Donald of Concord, NH wrote:
“I bought this breadmaker for my wife for Christmas. She uses it at least twice a week, and so far has truly loved it. She likes making beer bread and cinnamon raisin bread, and every loaf she’s made has been big, aromatic, and absolutely delicious. Have you ever looked for Texas toast to make that killer French Toast for breakfast? This machine – which makes some substantial 2-pound loaves, is the perfect thing for ‘em.

Personally, I might add that if you buy one of these machines, you may never need another air freshener. I love the smell of baking bread!

I chose the Cuisinart CBK-200 because I’ve purchased several Cuisinart products and I’ve been very impressed with all of them. It’s a solidly constructed piece, wieghty, and good-looking on the counter. After looking at so many of the other breadmakers in local stores, I got the feeling of plasticky engineering, and envisioned them lasting an amount of time not worth the $50 or $60-something dollars they were asking. I also envisioned smaller loaves, noisy breadmakers which shifted around on the counter. I admit this is all speculation, but these are real concerns we all have, and we speculate because we want to make the best decision we can. In the end, I feel very satisfied with the choice I made, and more importantly, my wife is thrilled with it.

A previous reviewer mentioned the only downfall to the machine is that you can’t change some of the options mid-cycle. This is true, but I got the feeling that reviewer was as expert a bread-maker as one could be! My wife loves baking, but I think even at two or three loaves a week for the next five years, she’s not going to have that reviewer’s expertise to make those mid-cycle decisions. Actually, if my wife is accustomed to this machine, then I think those decisions might be made before the process even begins, knowing how the machine operates. That said, I think the reviewer was probably correct for upper-echelon bread chefs, and those with that kind of experience might want to go with a $300+ machine.

For the price, which was just under $100 at the time of my purchase, my wife and I are thrilled with what we’ve gotten back. We’re both convinced that the convection oven aspect of the machine only adds to the thoroughness of the baking. She reports that the crusts come out exactly how you want them to, and I know that’s important to her! And the bread is scrumptious. The only thing I wish it would do is cut the bread, too!

In summation, we’re very satisfied with this purchase, and most of my satisfaction comes from my wife’s happiness with it. The Cuisinart CBK-200 may be $30 or so more than other bread makers, but with that investment, you get repeated satisfaction that those dollars were very, very well spent.”

Linda of MA wrote:
“I had been thinking of buying a bread machine for a while, I did a lot of research on the internet. I read all kinds of reviews and came to a conclusion that the Ziroushi (probably spelled wrong) was the best, but cost over $200. I was shopping one day and came across a Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker for only $99. Also it was brushed stainless steel, more attractive in my kitchen. The manual is very easy to read and understand. The machine is beautiful. I couldnt believe how easy it was to make my first loaf of Honey Whole Wheat Bread. Also, the machine is very quiet, other machines I read reviews of the machine being very noisy during the knead cycle, not this one. There are convient beeps to let you know when to add nuts or raisins, also another set of beeps if you want to remove the paddle, so there wont be an unsightly hole in the bottom. The pan is non-stick so the bread comes out very easy. The bread was so delicious that it was gone within 1 hour.”

Is it any wonder that we consider this a Top Bread Maker?

All bread maker reviews are courtesy of amazon.com

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S. Ferrer of Van Nuys, CA wrote:
“This is truly the best breadmaker I have had in years. This is the seventh breadmaker I have bought. I have had Rival, Salton, Williams Sonoma and not to mention a very expensive one. This one tops all of them together. To start off with, it has a small size but makes a huge 2lb loaf. It is so quiet, that I had to keep looking if it was working. I have made 3 Cinnamon Raisin breads and 4 White breads and 1 French bread in the last two days. They all came out perfect. Also the body (exterior) of this one does not get as hot as the other ones so it can be put against a backsplash. This was the best purchase and I would recommend this machine to all who love a perfect loaf of bread. ”

and TB of CA wrote:

“I bought this bread machine from Amazon because it was on sale for $69 about two weeks ago. That seemed like a good price for what looked like a decent machine, so I ordered it. I’m so glad that I did! I have made six loaves so far, all of which have come out perfectly. I tried two other machines before this model, both of which burnt or did other crazy things to the loaves and so required tons of monitoring and adjustments. With this machine, though, it really IS as easy as throwing a few ingredients in the machine and pressing a button! So far I have made french bread, whole wheat bread, brown rice flour bread, irish potato brown bread, and more. The recipes that came with the machine work well, but I also picked up a few bread machine cookbooks for more variety.

