I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The Gevi 20-Bar is the Best Budget pick in my semi-automatic espresso machine guide, and it now costs $139.99. It is a compact stainless espresso machine with a pressure gauge, pre-infusion, a steam wand and a hot water outlet, and you grind, dose and tamp yourself.

Amazon shows 4.3 stars across 3,767 ratings. Only 306 written reviews are filed under this exact listing, and 93 of those are critical.

Owners who get a good unit like the espresso and the small footprint. The critical reviews are dominated by machines that failed, mostly within the first year, and by pressure gauges and steam wands that stopped doing their job.

Quick Verdict

What Comes in the Box

The box: portafilter, two baskets, a combined scoop and tamper, and the manual.

The machine, a portafilter, 51 mm single and double filter baskets and a plastic coffee scoop with a tamper on the end, per the listing and Gevi’s photo. There is no grinder or milk jug.

Four owners single out the tamper as flimsy plastic that is fine for levelling but not for a firm tamp, and three recommend buying a proper one.

Several owners report receiving machines that had clearly been used, with water in the tank, coffee grounds inside or parts missing, so inspect it on arrival.

Gevi gives a 12-month warranty and lifetime tech support on units bought through an official or authorised channel.

Specifications

What 20 Bar and 4.3 Stars Actually Mean

The gauge is the Gevi’s signature feature, and one several owners report failing.

The 20-bar figure is pump capacity, not brewing pressure. Gevi’s own product image says the machine delivers 9-bar extraction through its 20-bar pump, which is the pressure espresso is normally brewed at.

The rating needs the same care. Amazon’s 3,767 ratings and 888 written reviews span more than one format, and filtering to this listing leaves 306 written reviews: 213 positive and 93 critical, including 181 five-star and 55 one-star.

That is 30% critical and 18% one-star, against 7% one-star in the pooled ratings. Written reviews skew negative on most products, but a one-star share that high is a warning worth weighing.

Who It’s For

• First-time espresso buyers on a budget who want a pressure gauge and a steam wand. Several first-time owners say it makes better coffee than their old drip machine.
• Small kitchens. At 5.5 inches wide it takes very little counter space, and owners mention the compact size often.
• One- or two-drink households. Owners report it needs a cool-down after steaming before the next shot, so it suits a morning cappuccino better than a round for guests.
• Anyone willing to add a proper tamper, which several owners recommend.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone who wants a machine to last. Critical reviews describe units dying within days, weeks and months, and the warranty is 12 months.
• Households making several milk drinks back to back. Owners report it overheating or shutting off between steaming and the next shot.
• Buyers who need dependable after-sales help. Owners describe Gevi’s support as excellent in some reviews and unreachable in others.
• Latte drinkers who want very hot milk. Several owners find the drinks lukewarm or the froth weak.
• Anyone who would rather pay slightly more for a longer record. The De’Longhi Stilosa costs about $10 more and has 13,832 ratings.

Performance

Shots, pressure and the gauge

Gevi’s own figure: 9-bar extraction from a 20-bar pump.

Owners who are happy with it are happy with the espresso, and that is what most of the five-star reviews praise. One owner comparing it with the Breville Bambino they wore out over two years rates it five stars, and another reports using theirs daily for three years or more.

The gauge is where trouble shows. Owners report needles that never reach the espresso range, stop moving, fail to return to zero, or read very high while no coffee comes out; 15 reviews of this listing mention the gauge.

Soupy, wet pucks come up in two critical reviews. That usually points to grind or dose rather than the machine, and my guide to an espresso machine not building pressure covers the checks worth running before calling support.

Shot volume and controls

Programmable single and double shots, per Gevi.

Controls are four buttons on top, with programmable single and double shots of 0.8 to 2 oz and 1.7 to 4.4 oz. Owners mostly call it simple to set up, though one needed a 24-hour wait and the manual’s fix before it worked.

The electronics draw specific complaints. A three-star owner says the controls freeze unless the buttons are pressed in a particular order, including after steaming, and others describe buttons that stopped responding or a machine that beeps without explanation.

Steam wand and milk

The steam wand has a removable froth nozzle for cleaning.

Milk results split owners more than anything else. Some say it steams well, including with almond milk; others found it only blew bubbles, barely heated the milk or made drinks lukewarm.

One positive owner found the wand very loud and weak at first and puts that down to their own technique, which is worth knowing before returning one. My guide on a steam wand that will not froth covers the usual causes.

Steaming also heats the machine. Owners report having to wait before pulling the next shot, and one describes a shutdown after about three drinks in a row that a restart fixes.

Heat-up and the cup warmer

The cup warmer on top. One owner says it does not get hot enough to keep cups warm.

Heat-up is one of the most consistent positives: owners describe it as quick, and one puts it at about a minute.

The cup warmer is less convincing, with a five-star owner saying it does not get hot enough to warm cups. The hot water outlet, for Americanos and tea, draws little comment.

Design and Build

Gevi’s drawing: 5.5 inches wide, about 12.3 deep and 12 tall.

It is narrow and light, with a stainless steel housing, a clear water tank at the back and a black-handled portafilter. The 5.5-inch width is the headline for small kitchens.

Plastic is the recurring build complaint: a plastic piece in the portafilter basket, the plastic scoop and tamper, and owners who would rather hot water and coffee did not touch plastic at all. Two owners say it vibrates enough during a shot to walk cups off the drip tray.

One owner found the portafilter tipped the basket into the bin whenever they knocked out the puck, and another’s portafilter snapped after five months.

What Owners Report

Of the 306 written reviews filed under this listing, 181 are five stars and 55 are one star; 213 are positive and 93 critical. The themes below each appear in more than one unconnected review.

What recurs in the positive reviews

• Espresso for the money. First-time owners say it beats their old drip coffee.
• Small footprint. Compact enough for a small counter, and light enough to move.
• Quick heat-up. Ready in about a minute, by owner accounts.
• Easy to use. Simple setup and controls for a first machine.
• Helpful support for some. Several owners praise Gevi’s customer service, one agent by name.

What recurs in the critical reviews

• Failures. Units dead on arrival or failing within days, weeks and months, mostly inside the first year.
• Pressure gauge faults. Needles that stick, never reach the espresso range or read high with no coffee.
• Weak or lukewarm milk. Steam wands that barely froth or heat.
• Overheating. Shutdowns or waits between steaming and the next shot.
• Used units sold as new. Wet tanks, grounds inside and missing parts on arrival.
• Unreachable support for others. Owners who could not get a reply or a replacement.
• Accessories. A flimsy plastic tamper several owners replaced.

