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Quick answer: These are the two best home bread makers you can buy, and the choice comes down to loaf shape and how the machine handles the paddle. The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus (~$340) is the best all-around pick: twin kneading blades plus dual heaters on the lid and bottom give the most even bake, and its horizontal pan makes a traditional rectangular sandwich loaf with 15 programs including a sourdough-starter cycle. The Breville Custom Loaf (~$300) is the pick for bigger loaves and a cleaner bottom: it bakes up to 2.5 lb, and its collapsible paddle folds flat before the final rise so you don’t get the usual hole in the base. Buy the Zojirushi for the most reliable, even sandwich loaf; buy the Breville for large loaves, four sizes, and a nearly hole-free bottom.
The Core Difference: Even, Classic Loaf vs. Big, Hole-Free Loaf
Both machines make genuinely excellent bread, so this isn’t a quality gap — it’s a design difference. The Zojirushi is built around consistency and a classic loaf shape: two paddles knead thoroughly and dual heaters brown the crust evenly, and the pan is horizontal so you get a normal rectangular sandwich loaf instead of a tall tower. The Breville is built around capacity and a clean finish: it holds more dough, offers four loaf sizes, and its paddle collapses so the baked loaf doesn’t have the big hole every standard bread machine leaves in the bottom.
Loaf Shape and the Paddle Problem
This is the most practical difference for daily bakers. The Zojirushi’s twin blades knead dense and whole-grain doughs more thoroughly, and its horizontal pan produces a wide, rectangular loaf that slices into proper sandwich-sized pieces — but like most machines it leaves two small paddle holes in the base. The Breville’s single collapsible paddle folds flat just before the final rise, which nearly eliminates that hole, so more of each slice is usable. If you mostly want tidy sandwich bread, the Zojirushi’s shape wins; if the paddle hole has always annoyed you, the Breville solves it.
Even Baking: Dual Heaters vs. Single
The Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus has heaters on both the bottom and the lid, which is its signature advantage — the top of the loaf browns as evenly as the bottom, so you rarely get a pale top crust. The Breville relies on a single heating system; results are still very good, but the Zojirushi’s dual heaters are the reason it’s the go-to for the most even, bakery-like crust. If crust color and evenness matter most to you, that’s the Zojirushi’s edge.
Capacity and Loaf Sizes
The Breville Custom Loaf bakes up to 2.5 lb and lets you choose among four loaf sizes, so it’s the better fit for larger households or anyone who wants a big weekend loaf. The Zojirushi tops out at 2 lb, which is plenty for most families but a half-pound less headroom. If you regularly bake for a crowd, the Breville’s extra capacity is a real, everyday advantage.
Programs, Dispensers, and Custom Settings
The Zojirushi offers 15 programs — including whole wheat, European, gluten-free, vegan, cake, jam, a dedicated sourdough-starter cycle, and three custom memory settings you can fine-tune for knead, rise, and bake times. The Breville includes an automatic fruit-and-nut dispenser that drops in add-ins at the right moment, plus custom controls serious bakers like. For range of recipes and set-and-forget memory, the Zojirushi leads; for hands-off add-ins and dialing in your own loaf, the Breville is excellent.
Reliability and Price
Zojirushi’s bread makers have a long reputation for durability and consistent results year after year, which is a big part of why the Virtuoso Plus is the default recommendation. The two machines cost about the same — roughly $340 for the Zojirushi and $300 for the Breville — so price isn’t the deciding factor here; the loaf you want is. Prices shift with sales, so check the current price on both before buying.
Head-to-Head Spec Comparison
| Feature | Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus | Breville Custom Loaf |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | ~$340 | ~$300 |
| Max loaf capacity | 2 lb | 2.5 lb |
| Programs | 15 (incl. sourdough starter) | 13 + auto fruit/nut dispenser |
| Loaf shape | Horizontal (rectangular) | Tall, 4 loaf sizes |
| Paddle | Dual blades (thorough knead) | Collapsible (nearly hole-free) |
| Heaters | Dual (lid + bottom) | Single |
| Best for | Even bake, classic sandwich loaf | Big loaves, hole-free bottom |
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus if you want the most reliable, evenly baked loaf and a traditional rectangular sandwich shape. Its twin blades, dual heaters, 15 programs, and legendary durability make it the safest all-around choice for daily bread.
Buy the Breville Custom Loaf if you bake for a bigger household or hate the paddle hole. Its 2.5 lb capacity, four loaf sizes, collapsible paddle, and automatic fruit-and-nut dispenser make it the pick for larger, cleaner, more customizable loaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bread maker is better overall?
The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is the better all-around pick for most people, thanks to its dual heaters, twin kneading blades, 15 programs, and reputation for durability. The Breville Custom Loaf wins if you specifically want a larger 2.5 lb loaf or a nearly hole-free bottom.
Does the Breville really avoid the hole in the loaf?
Mostly, yes. Its paddle collapses flat just before the final rise, so instead of a large cavity you’re left with only a small mark. Standard machines, including the Zojirushi, leave the usual paddle holes.
Can both make gluten-free and sourdough bread?
The Zojirushi has dedicated gluten-free and sourdough-starter programs plus vegan and salt-free settings. The Breville offers custom controls you can adapt for specialty loaves, but the Zojirushi’s preset range is broader out of the box.