I previously had a Panasonic which I used for many years and finally wore it out. It made wonderful bread. I debated whether to buy another one or go with a different brand. I decided on the Zojirushi because I liked the idea of having a loaf that, well, looked like a loaf of bread and I thought the two blade system would be good for mixing.

Well, I've had the machine about a year now and I'm disappointed to say the least. First of all, the bread comes out too well done on the bottom & sides. I've discovered if I take the bread out 5 or 6 minutes before the timer on the machine says its ready, it helps a little.

The other issue is I found that my 65 year old arms have great difficulty in getting the d...m bread out of the pan. It is so frustrating! I shake & shake and finally after about 15 shakes it will loosen and if I'm lucky the paddles with stay in place. Boy, my arms hurt after this struggle.

Then, when it finally does pop out it will land hard and squish the top or part of the top crust will flop off. What a mess.

Many times the paddles have stuck to the bread and when we go to slice, oops, we hit the blade at the bottom of the loaf.

I wish I had my old Panasonic back. When this one hits the dust I will not buy another Zojirushi.

However, it's only saving grace is that it does make decent dough for pizza and rolls. That's why I'm giving it a two star instead of one.

I do have a Zojirushi rice cooker which I love and use for oatmeal as well as great for white & brown rice. However, that is another product and another story

This machine operates very easy. If you follow the instructions and guides included. It will not be long and friends will be considering you a master baker.

I've had a Zo for 9 years and wanted to upgrade to this machine for a few years. I finally took the plunge and upgraded to this new machine because I wanted the sourdough cycle. I made a couple loaves of bread so far and they've all come out beautifully. They are kind of 'crusty' but I brush them down with some melted butter and the crust is great. To be successful with this machine you must measure accurately and keep the machine away from drafts. This machine works great!

This is the worst bread machine I have ever had. I recently purchased it and tried making 3 loaves of bread in a row thinking I was doing something wrong, but I followed the recipe exactly and it was a hard lumpy loaf of bread. I'm returning it tomorrow.

I deliberated for several months before deciding to buy this machine. Really glad I finally decide to get it! I've made 10 or 12 loaves since I've gotten it (white, whole wheat, multi-grain, rye, Portuguese sweet bread and pizza dough) and the machine has performed beautifully each time. Dough is well kneaded, well risen and nicely baked. While I'm in love with the machine, the recipies provided are only marginal. They work well but the flavor is not nearly as good as my own recipies. The Light Rye Bread is quite good but whole wheat and white are seriously lacking in flavor. My own recipies (based on Peter Reinharts) use a either a sponge or a poolish and buttermilk to develop the flavor more completely. I have successfully converted these recipies for use in the machine. Hate to say it but the machine made versions are overall better than my hand made versions. This machine does a really great job of kneading the dough and properly developing the gluten plus the rise is done under a much more controlled environment. I do sometimes have to reposition the dough at then end of the kneading cycle to make sure the loaf isn't lopsided.

My only two wishes are for the ability to specify crust darkness when using the wheat bread setting and for an internal light. Otherwise a big thumbs up for this machine!

I have nothing but love for this machine. In the month since I received it, I have not purchased a single loaf of bread from the store. I am a novice bread baker and have absolute success every time I 1. follow directions 2. adjust dough as needed during kneading. I have read some complaints about loaf failures and frustration at not being able to "set and go" consistently. Come on, people. Bread baking is an art AND a science. The vagaries of weather, humidity, altitude will all impact your bread baking. There are no "absolute" recipes that will work every time. If you can't stand the flexibility, maybe bread baking is not for you. For all the rest of us, this machine is fantastic!

I can't say enough about this machine! I researched LOTS of bread machines before purchasing this about a year ago and am so very satisfied. My children cannot have sugar or refined flour so I make whole wheat sugar free loaves and anyone who bakes bread knows how dense and tough it can be to work with that kind of dough! I make an average of 4 loaves a week and this machine handles it no problem and produces even loaves every time. I have also made regular white bread and some other breads like raisin, etc and have always had fabulous results. I also find it is very forgiving if you don't measure the ingredients exactly! The recipe book it comes with has great basic recipes that are easy to build on or modify if needed.

