Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker BB-CEC20

Bottom line

If you want a bread machine that does it all, and don't mind the accompanying price tag (upwards of $100 more than basic machines), the Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme is worth a look. It has a wide array of specialty settings including a sourdough starter, jam maker and a homemade function that allows you to program three baking cycles to your own specifications. Most reviewers laud this machine's performance and features. Ironically, the functionality trips up some bakers, who report that recipes and settings require tweaking in order to achieve perfect results. But if you like to experiment and tinker when cooking, this model is the one to buy.

Performance

Serves up excellent breads and other goodies. While professional reviewers tend to focus on this model's appearance, construction and functionality, it's the home bakers who report on taste, texture and loaf shape -- all areas where the BB-CEC20 really shines. Hundreds of Amazon.com and Cooking.com users provide reviews for this machine, and most say it performs superbly, delivering breads and cakes that have great taste and texture. Loaf and cake appearance is also important to users of this machine, with the majority noting that baked goods turn out nicely shaped. Interestingly, some users complain about bread that turns out hard, under-mixed, or overcooked in the crust -- but many bakers report that after a few recipe tweaks or cycle time adjustments, they achieve excellent, or even perfect, results. There are a few other isolated complaints that the dual paddles leave holes in the bottom of loaves.

Ease of use

Easy to use despite multiple options. Although it can be overwhelming from the start with so many settings and programmable options, most reviewers find the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 easy to use. The delay-start function and preheat cycle are baker favorites, and the model is widely considered easy to clean. BreadInfo.com, however, points out that baking cycles tend to be longer with this unit than with others, although the editors attribute long cycle times to careful engineering. Some reviewers also wish the accompanying instructions were more straightforward.

Appearance

Sharp and good-looking. Unlike some other bread makers, whose appearance garners nary a comment from reviewers, the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 earns high marks in this area. Laura Moser, writing for The Wall Street Journal, says she likes the look of the black-and-stainless-steel version (there's also a white version, whose appearance she doesn't address), while the editors at BreadInfo.com say the machine has a "sharp" design. Reviewers also praise the BB-CEC20's sturdy and solid appearance, and some add that the large viewing window is a nice feature and the slanted surface makes the control panel easy to read.

Noise

Relatively quiet, but for the add-ingredient signal. While not considered silent, or even close to silent, the BB-CEC20 is relatively and reasonably quiet, according to both professional reviewers and home bakers posting to retail websites. Users say they have no problem with its noise level, and in her review for The Wall Street Journal, Laura Moser says the machine "did its work with relatively little racket."