Loaf lets you change nearly everything: kneading time, rise times, bake time and temperature. That suits bakers who like adjusting recipes. Its automatic fruit and nut dispenser makes it truly walk-away for raisin or seeded bread. Its single paddle folds down before baking, leaving a smaller hole in the bottom of the loaf. A window and an interior light let you check progress without opening the lid.
Its basic white loaf was more rustic than the Zojirushi's, with uneven browning, a fold in the top and a few large air pockets, though the crumb was soft and moist. The tall slices stuck out of a standard toaster by about half an inch.
Best for customizing
Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker (BBM800XL)
Change nearly everything, from knead and rise times to bake temperature, with an automatic fruit and nut dispenser and a fold-down paddle.
- Custom cycles
- Fruit and nut dispenser
- Window and light
Good for
- Bakers who adjust recipes
- Walk-away raisin or seeded bread
Skip it if
- A standard toaster (tall slices stick out)
Other bread machines worth knowing about
- Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus. Zojirushi's step-up model adds features, including a top heating element for more even browning and a gluten-free program. The Supreme was the easier machine to live with.
- Zojirushi with a ceramic pan. Zojirushi also sells a ceramic-pan version for buyers who want to avoid PTFE nonstick.
- Hamilton Beach. A Hamilton Beach machine made consistently good, tall loaves and was easy to use, though its power cord was short.
- Cuisinart convection bread makers circulate hot air for a thick, chewy, dark crust. The interior can come out airier and a little drier, and the tall slices don't fit a standard toaster.
Most programs
KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker
The easiest to use: pick a program, crust and loaf size, then press start. Seventeen programs, a ceramic-coated pan and an automatic nut dispenser.
- 17 programs
- 1, 1.5 or 2 lb
- Ceramic-coated pan
Good for
- Small counters
- Gluten-free baking
Skip it if
- A classic long loaf shape
How to choose
- Want bread that looks store-bought? Get a long, two-paddle pan like the Zojirushi's.
- Short on counter space? Measure the length. The Zojirushi is about 17 inches, the KBS about 13½.
- Gluten-free, yogurt or lots of presets? The KBS has dedicated programs.
- Raisin and seeded breads often? An automatic dispenser saves waiting for the beep.
- Pan coating matters to you? The KBS is ceramic; Zojirushi offers a ceramic version.
Baking a lot by hand too? See the KitchenAid stand mixer comparison and the Dutch oven guide for crusty loaves. For slicing, the cutting board guide helps. If you're thinking of selling what you bake, see how to start a home bakery.
Who should buy which
- Families and anyone who wants the best sandwich loaf: the Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme.
- Small counters, gluten-free baking: the KBS Pro 17-in-1.
- Bakers who want to control every step: the Breville Custom Loaf.
Posted by Kristopher Larson
Frequently asked questions
Is a bread machine worth it?
For anyone who wants fresh sandwich bread without hands-on kneading and checking, yes. A good machine like the Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme makes an evenly baked loaf that rivals a simple handmade one. The trade-off is control: a machine makes one loaf shape, and shaping, scoring and artisan loaves still need to be done by hand or with the dough program.
Why does my bread machine loaf collapse or come out gummy?
Common causes are adding ingredients out of order, letting salt touch the yeast, dough that's too wet or too dry, and the wrong loaf-size setting. Check the dough a few minutes into kneading and adjust with a tablespoon of water or flour. Make sure the pan is fully locked in, and match the loaf-size setting to the recipe.
Should I get a bread machine with a fruit and nut dispenser?
It's handy if you bake raisin or seeded bread often, because you can walk away for the whole cycle. Dispensers aren't foolproof, though: on the KBS, a nut once fell onto the heating element and burned, and the dispenser didn't always open on the cake program. Machines without one, like the Zojirushi Supreme, beep and give you plenty of time to add mix-ins.
Is a ceramic bread pan better than nonstick?
A ceramic-coated pan like the KBS's appeals to buyers avoiding PTFE nonstick, and it bakes just as well. PTFE nonstick, used on the Zojirushi Supreme, releases a little more easily, so let bread cool briefly before removing it from a ceramic pan. Zojirushi also sells a ceramic-pan version.
Can you make cake or banana bread in a bread machine?
You can, but it's the least reliable program. Banana bread on the cake setting came out dark and dry in the Zojirushi, even on the light crust setting, and underbaked on top in the KBS, even on the dark crust and 2 lb settings. Quick breads usually turn out better mixed by hand and baked in the oven.
How big is a 2-pound bread machine loaf?
It depends on the pan. The Zojirushi Supreme bakes a long, horizontal loaf shaped like store-bought bread. Single-paddle machines like the KBS and Breville bake taller loaves with bigger slices, and very tall slices may not fit all the way into a standard toaster. The KBS also offers 1 and 1.5 lb loaf sizes.
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