I have already sent this item back. It baked bread with hard crusts, no matter what recipe I used. For the price, I did not feel it was worth it at all.

I have been using a bread machine for years but this is my first Zojirushi. While significantly more expensive than the others I have have had, the quality of the machine will clearly result in a longer life than I experienced with my others. Also, the breads it turns out are excellent. My only complaint would be the difficult task involved with removing the loaf from the pan. While I had the same experience with my other machines, I would have expected better here.

I got the Zojirushi as a present for my wife, but it has turned out to be a joy for the whole family. Very easy to use, and great fun for the kids to explore different recipes and combinations. We usually make whole grain recipes with lots of mix-ins (pumpkin seeds, raisins etc), and the dual-beater design has produced a consistent and homogenous product blend. Looked at the other bread machines and glad we went with the more expensive but heartier model.

I Bought This Bread Machine Because It Was Rated As One Of The Finest. I Have Attempted Approximately 6 Loafs And 2 Have Been Successful. I Follow The Recipes To A Tee And Measure All Ingredients Accurately. For The Price Of Over $200.00 I Expected More. I Picked Up A West Bend Breadmaker With A Recipe Book At A Garage Sale For $2.99, It Has More Features, As An Example It Has An Extended Rise Cycle And A Light To View The Bread, I'm Sure The Orginal Price Was Not Even Close To The Zojirushi's Cost.

This is my third or fourth breadmaker - and I love it. I bought it about 8 months ago, and I like to wait to leave my reviews because while something is new, it's wonderful, but it usually takes weeks or months to find out the bad sides of a product. This one doesn't have a bad side. Every single loaf of bread I've made turned out wonderfully. Even if I didn't add the correct amount of oil (watching my weight) the bread still didn't stick. If I threw in chocolate chips - nuts - whatever, the bread still turned out wonderfully. I would definately buy another Zoji - but the way this one is built - I doubt if I'll ever have to !

This is our first experience with a breadmaker, and we were not disappointed. Very easy to use, amazing how it works, easy to clean. Works great with recipes in the book and bread mixes from the store. We haven't bought bread since. The pizza dough worked out great, too. Amazing.

If you can fill a measuring cup and spoon accurately and follow written directions, you can turn out a pretty good loaf of bread in a little over three hours. This machine is well made, easy to use, refreshingly straightforward, and a hell of a deal at $179, shipping included. I am very pleased.

I once owned a Panasonic bread machine, but sold it in a yard sale. It made bread okay, but I didn't like the tall skinny shape of the loaf or the space it took up on my counter.
With grocery prices rising every day and bread at over $3 per loaf, I reconsidered and spotted the Zojirushi on Amazon.com. The fact that it made a normal looking loaf, and the opportunity to save even more using "Bill Me Later", convinced me to buy.
We haven't bought a loaf of store bought bread since this machine arrived. And we even made homemade pizza dough one night... the pizza was fabulous! The book says it can also make meatloaf and jam, but I haven't tried that yet.
Providing this machine holds up over time, it is saving about $2 a loaf, and the bread is much better than the packaged stuff. Give it a try!

I think the machine works very well. I like the shape of the loaf and it goes a long way. My bread has been delicious. The only thing is that I was not sure if it worked at first because there is a preheat cycle that is completely silent for the first 30-45 minutes of baking. You think nothing is happening because no heat comes out and no noise is made. Eventually you hear it kick into gear though.

Biggest drawback is that a machine making rectangular loaves horizontally will take up more counter space than many other machines. However, we love it! I like that the bread comes out looking "normal" and the recipes we've tried so far have been really yummy. If it really does make jam well and if it holds up over time, it'll be worth every penny.

I have had this bread maker for about a year now. We make 2 - 3 loaves per week. It is awesome and reliable. If it wasn't for this machine, I would not be able to have bread to eat as I am allergic to soy and nearly all store breads are made with soy.

