Breville Bit More 2 Slice Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Breville Bit More 2 Slice | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | Best for Most People | Best Bang for the Buck | Best for Toast and Long Slot | ||
Price | $90 List $89.95 at Amazon | $30 List $29.95 at Amazon | $25 List $24.99 at Amazon | $25 List $18.74 at Amazon | $70 List $29.74 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Pricey, with mediocre toasting performance, but a fun interface and overall sleek appearance | Overall this toaster brings to the table a strong performance, is compact, and budget-friendly | At the lower end of quality, but a budget-friendly option that works | An aesthetically interesting option but only provides an average level of performance | Impressive performance at a low prices makes this a compelling 4-slice model |
Rating Categories | Breville Bit More 2... | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... | Bella 2 Slice Auto... | Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 |
Bread Toasting Quality (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (35%) | |||||
Bagel Toasting Quality (15%) | |||||
Frozen Food (15%) | |||||
Specs | Breville Bit More 2... | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... | Bella 2 Slice Auto... | Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 |
Functions | Bagel Frozen A Bit More Cancel |
Bagel Defrost Reheat Cancel |
Bagel Frozen Cancel |
Bagel Frozen Cancel Gluten Free Reheat |
Defrost Reheat Cancel |
Measured Slot Dimensions | 5.7 x 4.5" | 5.4 x 4.25" | 5.4 x 4.75" | 5 x 4.25" | 9.8 x 4" |
Measured Dimensions | 11.3" x 7.3" x 8.2" | 6.5" x 11" x 7.2" | 7.3" x 12" x 8" | 9.8" x 5.8 x 7" | 14.7" x 7.1" x 7.7" |
Measured Weight | 4.3 Ibs | 2.6 Ibs | 2.6 Ibs | 2.1 lbs | 4.3 lbs |
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting | 108.6 F | 84.9 F | 101.2 F | 86.5 F | 96.8 F |
Measured Product Footprint | 82.5 | 71.5 | 87.6 | 56.8 | 104.4 |
Measured Watts | 880 W | 935 W | 885 W | 865 W | 1339 W |
End of Cycle Indicator | Indicator Light, Beep | None | None | None | None |
Exterior Housing Material | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Stainless Steel |
Color/Finish Options | Stainless steel | White, Red, Black | Black | Aqua, Black, Blue, Red, Sage, White | Black Plastic/Stainless |
Standard/Long Slot | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Long |
Available with Long Slot? | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Available in 4 slot? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Model Number | BTA720XL | CPT-122 | T2569B | BOB137 | ECT-3100 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Breville Bit More 2 Slice is not the best option for all-around toasting performance but does make a killer waffle, has a sleek overall appearance with a fun interface and a couple of interesting features, but is also a little bit pricey.
Performance Comparison
Bread Toasting Quality
Bread toasting is one of the most essential aspects of performance that we test. Unfortunately, the Breville failed to deliver a consistent and enjoyable slice of toast.
On the lightest setting, the sliced bread barely seemed to change, and it certainly wasn't what anybody would consider a good slice of toast. The medium setting didn't do much better. It did produce some golden coloration, but what became apparent was an inability to heat bread evenly. The highest heat setting created a dark brown color and highlighted the uneven heat to a single corner, which remained lighter in color than the rest of the slice of toast.
Ease of Use
For our ease of use testing, we evaluated the crumb tray and access, how hot each model was to the touch during use, and the interface. The Breville Bit More produced a wide range of results across these sub metrics.
This model did poorly when it came down to crumb tray cleaning and access. It was less than convenient to clean compared to many other products we tested. During use, the body of the toaster got hot. Other toasters had a more comfortable, barely warm-to-the-touch surface temperature, but this one was hotter.
We can say that the Breville Bit More 2 Slice has an easy-to-use and even fun interface. The five heat settings are controlled with a sliding tab, while almost all other products use a dial. There is also an LED indicator light along the heat settings slide that indicates the selection.
There are buttons for bagels, frozen items, and one canceling, but there is also a button to add “a bit more” and extend cook time, giving the model its bit more name.
A lever lets you check progress without ending the toasting cycle, or you can wait patiently until an audible notification lets you know the cooking is done. The great interface makes it easy to use and makes up for a crummy crumb tray.
Bagel Toasting Quality
After a poor performance on our bread toasting test, we were pleasantly surprised by the device's ability to make a decent bagel.
The bagels produced in our tests had dark gold sections with some nearly burnt bits on the front and an exterior side that was warm but not toasted. It may not have produced the world's greatest bagel, but it would certainly be acceptable by most standards.
Frozen Food/Defrosting Quality
Incredible waffles carried the Breville Bit More 2 Slice in our series of frozen food tests. It started strong on our waffle sub metric — the waffles it produced were a quintessential golden color, crisp texture, and evenly heated.
We moved on from waffles to frozen bread, and the Bit More produced rather unimpressive results. Bad performance was mainly due to an uneven spread of heat. Tops of slices were noticeably darker in color than the bottoms, and the disparity was consistent for both slices. The texture was crunchy, but the only real accolade earned is that the frozen bread ended up more like toast than reheated bread.
Any hope that the Breville Bit More 2 Slice would perform better on our frozen food tests died when we moved on to strudels. While the outside heated up, it failed to heat the inside of the strudel properly.
Should You Buy the Breville Bit More 2 Slice?
The Breville Bit More 2 Slice is pricey for the range of performance you get. Perhaps you like the aesthetic and only care about waffles, then it may be a pretty good choice for you. However, there are better choices for better value or all-around performance.
What Other Toaster Should You Consider?
In our product test lineup, many other toasters exhibited better all-around performance than the Breville. The Cuisinart CPT-122 fit that bill and costs significantly less. If your budget allows it, it would be worth considering going up in price and looking at the high-performing Smeg 2-Slice.