In addition to making great bread, I love how quiet the machine is (like another reviewer, I kept checking to see whether it was working the first time). I also like that it’s a little smaller than equivalent 2 lb. machines and so easily fits under kitchen cabinets, and I love the way it looks in my kitchen (it’s not a huge, hideous white box!). There’s a helpful fruit/nut add-in beep, the shape of the loaf is nicer than the other 2 machines I’ve used, and the finished bread easily slides out of the pan.

Overall, I am extremely happy with my purchase. 5 stars!

Added 10/25/2007:
I am still so happy with this bread machine, so I had to come back and add to my review. Since I bought this more 6 months ago I have been using it often (at least 1 loaf a week) and I have never had a failure yet. In addition to loaves made with bread flour, I have made many loaves with 100% whole wheat flour (the majority of my loaves are 100% whole wheat) or other flours like spelt, rice, and oat, and all loves came out beautifully. This machine produces perfect, perfect bread! I now bring fresh bread to every dinner party I attend, and people are always so grateful.

In addition to homemade bread being delicious, I think it’s much healthier, too: I love that I now know exactly what went into every loaf of bread I eat (i.e. no weird chemicals or additives, I can decrease the sugar or replace it with a natural sweetener like maple syrup, etc.). I would give this machine 10 stars if I could, I love it that much.

One helpful tip someone gave me was to buy The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook by Beth Hensperger. I use recipes from this book every time I bake bread, and they always come out beautifully. I’m sure there are lots of other good bread machine cookbooks, but this is by far the best one I’ve tried. ”

All bread makers reviews are courtesy of Amazon.com

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Based on the bread maker reviews available, this should be the Top Bread Maker. My only guess is that the price makes some folks opt for the cheaper models. However, remember that you get what you pay for. Especially when it comes to kitchen appliances.

Edward of Cambridge, MA wrote:
“This is my third bread machine. My first was the original Zojirushi, and the second was a Breadman. I still use both the Breadman and the Zojirushi BBCCX20. According to most baking sites I’ve seen, the Zo and the Breadman are the leading contenders in this category today, so here’s my comparison:

- The Zo is more solidly built and has a stronger motor. It can handle stiffer doughs that literally stopped the motor on my Breadman.

- The Zo is much quieter than the Breadman. The pan in the Breadman clanks around in its clips and makes quite a racket during kneading.

- Unfortunately, the Zo has an annoying 15-second beep to signal the right time to add nuts or fruits. As far as I can tell, there is no way to turn off this feature. For me, this is a big deal, because I used to love to set up my bread machine to make bread during the night, giving me a wonderful hot loaf of bread for breakfast. With the 15-second beeper, which sounds a lot like an alarm clock, using the Zo BBCCX20 overnight simply isn’t an option. I wish there were a way to turn it off.

- The double paddles on the Zo do a better job of mixing ingredients without the need for scraping down the sides of the pan.

- The Breadman is a much more flexible machine. It’s “Pause” button let’s you add 15 minutes at any point in the cycle. Without the ability to pause, the Zo sometimes starts baking before the loaf is fully proofed. With bread, where the length of the rise depends on so many factors, having the flexibility to pause during a cycle is very valuable. You can program custom cycles on the Zo, but that’s only a solution if you know in advance that your loaf is going to take some extra proofing time.

- Crust control is better on the Breadman. Even set on “light” crust, the Zo tends to produce a dark crust with breads that have a lot of sugar.

- The Breadman has a small bin that automatically dispenses “add ins” (fruits, nuts, etc.) at the right point in the cycle. You just load it up at the beginning of the cycle and the “trap door” releases the goodies at the right time near the end of the kneading cycle.

In a nutshell: The Zo is a better built, more powerful, quieter bread machine. It’s solid, reliable, and great for doughs that would stop a lesser machine. The Breadman, on the other hand, provides much greater flexibility to make changes to the cycle once you’ve started and to get the crust you like. It also has an automatic fruit/nut dispenser and no long, annoying beep. If Zojirushi and Breadman would combine the Zo’s motor and mechanics with Breadman’s control panel and programming, they’d have the perfect bread machine. As it is, you have to choose based on what’s most important to you.”

Ross from Lacrosse, WI wrote:
“After much agonizing, we (I) chose the Zo’ breadmaker. We had the Breadman for five years until it gave out a month ago. Before that I hand made bread for ten years. I bought the Breadman as present for my wife (she called it a “football present”) after I just became tired of making bread. The cathartic effects of kneading bread are way overblown, in my opinion. We came to rely on the bread machine, baking at least once a week. After the Breadman died a slightly early death, we originally were going to replace it with another Breadman. But, after consideration of how much bread we make, and more important, the kind of bread we make, we decided to look at other machines.