The split is sharp. Owners with a working unit tend to rate it five stars and praise the value; owners whose unit failed tend to rate it one star, and the reviews in between are mostly about milk, heat and the gauge.

Value

At $139.99 the Gevi costs about $10 less than the De’Longhi Stilosa at $149.95, which carries 13,832 ratings to the Gevi’s 3,767. For a first machine, that $10 buys a much longer owner record.

The Casabrews 3700, now the Best Budget pick in my best espresso machine under $200 guide, is $99.99, $40 less, and 417 of its 1,607 written reviews are critical (26%, against 30% for the Gevi). The Gevi’s case over it rests on features: the Gevi has a pressure gauge and the Casabrews 3700 does not.

Its price moves, and it was listed at $118.99 in late August, so it is worth checking before buying.

Durability

Durability is the Gevi’s weak point in the reviews. Owners describe units that did not work out of the box, broke after one or two uses, and stopped after a month and after two, four, six and eight months.

The failures that repeat are a pressure fault where the gauge climbs and no coffee comes out, a steam function that quits, and a machine that will not turn on. One owner got about two years of light use before the gauge and then the power failed.

Descaling on schedule is the one habit within your control, and my guide to how often to descale an espresso machine sets out the intervals. Keep the receipt, since the warranty is 12 months.

None of this is a failure rate. Unhappy owners write more reviews than happy ones, and 306 reviews is a modest sample.

Alternatives to Consider

• For a similar price and a far longer owner record, see my De’Longhi Stilosa review.
• For cheaper and better-documented options, my best espresso machine under $200 guide compares the field.
• If you can stretch further, my Breville Bambino Plus review and best espresso machine under $500 guide cover the step up.
• Whatever you buy, the grinder matters: my espresso grinder guide covers that, and the coffee hub collects every coffee review and fault guide.

Verdict

The Gevi 20-Bar gives a first-time buyer a pressure gauge, pre-infusion, a steam wand and a narrow stainless body for $139.99, and owners with a good unit like the espresso it makes.

Against that, 30% of the written reviews for this listing are critical and 18% are one star, dominated by machines that failed within months, gauges that misread and steam that falls short. At $10 less than the far better-documented Stilosa, the saving is small for the risk.

Five out of ten: marked up for features and footprint at the price, marked down for failure reports, inconsistent milk performance and patchy support.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this espresso machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — the pump, pressure gauge, temperature control, shot volumes, tank, dimensions and warranty Gevi lists — read against the other espresso machines in my semi-automatic espresso machine guide; the split of the 306 written reviews filed under this exact listing rather than the 4.3 average of a rating pool it shares with other formats; and the text of the positive and critical reviews, read for themes that recur across independent owners.

Why owner reviews are treated as evidence here: one reviewer cooking on one unit for a fortnight cannot show whether a $140 espresso machine is still pulling shots after a year. Several hundred owners’ written reviews can at least show the pattern. A theme is only reported above where more than one unconnected owner raised it.

What I could not establish: the machine’s model number, which the listing does not state; the real brewing temperature; whether the pooled 3,767 ratings include other Gevi machines; and what share of units fail in the first year, since unhappy owners are over-represented in written reviews.

Price, stock and ratings were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026 and will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Gevi 20-Bar a real semi-automatic espresso machine?

Yes. You grind, dose and tamp the coffee yourself and start the shot, with programmable single and double volumes. It has a pressure gauge, pre-infusion and a steam wand.

Does 20 bar make better espresso?

No. Espresso is brewed at around 9 bar, and Gevi’s own image describes 9-bar extraction from its 20-bar pump. The pump rating is headroom, not brewing pressure.

How long does the Gevi espresso machine last?

Owner reports range from units that failed out of the box to about two years of light use and one owner at three years or more. Many critical reviews describe failures within the first year, and the warranty is 12 months.

Why does my Gevi shut off after steaming milk?

Owners report the machine overheats after steaming and needs to cool before the next shot, and one says it shuts down after about three drinks in a row until it is unplugged and restarted.

Why is the pressure gauge not moving?

Several owners report gauges that stop moving or never reach the espresso range, sometimes alongside no coffee flow. Check the grind, dose and descaling first, and contact Gevi within the warranty if nothing changes.

Is the Gevi good for lattes?

Owners disagree. Some steam milk well, including almond milk, while others report weak froth or lukewarm drinks, and the machine needs a pause after steaming before another shot.

What comes in the box?

The machine, a portafilter, single and double filter baskets, a scoop with a tamper on the end and the manual. Several owners recommend buying a sturdier tamper.

What is the warranty?

12 months, plus lifetime tech support, for units bought through an official or authorised channel, according to Gevi.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The Silonn SLIM24B is the nugget ice pick in my countertop ice maker guide, at $143.91. It makes soft, chewable pellet ice rather than hard bullets, and Silonn rates it at 33 lb a day with first ice in as little as six minutes.

Amazon shows 4.3 stars across 1,243 ratings, but that figure is shared with other Silonn machines, including a bullet-ice maker. The 130 written reviews filed under this 33 lb model are the better evidence, and 34 of them are critical.

Those reviews agree the ice is good. They disagree about noise and speed, and more than a dozen describe machines that stopped working, from a couple of weeks to just over a year after purchase.

Quick Verdict

What Comes in the Box

The basket and scoop that come with it. Note the height label, which cannot be right.

The machine, a removable ice basket and an ice scoop, per the listing. Silonn’s drawing puts the basket at about 7.2 by 4.3 by 4.9 inches, and one owner compares it to an extra-large cup.

It fills by hand from a jug, with no water line to connect. The warranty is one year.

One owner reports the manual asks you to let the machine stand for 24 hours before first use so the cooling system can settle. Another says theirs arrived without the basket and scoop, so check the box while the return window is open.

Specifications

What the 4.3 Stars Cover

Amazon pools this listing’s ratings with other Silonn machines sold on the same product page. The same 1,243 ratings and 74% five-star share appear on a 26.5 lb Silonn bullet-ice maker, a 36 lb nugget model and a 44 lb nugget model with a 3-litre detachable tank.

Filtering to reviews written about this 33 lb model in gloss black leaves 130: 96 at four or five stars and 34 at one to three. That is 88 five-star and 20 one-star reviews, or 68% and 15%, against the pooled 74% and 9%.

Written reviews usually skew more critical than star-only ratings, and this listing is no exception. The fair comparison is between machines measured the same way: in the screen behind my guide, this model had the lowest critical share of the nugget makers with more than 100 model-specific reviews, at 26% against 40 to 80% for the EUHOMY, Kismile and Frigidaire machines checked.

