Product Description

The Breville 2 Slice Smart Toaster has an internal smart chip that lowers bread into the toasting slots with a single touch and also regulates the toasting time. On the "a bit more" setting bread is automatically lowered for additional toasting time. The auto lift and look feature automatically raises the bread carriage during toasting without canceling or resetting the cycle. This enables you to view, and if necessary, cancel the browning cycle at any time. The LED panel illuminates according to the selected setting on the variable browning control. The display acts as a toasting progress indicator, counting down how long is left in the toasting cycle. The toaster beeps when the cycle is complete. Made of brushed die-cast metal the exterior wipes clean with a soft cloth. The heating element is 900 watts. Two wide slots accommodate waffles, bagels or toast. Defrost, reheat, bagel and cancel functions. Complete with a Breville assist plug for easy cord removal and cord wrap storage underneath.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4971 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Size: 2-Slice
• Brand: Breville
• Model: BTA820XL
• Released on: 2008-02-29
• Dimensions: 9.00" h x 8.25" w x 13.25" l, 5.72 pounds

Features

• 900-watt 2-slice toaster with intelligent one-touch auto lowering function
• Push-button controls for toast, a bit more, bagel, defrost, and lift-and-look functions
• LED panel illuminates according to selected setting on variable browning control
• Brushed die-cast metal housing; end-of-cycle beep; 1-1/5-inch-wide slots; cord wrap
• Measures 13-1/4 by 8-1/4 by 9 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
Attractively housed in brushed die-cast metal, this two-slice toaster features an internal smart chip that automatically lowers bread into the toasting slots with a single touch and regulates the toasting time. The unit offers push-button controls for toast, a bit more, bagel, defrost, and lift-and-look functions. With the "a bit more" setting, bread automatically lowers for additional toasting time. The lift-and-look function automatically raises the bread carriage during toasting without canceling or resetting the cycle, which allows for viewing, and if necessary, canceling the browning cycle at any time. The unit's LED panel illuminates according to the selected setting on the variable browning control. The display acts as a toasting progress indicator, counting down the time remaining in the toasting cycle. A beep indicates the end of the cycle. Other details include 1-1/5-inch-wide by 5-1/5-inch-deep slots, a 900-watt heating element, a Breville assist plug for easy cord removal, and cord storage underneath. To clean, simply wipe the exterior with a soft cloth as needed. The toaster measures 13-1/4 by 8-1/4 by 9 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Techno Toast!
I spent about a year looking at toasters on Amazon. Needed one for my renovated house. I just could not bring myself to pay $128 for a toaster, but after reading features, was also unable to buy anything else. I convinced myself that it would look so great with my black soapstone counters and brushed stainless appliance junk that I should really consider it a renovation cost. Problem solved!
Toaster arrived last weekend, have taken several days off from job to make toast. First, let's just say how cool the thing looks and works. Yes, it is weighty, but I don't carry it around much. But, it's got these cool tech buttons that do all the heaviest work, like moving the toast up and down. Then there is that row of LEDs that flash to show how much toasting time remains. Also very cool! And it wasn't until I read revies here that I understood what "bagel" settings were. This one has 'em. "Lift and look" takes away some of the dark side of toasting, but is great for the anxiety-ridden. "A little bit more" is also fun, though there is no "little bit less". Anyway great fun and great looks. I can't wait to see how house-guests respond. I have to find a house-guest.
One of my biggest hesitations about the Breville, aside from humorous price, was the reviews suggesting it was unable to toast evenly. I immediately bought bread at Acme and found even toasting, slice after slice. The local sparrows were happy with the experiment and urged a repeat run. I guess reviewers here must have gotten bum units? I am surprised Breville does not want to take back the product they bought? I noted in the manual (RTFM) that they recommend a dedicated circuit (and what next, a dedicated toast house?), but they do say if it doesn't get sufficient amps it may perform poorly. I agree with reviewers that an examination of the heating ribbons was disappointing: they are a bit dim and patchy; for this price I was expecting an advance view into Hell.
Anyway, so far I still think !. Beautiful 2. functionality supreme! And all for only $129 or so!

Outstanding Toaster
It is hard to believe a toaster could be made into an exciting product. I bought it after reading a product description in Wired magazine. Clearly some thought has been placed into what it takes to make a good toaster.
Nicest feature `Lift and Look' which gives one the ability to `peek' at the toast without disrupting the toasting cycle. The countdown LED is nice. Finally there is a `A Bit More' button allowing one to toast an item a bit more. :) Overall very clever device.

A Good Idea Poorly Executed...
A toaster, particularly a $129 toaster, should be expected to do one thing well - toast a piece of bread evenly! This Very Expensive toaster browned both pieces of bread much darker on the sides facing outward while the sides facing the center were lighter, and there's no "feature" fix for this. Also, this toaster does take about three times as long as my previous Sunbeam two-slice model did and much longer than most of today's less expensive toasters do that have heating elements that actually glow red hot - these nichrome ribbon elements are completely dim except for an occasional hot spot here or there. You should be advised that the toaster uses a three prong (grounded) plug, some older 1950's-60's kitchens may not have the proper/required outlet. And the end-of-toasting chime is so weak as to be inaudible from only three feet away. Maybe I just received a lemon (or other reviewers have yet to get past the initial "Wow" factor), but if you read other Breville model reviews it would appear that this uneven browning is an ongoing issue with most - if not all - of the Breville line of toasters. What A Shame - to get so close to perfection and then... quit! Makes you wonder... does anybody at Breville corporate headquarters actually test/use their products? What happened to QC??? So impress your friends (and perhaps yourself?) with all the bells and whistles, but the entertainment value will surely decline with time, you'll grow tired of the long wait for toast as your carpool buddies lay on the horn outside, and you'll still be left with unevenly toasted bread.