The Emperor’s new toaster?

I can see a lot of 'upscale' hotels installing these, employing a 'chef de pain grillé' working in tandem with the omelette flipper. What a nightmare. In my work travels I built up a reputation breaking conveyor toasters out of sheer frustration in all four corners. Give me my £5 toaster any day of the week. Great analogy - really enjoyed this one.

You're missing the point, I have a friend paid £400 for some wire to connect the bass speaker to his surround-sound amp. Apparently, this isn't just your common-or-garden speaker cable, this is magic wire with all the oxygen removed and the copper crystals aligned along the wire, all very expensive stuff. I listened to his system and couldn't hear any diference, but the I wouldn't would I? I hadn't paid £400 for a length of copper wire....

Well done! Thank you for your rant about talking as long as you want. This is the best one yet.

Ok, I’m late to watching this one, but the haircut section was so funny. Love it.

The design change for the US made me laugh. Of COURSE reheating pizza slices is a design requirement here in USA, it never even occurred to me that it wouldn't be elsewhere. But "Cheese on toast"? That's just not a thing here. Except maybe as a hastily improvised student food.

Take as long as you like, that's why I'm subscribed :) (loved "the controls are in the hands of the user")

Toast disco 😂 I also feel that it is necessary to say that I really enjoy your talking. I’ve never thought you speak too much.

Though the idea could have been conjured from that fry pan, I forget the name of it it had some fake copper paint, in the end it's just another non-stick fry pan, I believe the selling point for this toaster is sophisticated look the steam feature must allow toast to sit in there longer, my two slice toaster takes about a minute a bit longer for bagels, I can't imagine that toaster holding more than three slices, it's rare that we eat toast anyway we're more into muffins and biscuits, whatever soaks up the most butter

Probably the most minor, inane thing yet critiqued: perhaps you could give a first name to "The Missus" (even if it's fictional) because all I keep thinking about is "Mrs. Techmoan" which sounds kind of lewd.

Have to wonder if the steam would help with the cheese on toast option (similar to how you strap steam on a flat top when you're melting cheese on to a burger).

The Creator must have found something fascinating about toast, almost like Americans find crumpets to be fascinating and I'm looking for a crumpet machine

You can talk as long as you like ❤️

Weird.. Appreciated your honesty even if the vendors probably won't.

So is this episode a response to the famous (in Ireland) direct to video special by Zig and Zag "This video is nothing to do with toast"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XoEEqE0spM

The creator idea may have been trampled on, sure he likes toast

For me as a Russian guy this video just blew my whole mind. I'm no toast guy myself,in particular I hate em,but the fact that toasters of this form-factor exist is fascinating. I've been using the usual top-loading toasters my whole life,and everyone did. Never seen one in the shops,even in the most luxurious ones. I think I now need a toaster oven because firing up the usual frying pan for every sandwich I make is kinda inconvenient. Thank you mat for this discovery.

Somewhere, in the department of toastology at Tokyo University, a professor of seared bread products is weeping....

This product is emblematic of our restlessness for Progress. Once toasters went electric and then got adjustable timers, there really were no worlds left for toaster engineers to conquer. But that doesn't sit right. We want to believe that there's always a better way. This is why it's possible to get seed funding for an AI-powered toaster that can complete a parametric toasting cycle tailored for this kind of bread at this precise state of freshness, and then signal your smart coffeemaker that it's now safe to release its brew. (Which _still_ doesn't sound half as dopey as the Juicero.)

Was this a cheese sandwich video?

0:52, the German in me shouted "SchuKo! <3" :D

No way was I going to skip ahead. People who complain about too much talking probably should be watching something else. Loved the tripe stall analogy at the end!

The last time I heard the word "toast" and this many bread products mentioned, it was in Red Dwarf with the episode that had Talkie the Toaster.

I wonder if you mightn’t get the same effect from putting a small dish of water in a normal toaster oven on low, then cranking the temperature at the end.