Who It’s For

• People who want chewable, Sonic-style pellet ice at home. Several owners who chew ice through the day say that is the whole reason they bought it.
• Households using ice steadily, where a machine that keeps topping up the basket matters more than a big batch on demand. Two owners say it keeps up with daily family use.
• Anyone who wants simple controls: one button, and a light that shows when the basket is full or the tank needs water.
• Buyers who want nugget ice for well under the $299 GE Opal Mini and can live with the failure reports below.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone who needs a lot of ice quickly for a party. Owners report 40 minutes to over an hour to fill the basket, and one says the basket holds enough for about two medium glasses.
• Open-plan kitchens and light sleepers. Noise is a repeated complaint, and one owner moved the machine to a room with the door shut.
• Anyone who wants ice to keep. The basket is not refrigerated, the pellets are small and melt quickly, and one owner found bagged pellets froze into a single block.
• Buyers counting on it lasting years. More than a dozen written reviews describe it failing within about a year, and the warranty is one year.
• Anyone who dislikes refilling. Owners describe the water tank as small, and Silonn does not publish its capacity.

Performance

Six minutes to first ice, much longer to a full basket

Silonn advertises ice in six minutes. That is the first pellets, not a full basket.

Owners who like it say it starts producing within minutes and then keeps going. One who also owns Silonn’s bullet machine says this one fills its basket in half the time.

The slow reports are just as specific: about 40 minutes for a full basket from two cups of water, over an hour for a full basket, an hour and a half to make ice, and almost two hours for about a cup.

None of these owners says how warm the room or the water was, and both affect how fast any ice maker works.

Two owners also found ice heaping under the chute trips the full signal early. One stirs the basket about every ten minutes to keep it running, and another knocks the pile down.

The ice

Silonn sells the texture, and owners mostly agree it delivers.

This is where the positive reviews concentrate. Owners compare it to the ice at Sonic and restaurants, describe it as soft and crunchy, and several say they eat it on its own through the day.

It makes one size of small pellet. A three-star owner expected more sizes from a video, and a four-star owner finds the pieces tiny and quick to melt.

Small, porous pellets chill a drink fast and melt fast, so expect more dilution than with solid cubes.

Controls and the water tank

One button and a coloured light. One owner finds the blue and white hard to tell apart.

Operation is a single button: fill the tank, press it, and the light shows the state. Silonn’s legend gives white for making ice, green for a full basket, blue for self-cleaning and red for add water.

Owners repeatedly call it easy to use. The one complaint about the panel is that the blue and white are close enough to confuse cleaning with making ice.

The tank is the limit on unattended running. Two owners who like the machine say it is small enough to need refilling often, and a three-star owner is always refilling.

Cleaning

Silonn pairs the self-clean cycle with a removable cover for manual descaling.

Holding the clean button for about five seconds starts a 15-minute cleaning cycle, and the top cover comes off for descaling and deeper cleaning, per the listing.

Two owners call it easy to clean and another values the self-clean cycle, while a three-star owner says it is not very easy to clean.

The serious report is mould: an owner who ran the cleaning cycle weekly still found mildew within a month and now rinses with vinegar after each use. Running the cycle regularly and emptying the tank before the machine sits unused are the sensible defaults, and my guide to using a countertop ice maker covers setup and cleaning.

Design and Build

The clear cover lifts over the basket, and the fan vents through the side.

It is a black plastic box with a clear cover over the basket, a carry handle and fan vents on the side. It weighs 20.8 lb, and one owner advises leaving ventilation space on both sides.

The dimensions do not agree. Amazon lists 11.3 by 12.91 by 8.9 inches, while Silonn’s own drawing shows it 8.6 inches wide and 11 inches deep and labels the height 33 inches, which cannot be right for a countertop machine. Measure your clearance against the photos and allow room for the cover to lift.

A four-star owner found it bulkier than expected, and another says the lid gives no positive click when it closes.

What Owners Report

Of the 130 written reviews for this 33 lb model, 88 are five stars and 20 are one star; 96 are positive and 34 critical. The themes below each appear in more than one unconnected review.

What recurs in the positive reviews

• The ice. Soft, chewable pellets owners compare to Sonic and restaurant ice.
• Steady output. Starts within minutes and keeps a household supplied, when the unit works well.
• Ease of use. One button, a removable basket and a light for full and empty.
• Quiet enough for some. Several owners call it quiet or fairly quiet.
• Reliable so far. Owners at two months and at several months report no problems.

What recurs in the critical reviews

• Failures. More than a dozen units that stopped, from a couple of weeks to 13 months.
• Noise. Very loud for some owners, and several describe new noises developing before or alongside a failure.
• Slow filling. 40 minutes to two hours for a basket or a cup of ice.
• Melting. Small pellets that melt fast in a glass.
• A small tank. Frequent refilling.
• Returns and support. Two owners waited weeks for refunds, and two found Silonn unable or unwilling to help with a failed unit.

The positive and critical reviews often describe the same machine at different points in its life. Several critical reviews begin with months of excellent ice and end with a new noise, slushy ice or a unit that stops.

Value

At $143.91 it costs about twice the EUHOMY bullet ice maker and about $50 more than the Frigidaire EFIC189. The extra buys the ice texture, not a stronger record.

Against other nugget machines it is cheap. GE’s Opal Mini is $299 and the Opal Ultra $499, and neither holds a better rating; Silonn’s own 36 lb nugget model on this listing is $161.99 and the 44 lb model $259.99.

The finish changes the price: other finishes of the 33 lb model were listed at $149.96 and $182.99 on the same day.

Durability

Durability is this machine’s weak point in the reviews. Owners describe units that stopped or began failing after a couple of weeks, about a month, and two, three, four and five months, and one that lasted just over a year.

One owner bought the same model three times: the first lasted a year, the second five months and the third four months. The recurring pattern is a new noise or slushy ice, followed by a machine that stops making ice.

The warranty is one year, and an owner whose unit died at 13 months says Silonn could do nothing. Keep the receipt; one owner who lost a unit within weeks advises buying a protection plan.

None of this gives a failure rate. Unhappy owners write more reviews than happy ones, and 130 reviews is a small sample.

Alternatives to Consider

• For hard bullet ice with a far larger rating record, see my Frigidaire EFIC189 review, the Best Overall pick.
• For the cheapest working machine, my EUHOMY review covers the budget pick.
• Silonn’s bullet machine is covered in my Silonn countertop ice maker review.
• The full field is in my countertop ice maker guide, and if you need ice stored rather than made, a small chest freezer does that job.

Verdict

The Silonn SLIM24B makes the ice nugget fans want, with one-button operation, for under $150. Of the nugget machines with enough reviews to judge, it had the smallest share of critical ones for its exact model.

