Home & Kitchen · Head-to-head
Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20) vs KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker (MBF-010)
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Bread Machines: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Zojirushi bakes the best-shaped, most evenly browned loaf and lasts for years, which justifies its flagship price for regular bakers. The KBS delivers nearly the same everyday loaf quality for far less, making it the smarter buy for most people.
Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20)
Buy itThe closest a machine gets to an oven-baked, bakery-shaped loaf.
- Dual top-and-bottom heaters plus a lid heater brown the crust evenly on all sides
- Twin paddles and a horizontal pan produce a full, rectangular 2 lb loaf that fits a toaster
- Deep course list including whole wheat, gluten free, vegan, salt free, and sourdough starter
- Owners routinely report a decade or more of reliable service
- The most expensive machine in this field by a wide margin
- Large, heavy footprint that dominates a countertop
- Gluten-free results are good rather than exceptional
KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker (MBF-010)
Buy itBakery-grade everyday white and wheat loaves at a mid-range price.
- Independent testing rated its plain white and whole-wheat loaves among the best of any machine tried
- Non-stick ceramic pan bakes evenly and wipes clean easily
- Automatic fruit-and-nut dispenser and 17 programs cover most everyday baking
- Strong value for the loaf quality it delivers
- Weak at gluten-free and yeast-free recipes
- Tall, nearly square vertical loaf with a paddle hole in the base
- Menu navigation takes a little learning at first
Side by side
| Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20) | KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker (MBF-010) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Weekly or daily bakers who want the best loaf quality and shape and will keep the machine for years. | Value-minded bakers who make standard wheat and white loaves and want great results without a premium price. |
| Price tier | $$$$ · flagship | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus (BB-PDC20) - The closest a machine gets to an oven-baked, bakery-shaped loaf. Choose the KBS Pro 17-in-1 Bread Maker (MBF-010) instead if value-minded bakers who make standard wheat and white loaves and want great results without a premium price.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Bread Machines: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).