One of the things I liked most about this video is how it stood in clear contrast to the "Bob" dishwasher. Bob works, Balmuda doesn't (in your setting). No waffling, no gushing, no distractions. I wish you reviewed other things I do want to buy since most reviews are trash (or as you would say "rubbish"). I also like what you added to the Movie Viewer video. I think the extra material added interest to the video. Finally, I do not know if you are an Iced Coffee consumer, but I purchased this device and it would seem to fit in your kitchen gadget niche. Dorothy™ rapid cold brewer https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089B6D4P9

Add this to the list of times where your review ends up being worth more than the product.

Just like an expensive coffee maker. For some people the brag is what creates the "taste".

That was one of your funniest videos yet, Mat. Some real out-loud laughs in there amongst the facts. I will not be buying one, but I really appreciate your excellent review.

I don't even see an American market for this high fidelity toaster (indeed pure clicky timer sound). The average American Pizza slice would not even fit in there. Maybe you should try to sell this real gem to your barber. By the way, one of the reasons I like your videos is due to your long speeches.

There a few cultural differences that mean that I don't think this style of toaster will really be that popular in the West. The style of bread in Japan is usually about an inch thick and quite sweet which makes it extra terrible when it's stale. Small toaster ovens are very common instead of an oven in small apartments, so this would be an appliance that most people would need to buy and the steam options would be a fancy bonus. It's a neat idea but a bit lost for purpose without those factors. Here's a video with some people living in Japan being VERY EXCITED about their Balmuda toaster for comparison:

We need more talking!! Great review, fingers crossed the algorithm sees fit that it hits big

Looks like you've done a few people a real public service by trying out this gadget before they could be tempted into getting one of their own. Are you still using the countertop dishwasher?

Loved the video, great review and I appreciate the honesty. I'll stick with my Panasonic FlashXpress! One thing if you plan on doing edits the 5cc is very close to a teaspoon. So if you lose that little cup it's just a normal teaspoon size, which people should have lying around.

Maybe not worth it, but I would have liked to see an investigation of the steam claims - tests compared to regular toaster with some water sprinkled in, fresh bread, stale bread. But your review convinced me not to buy it (I was considering it a couple months ago) That crumb tray design and no frozen bread is inexcusable

It looks like you've stumbled upon the perfect solution to no problem whatsoever! I mean, was anyone clamoring for this? Who complains about toast? The technology has already been perfected! Other observations: - That cup is ADORABLE! - Cutting a toast four ways like that is pure barbarism - I'm nostalgic for the days of the "Tripe man" as he'd amble his way down the street, hawking his tripey wares with his melodious voice. The kids would come running with shiny coins procured from mother's grace. Woe to the child who was too slow of foot, for the Tripe Man must be on his way and cannot tarry long in one place.

I like to microwave my sandwiches 20-60 seconds to warm them up a little from the fridge. I wrap all of them in a slightly damp paper towel and the results are absolutely terrific, a synergetic combination of wicking out moisture from the bread while moisturizing the dried out inner parts of the sandwich, really a genius move. The method is rather precise.

Definitely keep the storytime. It was the most entertaining part. I also like how you're always both honest and objective in your reviews.

Absolutely superb Mat! We especially loved the story - got us kicking back and in stitches. Thanks so much.

Streetband feat paul young- love that song. Great video as usual.

Spray bread with water, put in oven, no need Balmuda toaster. I've even bought baguette from supermarket which advises to do this. I'm guessing principle is the same. Enjoyed the video though👍

To much faffing around for me. My wife cuts my hair now. My barber retired 15 years ago and I have been using a hair trimmer ever since. I think I will stick with my regular toaster. But thanks for the review

Wow, Mat - I am so DISAPPOINTED! Not in your video which was excellent, of course, but when you introduced the item, it really piqued my interest. A new gadget that offers something a bit different to the current appliances. Steaming the bread before toasting it sounds as if it should deliver a more consistent, uniform toasting. When you revealed the first piece, I really was gutted that it was all nonsense. Oh well, all I can say is 'thank you' for spending £200 odd quid so I don't have to. btw, last time I was in the US, I found a supermarket selling sliced loaves of pre-toasted bread. How's that for lazy?