It is also slow to fill for many owners, loud for some, and more than a dozen of its 130 written reviews describe it failing within about a year. Buy it for the ice, expect to empty the basket and refill the tank often, and keep the receipt.

Six out of ten: marked up for the ice, the simple controls and the price against other nugget machines, marked down for failure reports, slow filling and noise.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this ice maker, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — the output, controls, cleaning cycle, dimensions and warranty Silonn lists, and where its own figures disagree — read against the other ice makers in my countertop ice maker guide; the split of the 130 written reviews for this model rather than the 4.3 average of its shared rating pool; and the text of the positive and critical reviews, read for themes that recur across independent owners.

Why owner reviews are treated as evidence here: one reviewer cooking on one unit for a fortnight cannot show whether a nugget ice maker is still making ice after a year. More than a hundred owners writing over nine months can at least show the pattern. A theme is only reported above where more than one unconnected owner raised it.

What I could not establish: the capacity of the water tank, which Silonn does not publish; the machine’s true height, since the listing and Silonn’s drawing disagree; and what share of units fail in the first year, since unhappy owners are over-represented in written reviews.

Price, stock and ratings were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026 and will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the 4.3 stars for this model?

Not only. Amazon shares the 1,243 ratings with other Silonn machines on the same listing, including a 26.5 lb bullet-ice maker and 36 lb and 44 lb nugget models. The 130 written reviews for the 33 lb model include 88 five-star and 20 one-star reviews.

How long does it take to make nugget ice?

Silonn says first ice arrives in as little as six minutes. Owners report 40 minutes to over an hour to fill the basket, and one says almost two hours for about a cup.

Is the Silonn nugget ice maker loud?

Owners disagree. Some call it very loud, others quiet or fairly quiet, and several describe new noises developing after months of use, sometimes before it stopped working.

How long does it last?

Owner reports range from failures within a couple of weeks to just over a year, while others report months without problems. The warranty is one year.

Does it keep ice frozen?

No. The basket is not refrigerated, so the ice slowly melts. Bag it and move it to a freezer if you want to keep it.

What do the light colours mean?

According to Silonn: white while making ice, green when the basket is full, blue while self-cleaning and red when the tank needs water.

How do you clean it?

Hold the clean button for about five seconds to run the 15-minute self-clean cycle, and remove the top cover to descale. One owner who ran the cycle weekly still found mildew within a month, so rinse it regularly.

Which size should I buy?

This review covers the 33 lb model. The same listing sells a 36 lb nugget model at $161.99 and a 44 lb model with a 3-litre detachable tank at $259.99, while the 26.5 lb option is a bullet-ice machine, not nugget.

What is the warranty?

One year, according to the listing.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The Hamilton Beach Big Mouth 67601A is the budget pick in my celery juicer guide, at $74.95. It is a centrifugal juicer: a spinning blade and mesh basket, an 800-watt motor, a 3-inch feed chute and an 80-ounce pulp bin.

It holds 4.4 stars across 41,505 ratings, far more than the other juicers in that guide, with 70% five-star and 5% one-star.

The owner reviews agree on what it is. It is fast, it takes whole fruit, and it is loud; the arguments are about how wet the pulp is, how easy it is to clean, and how long the motor lasts.

Quick Verdict

What Comes in the Box

Hamilton Beach says the removable parts are dishwasher safe and includes a brush for the strainer.

The juicer, a food pusher, a pulp bin and a strainer cleaning brush. The listing names the pulp bin, juice bowl, lid and pusher as dishwasher safe.

There is no juice jug in the listing’s included components, so plan on a glass or jug under the spout.

The warranty is three years, per the listing.

Specifications

Noise, heat and the motor

The three-year warranty is the listing’s strongest reassurance. Owners give it reason to matter.

It is loud. Noise comes up in hundreds of reviews, including from owners who rate it five stars. One apartment owner says it sounds like a factory floor and only runs it at times that will not disturb the neighbours; others call it a tad loud and move on.

The motor can strain. Several owners describe a burning or hot-metal smell: one after a glass or two of juice, one while juicing celery, and one with ginger, when the machine also shook. One gave up on it after four uses.

Some units fail. Owners report a juicer that broke down within four months, one that dies at around eight months and has been bought four times, and one that stopped after two and a half years of daily use. Side clamps that break are another repeated complaint.

None of this stops 70% of owners giving it five stars. But it is why the three-year warranty matters, and why feeding it steadily rather than forcing produce down the chute is the habit to keep.

Who It’s For

• Anyone who wants to find out whether juicing will stick before spending $150 or more. A four-star owner who was not ready for a $400 slow juicer calls it a good way to start.
• People juicing hard produce: apples, carrots, beets and citrus. One owner reports very dry pulp from beets, carrots and lemons.
• Cooks short on prep time. The 3-inch chute takes whole apples, which owners say saves most of the chopping.
• Anyone who wants dishwasher-safe parts and a long warranty for under $100.
• Mixed juices with some celery or greens in them, rather than straight celery juice.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone juicing mostly leafy greens or straight celery. Owners report little juice from greens, and a centrifugal basket is the wrong mechanism for celery on its own; my celery juicer guide explains why.
• Apartment dwellers who juice early or late. The noise is the most repeated complaint.
• Anyone who wants the driest pulp and the most juice per pound. A slow juicer does that better.
• People who hand-wash everything. Some owners find the strainer hard to clean by hand, even with the brush.
• Anyone planning heavy daily use for years. Owner reports of motors and clamps failing are frequent enough to weigh.

Performance

Speed and the 3-inch chute

The 3-inch chute is the reason to buy it: a whole apple goes in without cutting.

The chute is what the positive reviews lead with. Owners describe washing produce and dropping it straight in, and one who juices beets, celery, cucumber, garlic, apples and carrots together says the machine sorts the peel and pulp from the juice without fuss.

Not everyone finds it that easy. One critical owner says the mouth is not wide enough and can only take a little at a time, and another has to feed small pieces or the machine blows the pusher out and shakes on the counter.

Pieces flying out of the chute come up more than once. One owner suggests having the pusher in the chute before switching on; another holds the machine for the first couple of seconds because it jumps from the torque.

Juice yield and pulp

Hamilton Beach claims maximum juice yield. Owners find that depends heavily on what goes in.

Yield depends on the produce. One owner juicing beets, carrots, celery, parsley and lemons found the pulp very dry, while another says you can watch how little juice comes out of greens.

Wet pulp is a recurring complaint, and one owner says the pulp got noticeably wetter after about 15 uses. A small-business owner juicing pineapples in quantity found the yield disappointing.

This is the trade-off of a centrifugal juicer rather than a fault of this one. My masticating vs centrifugal juicer comparison covers where each type wins.