See, we bake mostly whole wheat breads and such breads are hard on a machine. That is why the two paddle set up of the Zo’ was so attractive. While I know there is only one motor, I thought the two paddles could knead the tough dough better. So far (a week into it), the Zo’ is working great.

As noted above, we thought long and hard because of the negative comments in this section, as well as the cost, which is twice the Breadman. None of those negative comments have proven true. One cause for the bad loaves complained of may be inexperience with these machines. Even with ten years of baking, we had quite a few problems with the Breadman, mostly because of poor recipe choices and sloppiness in measuring. You see, hand bread bakers do much by feel, so amounts of liquid and flour are flexible. Not so with the bread machine. As far as recipes, go get one book: The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook by Beth Hensperger. Her recipes are nearly foolproof.

My only concern about the Zo’ is the set up of the pan. The Breadman has a high narrow pan, while the Zo’ has lower pan, more like a traditional bread pan. While the Zo’ pan makes it easier to slice the bread (a problem with larger loaves of the Breadman) the loaves can be a bit lopsided. The dough can sit to one side of pan. This is especially true of whole wheat loaves that are more stiff and less likely to “flow” to an even level in the pan. The problem can be addressed somewhat by checking the dough after the first knead and spreading it by hand in the pan.

Addition: Two years later this machine still works great. We use it at least three times a week, mostly with whole wheat bread, so it has been adequately tested. The only irritation is getting the bread out. Helps to keep the paddles clean inside and out. I use a pipe cleaner to clean the inside of the paddle.

Second Addition (2-09): Over four years later, it still is working great. We still use it at least three times a week. I’ve recently starting using the custom settings, which are much easier to use than I thought. ”

All Reviews are courtesy of Amazon.com

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Here are some sample reviews of this Top Bread Machine:

From Henry of Santa Clara, CA

“The Panasonic SD-YD250 is pretty much the state of the art in bread machine technology in mid-2003. It’s one of the larger units around with a 2.5 lb. loaf capacity. This size will also eat up your counter or cupboard space: you need just under 14″ of width and height, and 10″ of depth, so keep that in mind when you order.

The bread consistency is excellent. It’s even pretty good in the “rapid” mode, though the results are a bit better in the standard bake mode so that’s what I generally use. Also, the “rapid” mode for whole wheat or multigrain bread is 3 hours (vs. 5 hours standard), so it’s not like you can start the machine at the beginning of a meal and expect completed bread before you leave the table. The fastest full cycle — “rapid” bake mode for white bread — is 1hr 55min.

The SD-YD250 is quieter than most earlier bread makers; however, you’ll still hear the clicking and whirring as it mixes and kneads the dough. It’s a neat idea to wake up to the smell of freshly-baked bread but the machine isn’t quiet enough to run in the bedroom unless you’re a VERY sound sleeper.

The options for this machine include the following:
o basic/rapid bake
o immediate start/timer delay
o white/whole wheat/multigrain
o sandwich (soft crust)
o crust color light/medium/dark
o raisin (pause and beep to add fruit or nuts)
o dough knead without bake
o bake without dough knead

Note that not all of these options can be combined. For instance: you only get crust color selection for white bread, and sandwich mode for white and whole wheat; multigrain bread always has a dark, tough crust (although the bread inside the crust is moist and well-textured).

The container inside really is nonstick (based on my not-so-lengthy use since I bought it) and the kneading blade does very little damage to the finished loaf. Ease of use and cleanup are both excellent.

Bread results are quite sensitive to variations in the ingredients in either weight, consistency, or age. Always use fresh BREAD flour and fresh yeast (bread machine yeast recommended) and the right amount of salt, sugar, and flour. The recipes in the included book specify flour weight in units like 16 3/4 oz., so it’s HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you get a digital kitchen scale for good results. Note that this will require still more counter space.

Summary: a very good machine, but you’ll need a fair amount of counter space and attention to details to get the best results from it.”

