Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have had the DO1289 for a month and overall I am very happy with it. The toaster is gorgeous and does a great job baking. I have cooked fish and steaks and everything has turned out perfectly. The convection fan is not too loud and does its job well. In terms of toasting, the oven is not spectacular, but certainly adequate. Getting a crispy slice of toast takes about 5 minutes. Though it takes a few clicks to do anything on the toaster, the controls and knobs are straightforward and well designed.
I spent a long time analyzing and breaking down the pros and cons of the different top quality toasters so hopefully this review can save you some time. Here are the other toasters I looked at seriously :
Cuisinart TOB-195: Generally well-reviewed, but I could not get past the fact that the toaster does not have automatic shut-off. This is a key safety feature that I was unwilling to sacrifice. The DO1289 does have auto shut-off and turns off after beeping loudly 3 times. In addtion, the Cuisinart's crumb tray comes out the back, which seems totally stupid and impractical.
Krups FBC2: Looked like the perfect toaster, but again a safety feature got in the way. Apparently the Krups model has a poorly constructed door hinge and is prone to exploding. The DO1289's door is very smooth opening and seems well constructed. The Krups' quartz heating would have been nice, but still not worth it. I also suspect that the Delonghi has a little more overhead clearance than the Krups so I can roast a small chicken.
Breville Smart Oven: This oven has almost every feature and is the most powerful and spacious of the bunch, but $250 for a toaster is just absurd. I bought my Delonghi refurbished for $70, so it was no contest.
The Delonghi also has an oven light (which most others do not) and a bright permanently illuminated display--a nice feature at night for seeing the time. One other feature that doesn't get much attention, but was very important to me, is the Delonghi's Durastone enamel interior. This is great because, unlike toasters with traditional nonstick interiors, I can put metal and glass dishes in the oven, as well as aluminum foil (every one of the other aforementioned ovens advises against using glass or foil). Durastone is apparently nonstick so I can only hope that it has fewer chemicals or is safer than traditional nonstick (I would love it if someone knew the answer). Either way, it is a step up from the other high end toasters that I researched.
Based on my comparisons with other toaster ovens, I found that the Delonghi 1289 is the best designed and most practical. The Delonghi's performance is very good, though not spectacular, it has great features and, in my opinion, is the best choice for a high-end toaster oven.
UPDATE: After over a year owning the Delonghi DO-1289, I am still very happy and everything continues to work exactly as it should.
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