Cleaning

Lining the pulp bin with a bag, as Hamilton Beach shows here, keeps one part out of the wash.

Cleaning splits owners. Many call it quick and easy, and the parts are listed as dishwasher safe.

Others say it is not easy to clean by hand even with the brush, that the lid does not fully contain the pulp, and that dried leaves stick in the corners unless it is washed straight away. One owner says the pusher melted in the dishwasher, so a low heat setting or hand washing that part is safer.

If the basket clogs mid-batch, juice can spray out of the side; one owner has to stop and clean the strainer partway through. My guide on how to clean a juicer covers the strainer.

Design and Build

Hamilton Beach’s drawing: 14.4 inches tall and 11.5 inches deep.

It is a black plastic body with a large clear pulp bin, a single on-off knob and side clamps that hold the lid down. At 8.36 pounds it is light enough to store in a cupboard.

The listing contradicts itself on power: the bullets and the model name say 800 watts, and the specification table also lists 200 watts. Hamilton Beach calls 800 the rated power.

The side clamps are a part owners repeatedly report breaking. One owner on a second broken set says Hamilton Beach is sending a free replacement.

What Owners Report

Amazon shows 70% five-star, 16% four, 7% three, 2% two and 5% one across 41,505 ratings. That is a far larger pool than the other juicers in my celery guide.

What recurs in the positive reviews

• Value. A capable juicer for about $75.
• The chute. Whole apples and bunches of produce go straight in.
• Speed. Juice in seconds rather than minutes.
• Hard produce. Quick work of apples, carrots and beets.
• A starter juicer. A cheap way to find out if juicing sticks.

What recurs in the critical reviews

• Noise. The most repeated complaint.
• Wet pulp. Poor yield from greens and some fruit.
• Motor strain. Burning or hot-metal smells under load.
• Failures. Motors that stop and side clamps that break.
• Cleaning by hand. Harder than the dishwasher-safe label suggests for some owners.

The five-star and one-star reviews describe the same juicer. Owners who feed it hard produce at a steady pace, and wash it straight away, are happy; owners who push greens through it, or run it hard every day, meet its limits.

Value

At $74.95 the Big Mouth costs much less than the Ninja NeverClog JC151, the cold press juicer that tops my celery guide.

What the extra money buys in a slow juicer is drier pulp, more juice from greens and quieter running. What the Big Mouth gives back is speed, a wide chute and a much lower price.

If you want a centrifugal juicer with more refinement, my Breville JE98XL review covers the step up.

Durability

Durability reports cover the whole range: an owner whose earlier unit lasted four years, one on two and a half years of daily use before the motor stopped, and others whose machines failed within months.

The failures that repeat are the motor under strain, sometimes announced by a burning smell, and the side clamps. The three-year warranty covers the first years of that; keep the receipt.

Feed produce at a steady pace rather than forcing it, cut very hard items like ginger into small pieces, and stop if you smell the motor.

Check the box on arrival. Two critical owners received units with a part missing.

Alternatives to Consider

• For more juice from greens and quieter running, my Ninja NeverClog JC151 review covers the cold press pick.
• For the full field, see my best juicer guide and my best juicer for greens guide.
• For a better-built centrifugal juicer, see my Breville JE98XL review.
• Everything else on juicing is collected in the juicers hub.

Verdict

The Hamilton Beach Big Mouth is a good cheap juicer for hard produce. It is fast, takes whole fruit, has dishwasher-safe parts and a three-year warranty, and 70% of more than 41,000 owners give it five stars.

It is also loud, wasteful with greens, and some motors and clamps fail well before the warranty runs out. Buy it to find out whether juicing sticks, not as a machine for daily green juice.

Seven out of ten: marked up for value, the chute and the warranty, marked down for noise, wet pulp and failure reports.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this juicer, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — the motor, chute, pulp bin, dishwasher-safe parts and warranty Hamilton Beach lists, where its own figures disagree, and what owners report about noise, pulp, cleaning and the parts that fail — read against the other juicers in my celery juicer guide; the shape of the rating distribution across 41,505 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.4 average it produces; and the text of the positive and critical reviews, read for themes that recur across independent owners.

Why owner reviews are treated as evidence here: one reviewer cooking on one unit for a fortnight cannot show whether a juicer motor survives two years of daily carrots and beets. Several thousand owners over years can. A theme is only reported above where more than one unconnected owner raised it.

What I could not establish: what share of machines fail in the first year, since unhappy owners are over-represented in written reviews. I also could not reconcile the listing’s 800-watt and 200-watt figures beyond Hamilton Beach calling 800 the rated power.

Price, stock and ratings were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026 and will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth good for celery juice?

It will juice celery, but a centrifugal juicer is the wrong mechanism for straight celery juice, and owners report poor yield from greens. It suits celery mixed with apples, carrots and cucumber better.

Is the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth loud?

Yes. Noise is the most repeated complaint in the reviews, including from owners who rate it highly.

Are the parts dishwasher safe?

The listing says the pulp bin, juice bowl, lid and pusher are. One owner says the pusher melted in the dishwasher, so a low heat setting is safer.

How long does the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth last?

Owner reports range from failures within months to two and a half years of daily use and one earlier unit that lasted four years. The warranty is three years.

Why does my juicer smell like burning?

Owners report a burning or hot-metal smell when the motor is under strain, such as with ginger or when juicing a lot at once. Stop, let it cool and feed smaller pieces.

Is it 800 watts or 200 watts?

The listing calls 800 watts the rated power, and the specification table also lists 200 watts. I could not reconcile the two figures.

How big is the feed chute?

Three inches, wide enough for a whole apple according to Hamilton Beach and owners.

What is the warranty?

Three years, limited, according to the listing.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The De’Longhi Stilosa EC260 is the best-overall pick in my espresso machines under $200 guide, and it sells for $149.95. It is a manual machine: a 15-bar pump, a small stainless steel boiler, a steam wand and a portafilter with two pressurized filter baskets.

It holds 4.2 stars across 13,831 ratings, a large pool, and the distribution is split: 67% five-star but 9% one-star.

The owner reviews explain the split. Owners who learn the grind and tamp, and get a sound unit, report years of good espresso; owners who expect café shots out of the box, or get a faulty machine, write the one-star reviews.

Quick Verdict

What Comes in the Box

The steam wand, the portafilter and the two filter baskets, single and double.

The machine, a portafilter with single and double filter baskets, and a combined measuring scoop and tamper. The water tank holds 1 litre (33.8 fl oz), per the listing.

There is no milk jug and no grinder, so budget for both if you do not already own them.

