Breville BTA840XL Smart 4-Slice Toaster review

In our reviews of the best toasters, this one came out on top: the Breville Smart Toaster BTA840XL. This toaster is an expensive option, but it exudes quality and refinement. We were impressed by its exceptional toasting ability and seamless user experience.

Everything about it is upscale. It's not just nice to look at -  the Breville Smart Toaster BTA840XL has many amazing extra features to help you customize your toasting experience. Even the most discerning toast-lover will be satisfied. 

Breville BTA840XL: Setup

The Breville Smart Toaster is easy to set up. Just unbox it, place it on a counter, and ensure enough airflow around it. Plug it in, and it's ready. The toaster doesn't need any complicated assembly. I read the user guide to familiarize myself with its features, which explains things like Lift and Look and A Bit More.

Once the crumb tray is inserted properly, I can enjoy perfectly toasted bread with the push of a button.

Breville BTA840XL: Design & features

The Breville Smart Toaster boasts an elegant design combining modern aesthetics and practical functionality. Its brushed die-cast aluminum housing looks sleek and upscale. With its motorized lift mechanism, this toaster makes toasting feel luxurious. It lets bread drop and rise with a push of a button.

The extra-wide slots make it easy to fit a variety of breads, like bagels and artisan loaves. With Lift and Look, I can check on my toast mid-cycle without interrupting the browning process, and with A Bit More, I can add 30 seconds to my toast.

In addition, the removable crumb tray simplifies cleanup, and the toaster's safety features, including automatic shut-off, make it easier to use.

Breville BTA840XL: Performance

The Breville Smart Toaster performed well in toasting in my tests, outperforming its competitors. Regardless of bread type or thickness, it toasts evenly and consistently. With its advanced heating elements, each slice came out perfectly brown on both sides, with barely any bar marks visible. Extra-wide slots fit various bread sizes, including bagels and artisanal loaves, ensuring optimal toasting.

The Breville Smart Toaster is great for toasting frozen bread. It toasts frozen slices like room-temperature bread, so you don't need to pre-thaw them. It's good at specialized tasks, too, like bagels. With the toaster's unique setting, you can toast only one side, which makes bagels crunchy in the middle but soft on the outside.

The automated lift and user-friendly buttons, such as Lift and Look and A Bit More, prevent overheating even after prolonged use.

Would I buy the Breville Smart Toaster BTA840XL?

The Breville Smart Toaster has modern features, and its sleek design will enhance any countertop. The Lift and Look feature and the A Bit More function help you get the perfect toast every time. Plus, the automated controls make toasting bread simple. There's no denying that the combination of its high-end design and outstanding performance makes this a great toaster. However, can you buy a less expensive one that will perfectly toast your bread? Quite possibly.