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Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker vs Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 lb
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker ranks higher (#2 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on programs & gluten-free. Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 lb wins on loaf quality, ease & noise, durability & nonstick.
The biggest complaint about the Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker is uneven browning and deflated loaves; for the Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 lb it's pricey for tiny loaves. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker | Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 lb | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in bread machines | #2 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$$ |
| Type | Horizontal 1-paddle | Mini |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 14% | 8% |
| Overall score | 3.7 | 3.6 |
| Loaf quality | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Programs & gluten-free | 5.0 | 2.5 |
| Paddle hole & removal | 4.0 | — |
| Ease & noise | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Durability & nonstick | 2.5 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker
- Uneven browning and deflated loaves
Wirecutter says every unit it tested made loaves with unevenly browned, sometimes badly overcooked sides. Food & Wine found both test loaves light on top and uneven on the bottom and sides, and Serious Eats' white loaf deflated considerably after removal.
- Durability concerns
Amazon's summary says durability is a concern, with some machines breaking by the second loaf or not holding up over time, and some owners find it overpriced.
- Paddle doesn't always collapse; noisy
Amazon's summary says feedback on the collapsible paddle is mixed, with some owners reporting it doesn't collapse properly. The Spruce Eats lists noise as its main downside.
Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 lb
- Pricey for tiny loaves
Wirecutter's biggest hang-up is the roughly $300 price for a machine that only makes small loaves. Food & Wine says the small step up to a larger, full-featured Zojirushi is worth it.
Source: Wirecutter, Food & Wine - No gluten-free or whole wheat setting
Wirecutter notes it lacks gluten-free and whole wheat settings and performed only on par with cheaper machines in those tests.
Source: Wirecutter - Pan wear and occasional bad loaves
Amazon's summary says some owners report the inner pan wearing out after about 100 uses. Serious Eats got one lumpy, under-risen loaf (the retest was fine) and found it slow to incorporate dry ingredients.
Who should pick which
Pick the Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker if
Tinkerers who want to save custom programs
Loaves up to 2.5 lb
Smaller paddle holes and automatic mix-ins
Skip it if: You want the most even crust; You want a quiet machine; Long-term reliability matters most
Pick the Zojirushi Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 lb if
One- or two-person households
Small kitchens
Quiet operation
Skip it if: You need gluten-free or whole wheat settings; You want full-size loaves; You're on a budget
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.