The included tamper is plastic, and one owner calls it a joke. Owners also say the baskets are a small, non-standard size, about 51mm, so a larger tamper will not fit.

Specifications

What the one-star reviews are about

De’Longhi markets the boiler as built to last. Owner reports on longevity are mixed.

Parts that fail. The plastic control knob is the most specific recurring complaint. One owner’s broke after four months, another is on a third knob in two years, and a third marked the machine down a star for its plastic knob.

Other owners report a pump that stopped working after just over a year, a leak above the group head that led to a replacement, and a front indicator light that failed.

Shots that disappoint. Weak or dripping espresso is the other theme. One owner found only 10 grams of coffee fit in the double basket; another tried different grinds and doses and still got a slow drip.

The shot problems usually have fixes, covered below. The parts failures do not, and the warranty is one year.

Who It’s For

• Beginners who want to learn espresso without spending much. One first-time owner says it is the only entry-level machine that earns a passing grade.
• Milk-drink makers. Owners describe the steam wand as easy for cappuccinos and lattes, and one who also owns a far more expensive Breville says it froths milk just as well.
• Anyone short on counter space. It is 13.5 inches wide, and owners mention its small footprint.
• People willing to tinker. Owners get more from it by swapping the pressurized basket for a non-pressurized one or a bottomless portafilter.
• Anyone who owns, or will buy, a burr grinder. The OXO Brew Conical Burr is the budget grinder reviewed on this site.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone who wants café-quality shots with no learning curve. Owners describe grind size, dose and tamping as things to get right.
• Tall-mug drinkers. Owners say large mugs and tumblers do not fit under the portafilter.
• Anyone who wants a long warranty. The listing gives one year, and some owners report parts failing after that.
• People who make several milk drinks back to back. One owner lets the wand reheat three or four times to froth milk for two cups.
• Anyone who wants a machine to grow into. My Gaggia Classic Pro vs Stilosa comparison covers the step up.

Performance

Espresso and the pressurized baskets

The 15-bar pump. The baskets it pushes water through matter more.

Owners who are happy with the espresso describe good crema and consistent shots, including one going on four years with the same machine.

The baskets are pressurized, which builds pressure even with an imperfect grind. That makes the Stilosa forgiving for beginners, but one owner who also runs a far more expensive machine notes it caps how good the extraction can get.

Owners who want more swap in a non-pressurized basket or a bottomless portafilter.

Weak shots are the flip side. One owner found only 10 grams of coffee fit in the double basket, another got a slow drip despite changing grind and dose, and a four-year owner warns against grinding too fine or packing too tight.

Steam wand and milk

The manual steam wand.

The steam wand is one of the most praised parts of the machine. Owners use it for lattes and cappuccinos without much fuss.

Switching from espresso to steam means waiting for the boiler to heat again, about 35 seconds according to one owner, who steams the milk first for that reason.

The small boiler is also why frothing for more than one drink is slow. One owner lets the wand reheat three or four times to froth enough milk for two cups.

Heat-up, size and cup clearance

De’Longhi sells it on its size, and owners agree it takes little counter space.

Owners put heat-up at about a minute or less, quick enough for a weekday shot.

At 13.5 inches wide and 11.22 inches tall, it fits under wall cabinets, and owners mention its small footprint.

The trade-off is cup clearance. Owners say tall mugs and tumblers will not fit under the portafilter, so plan on brewing into a small cup and pouring.

Design and Build

De’Longhi’s sales claim, small print and all, sits on the product image.

It is a compact black machine with a stainless front panel, a front control dial, a steam knob on the side, indicator lights and a two-level drip tray for different cup sizes.

Owner opinions on the build are split: a four-year owner calls it solid yet lightweight, while another calls it cheaply built and clunky. The specific weak points owners name are the plastic knob and dial markings that wear off with wiping.

The two-level drip tray helps with small cups, but owners still find little room for anything tall.

What Owners Report

Amazon shows 67% five-star, 13% four, 6% three, 5% two and 9% one across 13,831 ratings. A one-star share larger than either the two- or three-star share is the pattern of a machine most owners like and a minority find faulty.

What recurs in the positive reviews

• Value. Real espresso and a working steam wand for about $150.
• Milk drinks. A simple steam wand for cappuccinos and lattes.
• Longevity for many. Owners report two, three and more than four years of daily use.
• Small footprint. It fits a small counter.
• A good teacher. Beginners learn grind, dose and tamp on it.

What recurs in the critical reviews

• The knob. Plastic, and it breaks for some owners.
• Baskets and tamper. Pressurized baskets and a plastic tamper limit the shots until upgraded.
• Cup clearance. Tall mugs do not fit.
• Steam for more than one drink. The wand needs time to reheat.
• Failures. A pump, a leak and a failed indicator light among the critical reviews.

The five-star and one-star reviews describe the same machine. The difference is mostly expectations and luck: owners who learn it and get a sound unit keep it for years, and owners who expect café shots or get a faulty one do not.

Value

At $149.95 the Stilosa costs far less than the Breville Bambino Plus or the Gaggia Classic Pro, and it still uses a pump and a portafilter rather than steam pressure alone.

Owners stress grind size again and again, so a burr grinder is part of the real cost, and a proper tamper and a milk jug are worth adding. The OXO Brew Conical Burr is the budget grinder reviewed on this site.

If you are torn between this and a pricier machine, my Breville Bambino vs Stilosa comparison sets out what the extra money buys.

Durability

Longevity reports are encouraging for a $150 machine. One owner’s previous De’Longhi of the same style lasted more than four years at three to five drinks a day, another is going on four years, and others report two and three years of daily use.

The failures that do appear are specific: the plastic knob, a pump after just over a year, and a leak above the group head. With a one-year warranty, anything after the first year is on you.

Turn the knob gently, avoid packing the basket too tight, and keep the machine clean.

One owner reports receiving a used unit sold as new, which Amazon replaced, so check the box and seals on arrival.

Alternatives to Consider

• For automatic milk texturing and faster heat-up, see my Breville Bambino vs De’Longhi Stilosa comparison.
• For a machine to learn on and keep for years, my Gaggia Classic Pro vs Stilosa comparison sets out the step up.
• Every pick under $200 is compared in my espresso machines under $200 guide, and semi-automatic machines at every price in my semi-automatic espresso machine guide.
• Grinders, machines and brewing guides are collected in the coffee hub.

Verdict

The De’Longhi Stilosa is a good first espresso machine. For about $150 it pulls real espresso, steams milk well enough for lattes and fits a small kitchen, and many owners report years of use.

Its limits are the pressurized baskets, a plastic knob that breaks for some owners, and little room for tall mugs. Buy it to learn on, budget for a grinder and a proper tamper, and do not expect café shots on day one.