Note that I bought the Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook. That book is worth its weight. Without that book I don't think I'd be as successful with the machine. Bottom line is that book is a MUST HAVE.

We have a couple of people in our family who are Gluten Sensitive. Therefore we find ourselves baking gluten free bread for our general use. In general Gluten Free bread is more difficult and more fussy than normal wheat bread. Without gluten the bread does not have the elasticity or texture. Also I have found that the bread generally needs to bake longer to be done in the center. The Zojirushi Bread Machine has three custom settings allowing us to dial up the bake cycle duration and produce a better loaf than our old machine could produce. We are happy so far (approx. 1 month ownership).

I bought this machine based on the reviews when I wanted to upgrade my old Breadman Ultimate. I liked the (theoretical) shape of the loaves better and it is true that the crust was better also--a big plus. But it made completely lopsided loaves, with one side VERY low. This did not seem to affect the taste--it just looked really weird. Thinking the particular machine was defective, I sent it back for a replacement (and got good service). The second machine not only made the same lopsided loaves, however, but after my first loaf, the paddles had worn away the nonstick coating on the bottom in circular scratches. I really wanted to use this machine. I was even prepared to use Beth Hensberger's suggestion from her fabulous bread machine cookbook to--inconveniently--move the ball of dough to the center of the pan after the kneading cycle to improve the lopsided finished shape. But I gave up, after two machines, especially after realizing we had eaten toxic nonstick coating with our first loaf.

This is my first bread machine. I did my homework before I bought it. I love this machine. I have had it 10 days and I have made 7 loaves already. I live at 5000 ft so I had to make some adjustments. The bread is beautiful and a nice large size. It's fool proof. Spend the extra money and get this one, you won't be disappointed.

This is the third bread machine I've owned in the past 15 years. It bakes the nicest-shaped loaf by far. The holes left by the paddles are tiny compared to my last Welbilt machine. Wish you could turn off the beeps, because if your using the timer to bake overnight, it's loud enough to wake someone up in the next room. Other than being very pricey, I'm very happy so far.

My first uses of this breadmaker yielded very positive results. I'm still "tinkering" a bit with the recipes. and am happiest with the recipes translated from my older 1 lb. machine. Overall, I have very positive feelings about it.

The Zojirushi BBCCX20 Home Baker Supreme Bread Machine is the best ever. I have had 3 other brands in the last 25+ years and success was hit or miss. So far, every loaf of bread I have made with this machine has turned out better than I could have ever expected. I like the loaf shape and I believe the Zojirushi makes a better loaf because of the 2 blades that knead the dough. I especially like how quiet the machine is during kneading. In particular I have had great success with the quick yeast. I could not be more pleased. I'm a senior and thought it late in life to invest again in a bread machine but I sure made the right desition. My other bread machines cost a lot less and they made a loaf that was a lot less than desired. I highly recommend this bread machine!

Worth every $$! Don't mess with the cheaper ones. We have replaced 3 cheap machines and now have the Zojirushi. We make the best bread that looks like real homemade stuff! The features are great! The "your settings" feature works wonderfully for us to adjust recipies.

I have had a bread machine since they were first available. My last one was a Breadman and I have to say it was quite good. In fact, the person I gave it to is quite happy with it. However, I wanted a more traditional sized loaf and after reading the reviews I went for the zooy. Actually, I've wanted one for some time now. I know that some people have had bad experiences with this machine, but they obviously chanced upon a bad one and in my mind would have been better off taking it back and getting another that worked properly. They would have ended up a lot happier for it. This machine is awesom. Every loaf has come out perfectly right from the first one and the sourdough? UMMMMM!!!! The machine is built like a tank and it's quiet. The twin paddles definitely work better than a single. You can see that just watching them work through the window. I don't mind the price if you get what you pay for and in this case you definitely do so get it!!!