Timothy of Albuquerque, NM wrote:

“I purchased this machine as a replacement for a Philips bread machine I’ve had for a couple of years. It’s the third bread machine I’ve purchased for myself, and had bought its predecessor (the SD-250) for my Parents some time ago. My Philips packed up (the bread tin broke away from its base), and they don’t make spares, so I have to throw the whole machine in the bin – definitely won’t buy another Philips anything. My parents have been most impressed with the Panasonic, and it’s been personally recommended to me by other people, so after reading all the reviews on Amazon.com I decided to buy one.
So, to the point, I’m thoroughly impressed with this machine. It is solid and quiet. I took the first loaf I made with it and sliced it to find an absolutely even loaf (even from the 1:55 rapid mode). All the other machines I’ve had have had some level of streaking or unevenness in the bread.

As for all the other criticism of the recipe book for its use of weight rather than volume measurements for flour, it is a far more accurate way of measuring flour for any baking. Also the manual has since been updated (no doubt as a result of these criticisms), and now shows the approximate volume equivalents in all the recipes.”

All bread maker reviews are courtesy of Amazon.com

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From the Cuisinart site, we get some great information regarding this machine:

“Fresh bread doesn’t get any fresher – or easier – than this! Cuisinart offers expert engineering in smooth brushed stainless to deliver a sensational-looking Convection Bread Maker that automatically adjusts speed and timing, and circulates air while baking. Exclusive Low Carb, Gluten-Free, and Artisan Dough settings are just 3 of 16 preset menu options available with the touch of a button. Cuisinart adds 3 crust colors and 3 loaf sizes, to give bread lovers a choice of over 100 bread, dough, cake – and even jam – combinations!”

They have also provided some great product details to help you make an informed decision when it comes to making a bread maker purchase:

“Easy Choices: 16 preprogrammed menu options, 3 crust colors, and 3 loaf sizes offer over 100 bread, dough/pizza dough, sweet cake and jam choices.

Healthy Options: Low Carb and Gluten-Free preset menu options and recipes. A Cuisinart exclusive!
Artisan Dough: Special menu option takes basic dough through several long, slow cool rises for chewier textures and rustic crusts.

Better Crusts and Texture: Unique convection feature circulates air for superior crust color, and texture.
Standout Styling: Classic lines, smooth brushed stainless steel, embossed logo and large, sturdy, stay-cool handles.
Perfect Timing: Audible tone indicates time to add fruit, nuts and other “mix-ins.” Second tone offers option of removing paddle before baking, or removing unbaked dough to shape by hand.

And More: 15-minute Pause, Bake-Only option, 12-Hour-Delay Start
Timer, and Power Failure Backup
680 watts
Limited 3-year warranty ”

If you love fresh baked bread, and do not have the time to go through the tedious process of making it by hand, then this Top Bread Maker is one you should investigate.

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“Breadman TR875 bread machine bread maker. The Breadman TR875 Professional bakes 1, 1-1/2, and 2-pound horizontal loaves with its super-rapid cycle, 100-percent whole-wheat cycle, and gluten-free cycle. The Breadman Bread Maker also offers pasta, jam, and pizza-dough cycles. The Breadman features a helpful “add in” beep indicates when it’s time to add fruit, nuts, or other mix-ins, while a large see-through window allows for viewing. Other highlights on the Breadman include an easy-to-read LCD display, a pause function, and a detachable lid. Avoid the use of metal utensils with the removable baking pan, which should be washed by hand in order to protect its nonstick surface. Housed in durable stainless steel, the bread machine measures 18 by 11-1/5 by 14-4/5 inches and carries a one-year warranty with the manufacturer.”

The product details below will help clarify just how good this bread machine is:

Product Details
Color: stainless steel
Brand: Breadman
Model: TR875
Dimensions: 11.00″ h x 15.00″ w x 18.00″ l, 14.30 pounds
Features
Programmable bread machine bakes 1, 1-1/2, and 2-pound horizontal loaves
Housed in stainless steel; easy-to-read LCD display; viewing window
Cycles include super-rapid, 100-percent whole wheat, gluten-free, and more
Helpful “add in” beep; pause function; detachable lid; hand wash only
Measures 18 by 11-1/5 by 14-4/5 inches; 1-year warranty
While not all bread makers are fit for the kitchen, this one is one of the best.  Buy it for yourself or someone you love.  This bread maker will not disappoint.  Fresh bread is right around the corner.

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From the company site, here is some more information-

“The Home Bakery Supreme® Breadmaker bakes a large traditional shaped 2 lb. loaf of bread and Zojirushi’s exclusive Home Made Menu function allows adjustments to the knead, rise and bake time. Also prepare dough, cake, jam, sourdough starter and even meatloaf in this versatile machine. Use the 13-hour programmable timer to have freshly baked bread ready when waking up.