A classic Techmoan video all round, great review and loved the haircut anecdote.

Great video as always. I think a far better use of your money would be the Ninja Foodi Oven SP101 which you can buy for £200 in the UK (or $230 in the US). You can: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Grill, Dehydrate, Toast, Bagel and Keep Warm. The unique Flip feature saves counter space when you’re not using it. I’ve had it for 2 months and it’s a game changer. Make cheese on toast in 3 mins! Ninja’s website: (UK) https://tinyurl.com/4yf6qvsp (US) https://tinyurl.com/37cwktgl

Superb review had me in stitches !

I make toast and then microwave it for 20 seconds (for 4 slices). Any water trapped inside will turn to steam and that softens the inside of the bread slightly.

I think "toast disco" aptly sums it up!

The fact you dont have a sense of taste makes you even more qualified to review this. Toast can only taste better with the bread you buy, the only thing you can affect with the toaster with the texture. Don't get me wrong, texture is very important when it comes to toast, but you are saying there is no difference in texture then this product has failed. The people buying this are just those people who think every Japanese product is awesome. I have met people who will only buy Japanese humidifiers even though water sprayed into the atmosphere is water. The coffee market is absolutely SATURATED with this kind of stuff. It seems that every year a new gimmicky coffee maker comes out to wow the crowd. I am not saying there isnt a machine that can make coffee taste better than ever, but I just doubt it. Because in the end, its ground coffee beans with hot water poured on top. Sorry, ranting. Great video. Also I loved the extras you added to the other video, made me want to try and track down what frames are in that Alien toy.

I just remember you saying in one of the Oddcasts that you had a "whiny" voice. Also the thoughts about English vs American English. However, it's pretty obvious that one main reason people love your videos so much is ............. your voice! We, your fans, love your voice and can listen to you talk endlessly. And in general ... people love what you do and subscribe because of what you do, and what you do different and special.

Thanks for the honesty, I was actually expecting to want this after watching your video, like many other things you've shown off. But truthfully I don't think I'd be allowed to replace our present toaster without a small fuss, so better not rock the boat. Oh, and by the way, please KEEP TALKING!!! 👍

"toast aficionado" 😂 Somebody has been binge watching EEV Blog whilst locked down...like me! And "dicking about" your inner Northern showed there. Had me in stitches that. ,😂

Watching this video made me hungry. So I went to the kitchen and pulled out my 19.95 Black and Decker toaster. Perfection as always.

...if you cut the toast diagonally, will you end up with two Balmuda triangles? 😳

Thanks for another great video that leaves me with just one question: Do (and if so, why do) british people really like their toast done on one side?

So techwow gives it an "avoid" then :) Great vid.

Is it possible to add more time to the toasting cycle while it's toasting just by turning the knob while it's still going? Or is it locked after its started.

I once met a toast scientist named Sweeney in Balmuda... This brought back memories of my early twenties, when I rented a house with 2 college kids. One had had some sort of nasal polyps surgery and had no sense of taste. To be frank, he had no sense of anything. He would spend the occasional weekend at his folks, and his mom would send back frozen meals for him. His method of cooking these meals would be to take the frozen cube of whatever it was, put it in a pan, and put it on the stove on high heat. The end result was a thick, burnt blob of stuff with a small tepid bit in the middle that might have been edible. He would then ask one of us if we would taste it to see if it was good. We generally declined. This happened so often that the Bakelite handles of our pans burnt and disintegrated, and there is no smell quite like burning Bakelite. Good times.

This is brilliantly entertaining, perfect balance of sarcasm and rounded balance judgement allowing for subjectivity. Also appreciated your cheese tessellation, and ‘stuff on toast’ recipes

I am not surprised someone sells a $329.00/US toaster. I will stick with my $10 model I bought 15 years ago. Mine will never need a firm wear update or a microprocessor that can decide too short out. Sometimes better quality come with a higher price, sometimes the cheaper/simpler it is, the longer it will last. You are allowed to talk on as long as you like. As always Matt, thank you for the videos.