Seven out of ten: marked up for value, the steam wand and long owner histories, marked down for the knob, the baskets and a one-year warranty.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — the pump, boiler, baskets, tank and warranty De’Longhi lists, and what owners report about shots, steaming, cup clearance and the parts that fail — read against the other machines in my espresso machines under $200 guide; the shape of the rating distribution across 13,831 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.2 average it produces; and the text of the positive and critical reviews, read for themes that recur across independent owners.

Why owner reviews are treated as evidence here: one reviewer cooking on one unit for a fortnight cannot show whether a plastic control knob survives two years of daily use. Several thousand owners over years can. A theme is only reported above where more than one unconnected owner raised it.

What I could not establish: what share of machines develop a fault, since failed units are over-represented in one-star reviews and working ones rarely get a follow-up. I also could not confirm the basket diameter from De’Longhi’s listing; the 51mm figure comes from owners.

Price, stock and ratings were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026 and will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the De’Longhi Stilosa good for beginners?

Yes, with a learning curve. The pressurized baskets forgive an imperfect grind, and first-time owners describe good results once grind size and tamping are right.

Does the Stilosa have a boiler or a thermoblock?

De’Longhi’s listing describes a stainless steel boiler. It is small, which is why steaming milk for more than one drink can mean waiting for it to reheat.

What size is the Stilosa portafilter?

Owners measure the filter baskets at about 51mm, smaller than many machines, so a larger tamper will not fit. De’Longhi’s listing does not give the size.

Can you use a non-pressurized basket in the Stilosa?

Owners do, swapping to a non-pressurized basket or a bottomless portafilter for better extraction once their grind is consistent.

How long does the De’Longhi Stilosa last?

Owners report two, three and more than four years of daily use. The failures they report are the plastic control knob, a pump after about a year and a leak above the group head, and the warranty is one year.

Will a tall mug fit under the Stilosa?

Owners say no. Large mugs and tumblers do not fit under the portafilter, so brew into a small cup and pour.

Why is my Stilosa espresso weak?

Owners trace weak or dripping shots to grind size, dose and tamping. One found only 10 grams fit in the double basket, and a long-time owner warns against grinding too fine or packing too tight.

What comes in the box?

The machine, a portafilter with single and double filter baskets, and a combined measuring scoop and tamper. There is no milk jug.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is the indoor pick in my pizza oven guide, and the only electric oven on that list. It is a corded 1,800-watt countertop oven that reaches 750℉, about 200 degrees more than most home ovens.

At $999.95 it costs more than any other oven in the guide, and it holds 4.6 stars across 149 ratings. That is a small pool next to the outdoor ovens it is compared with, so the written reviews matter more than the average.

The owner reviews agree on two things. The pizza is excellent once you learn the oven, and the oven is smaller and harder to clean than a $1,000 price suggests.

Quick Verdict

What Comes in the Box

Breville’s gallery gives the footprint as 18.1 by 18.5 inches, and 10.6 inches high.

The oven, a pizza peel and a pizza pan, both named in the listing. One owner describes the pan as the one for deep-dish pizza.

Breville’s own figures disagree slightly: the specification table gives 18.25 by 18.15 by 10.5 inches, the gallery image 18.5 by 18.1 by 10.6. Either way it needs about a foot and a half of counter in each direction, and it weighs 32.3 pounds.

The listing does not give the size of the stone. One owner measured the largest pan that fits at 11.75 inches across, which matters more than the headline 12-inch pizza claim.

Specifications

The two things owners wish they had known

Breville sells it on 12-inch pizzas in two minutes. Owners say 12 inches is the upper limit, not a comfortable size.

It is small inside. This is the most repeated complaint, and it comes from satisfied owners at least as often as unhappy ones. Owners call the stone and the door opening small, say a standard 12-inch pan will not fit, and one who makes 12-inch pizzas says it suits 10-inch pizzas better.

A rounded heat shield at the back rules out square trays, one owner notes, and another could not fit a quarter sheet pan. If you already own 12-inch pizza pans or trays, expect to replace them.

It is hard to clean. The stone sits in a tight chamber, and owners describe spills, flour and ash that are hard to reach. Owners say a dirty stone smokes, and one warns that loose flour can catch fire, so the oven needs watching while it runs.

Neither complaint stops most owners rating it highly: 81% of ratings are five-star. But both are easier to accept before spending $1,000 than after.

Who It’s For

• Anyone who wants high-heat pizza and cannot cook outdoors. One owner in an apartment bought it because an outdoor oven was not an option.
• People who make their own dough and will put up with a learning curve. One owner needed three to five attempts; others describe trial and error.
• Cooks who want control over top and bottom heat. Manual mode sets the elements independently, which one owner with two outdoor ovens singles out.
• Anyone happy making pizzas of about 11 inches.
• Buyers willing to wait for a sale. Owners report paying about $800 during price drops.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone who wants 12-inch pizzas or already owns 12-inch pans.
• Anyone who dislikes cleaning awkward appliances.
• Buyers on a budget who can cook outside. The Ooni Karu 12 reaches 950℉ for $248.95.
• Anyone who mainly cooks frozen pizza. One owner who has had the oven for years says it is not worth the money for frozen pies.
• Households that cannot supervise it. Owners report smoke from a dirty stone, and one reports the unit catching fire twice.

Performance

Crust and heat

Elements above and below the stone, managed by Breville’s Element iQ system.

The crust is what the five-star reviews are about. Owners describe leopard-spotted, charred crusts in about two minutes on the Wood Fired setting, and compare the results with pizzerias in New York and Naples.

Breville uses conductive heat from the stone for the base, radiant heat from above for the spotting, and a reflector shield to stop toppings burning. The presets set the top and bottom elements differently rather than simply running hotter, one owner explains.

Not everyone agrees. One owner who baked on a steel every week found the steel better and returned the oven; another found it cooked unevenly; a third says a two-minute char tastes bitter and 550℉ in a normal oven is enough.

Controls and manual mode

The style dial, the darkness dial, and a manual mode behind them.

The style dial covers Frozen, Pan, New York, Thin & Crispy and Wood Fired, with 350℉ and 750℉ positions. A separate darkness dial shifts each setting lighter or darker.

Manual mode lets you choose the temperature and which elements run, including a Crust Only setting for a charred base and an Even Heat setting. One owner describes adjusting the inner and outer top elements separately.

Manual mode also makes it more than a pizza oven. One owner cooks fish, potatoes, bagels, baguettes, cauliflower, cookies and naan in it, and advises cutting normal cooking times by at least 30%.

Launching, smoke and heat in the kitchen

The drop-down door and double-pane window. The opening is one of the size complaints.