I purchased this bread machine to replace an older Toastmaster machine and have been so disappointed in it. I have had it at the repair center twice now in two months and have been given so many different excuses as to why my bread is not turning out. The latest one is that I am not making 2 lb. loaves and that is why I am getting ugly, uneven shaped bread. According to the dealer where this machine was purchased you can only make 2 lb. loaves in the Zojirushi. Also, unless I set the crust control to light the crust is very tough. I have had much better luck with the old Toastmaster and Breadman I have been hanging on to for my older daughters to take with them when they move out. I have owned a bread machine for about 15 years now and although I don't consider myself an expert I wouldn't consider myself a beginner either. I would never, ever recommend this product to anyone! You buy it, you better be able to eat a two pound loaf of crusty bread pretty quickly.

After much review for a "really good bread machine" that could save money on weekly bread purchases (kids' sandwiches for school lunches, baguettes), we bought this one. Love it! Only one with 2 mixer-things. We've made both bread and dough for pizza. Both excellent. Highly recommend spending the money up front for the quality that will last.

Zojirushi BBCCX20 Home Bakery Supreme Bread Machine
Automatic settings seemed to be improperly timed to produce good bread. Bread was heavy, dense with a doughy texture. I checked all ingredients since I was very precise in recipe portions. No luck, still not right. After 12 pounds of flour, lots of yeast and frustration, the solution was found in a recipe book from a prior bread machine: The Breadman Ultimate, 4 years past (Breadman just wore out and replacement parts were unavailable). I used a combination of the Zojirushi guide book custom setting and the Breadman Ultimate guide for baking cycles. After 4 tries, superb bread. At least for the 1.5 lb. French loaf. The Zojirushi Custom Setting needs a third rise (Breadman Guide), which I added to the sequence. I also lengthened the preheat. The loaf was high and tender. We live about 150 miles from the Texas Gulf Coast. Elevation about 600 ft. Other than that, we love the machine. It's quite, safe (outside is only warm to the touch during baking cycle) unlike the Cusinart we returned which got extremely hot during the same cycle. You didn't dare touch it. Their baking cycle was also wrong. In fact, it appears that all the newer machines have the same problem, including the new Breadman Ultimate. The baking pans are too small with the wrong dimensions. They do not have enough width for the height. Zojirushi's just about right.

I only use this machine to mix dough. I find it takes longer to mix and the dough doesn't rise as high as the dough in my other machines. (I have 3) I make a lot of bread and usually have all 3 machines going at the same time. This machine rises the least and is more doughy when baked. I've read all the instructions and tried many different ways to play with the recipes. I bought this machine recently, yet my machine I've had for over 10 years works better. (I also own Westbend and Breadman bread machines.)

Got the machine yesterday, made the 100% whole wheat recipe in the instruction book, used the timer to have it ready at breakfast time. Excellent result.

Froze half that loaf, made a second one this afternoon. Same recipe, but subbed molasses for sugar, olive oil-based spread for butter, and added some toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Bingo again.

The bread comes out of the pan no problem, cleanup is easy, operation is quiet. I never made bread before, but I can't imagine a better way to do it.

Just got delivered... About to get cracking onto it.... Brief comment... Straight out of the box....looks great.... However A VIDEOTAPE to help??????? Who has a VCR these days..... jeez..... frustrating or what.... get with the times..... Software or dvd would suffice

This is a great product. It is especially convenient for making pastry dough. Very quick and easy. Cleanup simple but read directions!
Breadmaking Hint: Spray oil over transparent inside glass so bread won't stick.

I had problems with my previous bread maker, I could never get the loaf out of the pan. I read the reviews by other buyers and decided to try the Zojirushi. Other reviewers had said to follow the instructions to remove your loaf. My first loaf was beautiful, but it wouldn't come out of the pan, so I actually followed the directions. It came out beautifully, and I have never had another loaf stick. I am very happy with this breadmaker, and would recommend it to anyone.

This is a great breadmaker! The loaf is a good size for our family of 4 and if you want to make a smaller loaf, you can. It is easy to use and clean. It takes up a nice chunk of counter space, but when not is use, we put it in a corner and we utilize the space in front of it. I only wish it came with more recipies to try!