"Patreon update", "random nonsense" - the fragments of a sentance which has made my day. As I've said before, hearing you vent against the modern world makes us all feel less crazy in the "oasis of normality".

That story was pure Northern. Well done. Thank you.

My sole criteria for a toaster oven is can it cook a frozen pizza. If it can't, it's useless to me.

Your barber story reminds me of Monty Python's Lumberjack Sketch. Hmmm... did your barber have any bloodstains on his clothing? No doubt you would have noticed if there had been a R2R tape player behind the chair. As for the toaster oven, I've been thinking that I could use one, so while the Balmuda looks cool, I think I'll pass this one by--thanks Mat!

I agree with the other before me saying that the length and completeness of information in your videos are the reason why we like them. And some occasional anecdote, like the one about the barber shop, makes them also quite funny. And yes, I thought as well of the Sunbeam toaster review of Technology Connections ;-) Its' worth seeing.

Next toaster review? https://youtu.be/LRq_SAuQDec

Don't mind the haters about being boring. Its the obscure little details that I love about your channel. I do love your stories and laughed so hard at your hair cut comparison! That really made the point of, as we say in Texas, 'all hat and no cattle'

Fascinating video as always! I have relatives in japan, so i have seen the balmuda many times, and almost been pulled in by all the great marketing! But I appreciate you taking that 270 quid bullet for us lol! Also, i hope you dont take those comments about you talking too much too seriously... the reason i tune into this channel might have been the tech to start, but i keep tuning in because you’re awesome, and talk in such GREAT detail! I never get to the end of you videos and think ‘mat left some things out!’ And i see a few people have mentioned the Mitsubishi toaster, so ill just say if you want to see more about it, the Canadian taker-aparter AvE has a great video on it: https://youtu.be/IxAbz9mfaj0 All the best mate, looking forward to the patreon chat video!

Thanks Mat - and although you claim you're "Not a bread scientist," your skillful cheese tesselation on the bread suggests you have at least a Masters degree in toastology.

Where can you buy Korean goods?

Sunbeam? https://youtu.be/1OfxlSG6q5Y 😜

I know you've said in the past you probably wouldn't do it because of the high price, but is this Techmoan psyching himself (and his wallet) up to splurge on the fabled Mitsubishi Electric Bread Oven TO-ST1-T from Japan and finally achieve the true life changing toast-based experience?

I think Balmuda makes the fanciest kitchen appliances IMO. I use their Microwave before (I believe it's a Microwave and an oven combo things called "The Range") and while you're microwave food, it plays guitar for you and have a really fancy sounds. But it's very expensive. BTW on the subject of toasters, Mitsubishi Electric also makes a very fancy toaster too (TO-ST1-T). It's also very expensive. But unfortunately, they sells it only in Japan. So no 220V version available.

Adding some moisture to bread before toasting it is not a daft idea at all. Fresh bread is so tasty (among other things) because it has been steamed from within, The idea is good but the execution might be a little rubbish. A low-cost/low-complexity version of this would be that what I have been doing for a while now: just hold it briefly under a tap until the surface is moist, then toast. Of course, this only works for buns, but if you want you could also spray cut bread with some water. In my opinion it does help to reduce the dryness somewhat. The idea of turning it to low power or briefly off after it has heated up might be worth exploring though, this could help the steam penetrate deeper into the bread.

I do like tripe..

I used to jump out of bed on Saturday mornings, excited to watch cartoons all morning. Now it’s the same except with a YouTube Brit reviewing a toaster. And I mean that in the best way :)

Japanese toasts are very peculiar. First time I've visited there I was surprised how thick they cut the bread and how sweet it is. Though the toasts the one we had in hotel were quite nice. Was afraid these don't work with regular breads we have back home, but good to see this is not the case. Might actually splurge on one as a treat to myself. Thanks Matt!