Getting the pizza onto the stone is the learning curve. Owners say dough sticks to the metal peel unless it is well floured, and a pizza that misses the small stone lands among parts that are hard to clean.

One owner switched to an inexpensive wooden peel and says anything wider than 11 inches will not fit. Another says a couple of missed launches practically ruined the first oven, and a replacement was sent.

The insulation gets consistent praise. Owners say the outside stays relatively cool and the kitchen does not heat up, and one who uses it five or six days a week says counters and cabinets are unharmed. The exception is one owner whose quartz countertop cracked from the heat released when the door opened.

A little smoke from flour on the peel is normal; one apartment owner says it did not set off a sensitive smoke detector.

Design and Build

The same oven in Black Truffle, listed separately at the same $999.95.

It is a brushed stainless steel box with a drop-down door, a double-pane window and three dials. Breville also sells it in Black Truffle, a black finish, at the same price.

The listing gives the capacity as “12 cubic inches”, which one owner points out is meaningless for a round stone. Breville does not publish the stone’s diameter, so the real limit comes from owners.

Complaints about the build itself are few: no interior light, a door that can swing shut on you, and one owner wishes it were quieter.

What Owners Report

Amazon shows 81% five-star, 10% four, 6% three, 0% two and 3% one across 149 ratings. It is a small pool, so the themes below come from the written reviews rather than the average.

What recurs in the positive reviews

• The crust. Leopard spotting and a charred, crisp base in about two minutes.
• Control. Presets that work, a darkness dial, and a manual mode for top and bottom heat.
• Insulation. A cool exterior and a kitchen that does not heat up.
• Indoors, year-round. No waiting for weather, propane or wood.

What recurs in the critical reviews

• Size. A small stone and door, and no room for standard 12-inch pans.
• Cleaning. A tight chamber that is hard to reach, and smoke when it is dirty.
• Learning curve. Dough sticking to the metal peel, and missed launches.
• The stone. One owner’s cracked in two after three uses and another’s chipped; that owner says replacement stones are never in stock.
• Price. Several owners call it expensive even while rating it highly.

The positive and critical reviews describe the same oven. The difference is whether an owner makes pizzas small enough, and cares enough about the crust, for the size and the cleaning not to matter.

Value

At $999.95 the Pizzaiolo costs four times as much as the Ooni Karu 12 and twice as much as the Ooni Koda 16, both of which reach 950℉ outdoors.

What the extra money buys is indoor cooking with separately controlled top and bottom elements. Cheaper electric countertop pizza ovens exist, and their listings claim similar or higher temperatures, so 750℉ on its own is not the reason to pay $1,000.

Owners report catching it at about $800 in sales, which makes the case easier. If you are not in a hurry, a price tracker is worth setting.

If a home oven is the alternative, my guide to why a pizza oven will not get hot enough explains what limits the crust.

Durability

Most owners report no problems. The stone is the weak point: one cracked in two after three uses, another chipped for an owner baking five or six days a week, and one owner reports discolouration of the metal and the stone.

One owner’s oven stopped heating and began shutting off, and they say Breville offered only a 35% discount on a replacement. The owner whose stone cracked also reports the unit catching fire twice, and says Breville described that as normal.

The listing gives a two-year warranty. Keep the stone clean, keep loose flour off it, and stay nearby while the oven runs.

On a stone or quartz countertop, a heat-proof mat under the front of the oven is cheap insurance, as the owner with the cracked countertop now recommends.

Alternatives to Consider

• To cook outdoors for a quarter of the price, the Ooni Karu 12 is a multi-fuel oven that reaches 950℉.
• For larger pizzas outdoors, the Ooni Koda 16 takes a 16-inch pizza for $498.
• For a premium outdoor build, see my Gozney Roccbox review.
• Every oven is compared in my pizza oven guide, and the rest of the cluster is in the pizza ovens hub.

Verdict

The Breville Pizzaiolo does what it promises: owners get pizzeria-style, leopard-spotted crust from a kitchen counter in about two minutes, with presets that work and a manual mode for anyone who wants more.

But it is small for a $1,000 appliance, hard to clean, and its stone is the part most likely to fail. Anyone making 12-inch pizzas or hoping to use existing pans should look elsewhere.

Seven out of ten: marked up for crust, control and insulation, marked down for size, cleaning and a price that only makes sense if you cannot cook outdoors.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this oven, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — the heating system, controls, dimensions and accessories Breville lists, the places its own figures disagree, and what owners report about crust, size, cleaning and the stone — read against the other ovens in my best pizza ovens guide; the shape of the rating distribution across 149 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.6 average it produces; and the text of the positive and critical reviews, read for themes that recur across independent owners.

Why owner reviews are treated as evidence here: one reviewer cooking on one unit for a fortnight cannot show whether a cordierite stone survives a year of 750℉ bakes. Owners writing over nearly six years can, even in a pool this small. A theme is only reported above where more than one unconnected owner raised it.

What I could not establish: how long the stone lasts for a typical owner, since most reviews are written in the first months. I also could not find the stone’s diameter in Breville’s listing, so the 11.75-inch limit comes from one owner’s measurement.

Price, stock and ratings were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026 and will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big a pizza fits in the Breville Pizzaiolo?

Breville says 12 inches. One owner measured the largest pan that fits at 11.75 inches across, another says it suits 10-inch pizzas better, and one advises a wooden peel no wider than 11 inches.

How hot does the Breville Pizzaiolo get?

The listing gives a range of 350℉ to 750℉. Breville says about two minutes, and one owner bakes thin pizzas on the Wood Fired setting in two.

Is the Breville Pizzaiolo hard to clean?

Owners say so. The stone sits in a tight chamber that is hard to reach, and a dirty stone smokes. Cleaning is one of the two most common complaints, with size.

Does the Breville Pizzaiolo smoke?

A little, from flour on the peel, and more when the stone is dirty. One owner in an apartment says it did not set off a sensitive smoke detector; another warns that loose flour can catch fire.

What comes with the Breville Pizzaiolo?

A pizza peel and a pizza pan. One owner recommends adding a wooden peel no wider than 11 inches, because dough stuck to the metal one.

Can you use 12-inch pizza pans in it?

Owners say standard 12-inch pans do not fit. One measured the maximum at 11.75 inches, and a rounded heat shield at the back rules out square trays.

Is the Breville Pizzaiolo worth $1,000?

Only if you cannot cook outdoors and make pizza often. Outdoor ovens such as the Ooni Karu 12 reach 950℉ for about a quarter of the price, and owners report the Pizzaiolo dropping to about $800 in sales.

What is the warranty?

Two years from the date of purchase, according to the listing.