A toaster reimagined from scratch

Breville's $300 Eye Q is the first toaster that crisps bread based on color instead of time. It's what a toaster would look like if invented today.

Futuristic design meets simplicity

The Eye Q features rounded edges and minimalist styling with a non-stick ceramic top. Intuitive buttons adjust how light or dark you want your toast.

Motors replace spring-loaded levers

Press the start button and built-in motors clamp down on your bread, slowly lowering it inside. It feels more sophisticated than slamming down springs.

Optical sensors watch your toast

Instead of a timer, optical sensors track the color of your toast 10 times per second. When it hits your desired shade, the bread smoothly rises up.

“Your toast is ready when its color is right, not when it's been singed for an arbitrary length of time.”

Traditional toasters rely on guesswork

Regular toasters use timers that don't account for how hot the coils are or what kind of bread you're using. Achieving perfect toast often feels hit or miss.

Seven shades from light to dark

Testing all seven color options produced a smooth gradient from barely crisped to deep brown. The middle setting delivered perfect golden toast every time.

The middle setting is perfect

The standard middle option was so on point that the reviewer just left it there for nearly all regular toast needs. No guessing required.

Minor cosmetic imperfections

You can sometimes see grill lines where the toaster holds the bread, and some pieces look splotchy. But the taste is always on point.

Special sourdough mode included

Press and hold the main button to activate sourdough mode. This gives the toaster more freedom to crisp up the big nooks and crannies in artisan loaves.

Frozen bread works perfectly

You can toast frozen bread straight from the fridge without worrying about it coming out overdone. The sensors adjust automatically.

Real bagels don't fit well

Proper NYC-style bagels are often too thick to fit without stuffing them in awkwardly. One Russian rye bagel ended up burnt because it was too close to the elements.

Better than any other toaster

The Eye Q does everything you want a toaster to do, and does it better than any other toaster the reviewer has used. It's easy to use and clean.

The $300 question

The cheapest version starts at $300, which is ten times the price of a basic toaster. It only does one thing and takes up counter space.

“Its presence in your kitchen will probably depend more on how much disposable income you have.”