• Dual kneading blades to ensure thorough kneading for improved baking results
• Durable interior and exterior for extended use
• User friendly easy-to-read LCD control panel
  
• Light sourdough starter in 2 hours
• Delicious fresh fruit jam cycle
• Home made menu setting to bake meatloaf”

Some other specs provided by the company-

Model No.: BBCC-X20
Capacity: 2 lb. loaf of bread
Dimensions: (W x D x H)  17 x 10 x 12 inches
Electric Rating: 120 volts / 700 watts
Color: White

Not surprisingly, as a producer of one of the Top Bread Makers, the company was generous enough to answer some questions-

Q- Can the Home Bakery make gluten-free bread?

A- Yes, the Home Bakery Supreme® breadmaker (BBCC-X20) comes with a gluten-free bread recipe.

Q- Can I use my own recipes?

A- The recipes in the instruction manual have been specially written for the Home Bakery breadmaker. We recommend you use the recipes in the instruction manual whenever possible. However, if you would like to try other recipes, here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Please be sure that the total amount of ingredients does not exceed the capacity of the Home Bakery breadmaker. If so, the ingredients may overflow and cause damage to the machine, which will not be covered under warranty. A good rule of thumb is: 2 lb. loaf capacity (BBCC-X20, V20, Q20): No more than 5 cups (or 20 oz.) of flour with 2 cups of liquid
  1.5 lb. loaf capacity (BBCC-S15, Q15, M15, N15): No more than 4 cups (or 16 oz.) of flour with 1-1/2 cups of liquid
  1 lb. loaf capacity (BB-HAC10, BBCC-Q10): No more than 3 cups (or 12 oz.) of flour with 1 cup of liquid
• Please be sure to measure correctly and, if possible, use recipes written for bread machines.

Q- Can I use home ground or home milled flour?

A- After some testing it was determined that it is possible to use this type of flour. However, the flour has to be measured by weight and not by volume. This is because the texture of home ground flour may differ from store bought. Some home ground flour may be ground too fine or too coarse. Please calculate the weight required in recipes in the Home Bakery manual by following this formula for flour: 4 oz = 1 cup of flour.

Q- Can I use all-purpose flour?

A- Bread flour is recommended because of its higher gluten content. Gluten makes the bread dough more elastic which improves the rise and texture of the finished product. All-purpose flour is best suited for making pancakes, waffles and cookies.

Q- What if my bread bakes unevenly?

A- Make sure that the two kneading blades are attached all the way to the bottom, and that they face the same direction before you start adding ingredients. This will ensure that the ingredients will be kneaded thoroughly. Uneven loaves could also be the result of dough that is too dry. Watch the dough through the viewing window during kneading and if it seems dry, add water or milk one teaspoon at a time, waiting to give the dough time to absorb the moisture, until the right consistency is reached.

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The following is directly from the Panasonic site-

“Delicious, tasty bread made easy with YeastPro™ Yeast Dispenser
YeastPro™ yeast dispenser automatically releases the yeast at the proper time, which helps ensure perfect bread.

Choose your loaf size
With our automatic bread maker, you have the option of making medium, large and extra-large loafs.

Crust baked to your liking
Our crust color control feature allows you to adjust the color setting to light, medium or dark.

4-Baking Modes for ideal baking

1. Bake only – ideal for fruitcakes, gingerbread and teacakes
2. Rapid bake – reduces the baking time of basic and whole wheat breads
3. Raisin bake – uses a beeper to let you know when to add raisins, dried fruits or nuts to the dough
4. Sandwich bake – produces bread with a soft crust

Pizza dough made with a touch of a button
Our pizza mode feature allows you to create dough for pizza and focaccia bread.”

Clearly, this Bread Maker is one that is created with the end user in mind.

Below we are the specifications which Panasonic provides:

“Bake Only Mode- Yes
Rapid Bake Mode- Yes
Sandwich Bake Mode- Yes
Raisin Bake Mode- Yes
Basic Bread Mode- Yes
Whole-Wheat Bread Mode- Yes
Multi-Grain Bread Mode- Yes
French Bread Mode- Yes
Dough Mode- Yes
Pizza Mode- Yes
Yeast Pro Dispenser- Yes
Digital Timer- Yes (up to 13 hours)
Non-Stick Coated Pan- Yes
Safety Fuse- Yes
Power Interruption Protection- Yes
Bread Crust Color Control- Yes
Loaf Sizes- 3

Included Accessories

Measuring cup
Measuring spoon
Recipe booklet
Dimensions (H x W x D) 14.000” x 13.500” x 9.000”
Weight 15.40 lbs”

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

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