9 best bread makers for rivalling Paul Hollywood at home

Wake to the smell of your freshly baked masterpiece. Featuring a 15-hour delay timer so you can set it before you sleep, this Tefal machine will even keep it warm for you for up to an hour after baking. There are a hefty 20 settings to make everything from pizza dough to brioche and if you're feeling impatient, the rapid program takes you from ingredients to loaf in under 90 minutes.

Whereas other machines struggled with gluten-free bakes, this handled it with ease and was best on test. You can even whip up your own jams and yoghurt, using the included recipe book. A versatile gadget.

Key specs
Number of programs: 20 inc brioche, French, pasta, pizza, cake
Choice of crusts: Light, medium, dark
Choice of sizes: 500g, 750g, 1000g
Dimensions (cm): H29.8 x W29 x D31.7

If you're just starting out and want something that gets the job done without investing big, this could be for you. Though our lowest price option, it comes complete with 12 programs and is able to whip up everything from loaves to brioche to pizza and even jam. There's also a gluten-free setting, and the option to cook up the crust of your choice, from light to dark.

In fact, it achieved well-risen, crusty loaves every time. However, our testers found flour on the outside of the loaf failed to cook on one loaf, while another had multiple air holes. But overall, it's consistent and reliable. Plus, its dinky size means it will easily fit small kitchens too.

Key specs
Number of programs: 12 inc brioche, French, raisin, rapid
Choice of crusts: Light, medium, dark
Choice of sizes: Medium, large, extra large
Dimensions (cm): H27 x W27 x D29.6

This Panasonic is a joyfully versatile choice for baking enthusiasts, with 30 programs including four gluten-free settings. Its unique kneading blade is designed to deliver a mouthwatering artisan texture, and it boasts dual temperature sensors to ensure a perfect crust and airy inside.

It consistently wowed our testers, producing fluffy, flavoursome loaves with just the right amount of rise and crunch. The automatic ingredient dispenser will come in handy when making choc chip brioche, and there's a manual function if you're eager to get creative.

Key specs
Number of programs: 30 inc sourdough, French, brioche, gluten-free and jam
Choice of crusts: Light, medium, dark
Choice of sizes: Medium, large, extra large
Dimensions (cm): H36.2 x W40.8 x D25.2

If you're ready to splash some cash for a do-it-all bread maker, look to this pricier Panasonic (another fresh arrival) with a couple more programs than our winner. It has the same temperature sensors and kneading blade, and it also produced delicious white and wholemeal loaves that ticked all our tasting boxes.

Our gluten-free attempt had a slightly cake-y texture to it, but still got our thumbs up. The separate automatic yeast and ingredients dispensers make it a top choice if you're too busy to add in any extras manually, and hungry families will love the XL size.

Key specs
Number of programs: 32 inc sourdough, brioche, rye, spelt, gluten-free and jam
Choice of crusts: Light, medium, dark
Choice of sizes: Medium, large, extra large
Dimensions (cm): H36.2 x W40.8 x D25.2

Intuitive to use, even if you've never baked bread before, this reasonably priced machine is also one of our most compact picks. It comes with a recipe book to help first timers, and features a 13-hour delay timer and 'keep warm' setting. Sure, there are only 12 programs, but for less than £60, it does all the basics brilliantly.

There's a viewing window for keeping a greedy eye on your bread and our testers were impressed by how quickly it slid off the non-stick pan once ready. Their traditional loaves tasted pleasingly rustic with a springy texture and nicely browned crust, but the gluten-free version emerged flat and dense.

Key specs
Number of programs: 12 inc French, sandwich, cake and gluten-free
Choice of crusts: Light, medium, dark
Choice of sizes: 700g, 1000g
Dimensions (cm): H35.7 x W24 x D30.5

Hands down our best-looking bread maker, this lean, mean, stainless steel machine rocks both style and substance. It only has 14 programs, which feels steep for nearly £200, but they can all be customised for experimentation and control.

Of particular note is its collapsible kneading paddle, which folds down flat during baking to avoid leaving holes in your finished loaf. There's an internal light for visibility, and an automatic ingredient dispenser and delay timer for convenience. Our testers raved about all their loaves, but found their fluffy, crispy wholemeal results especially appetising.

Key specs
Number of programs: 14 inc pasta, pizza, yeast-free, gluten-free and jam
Choice of crusts: Light, medium, dark
Choice of sizes: Small, medium, large, extra large
Dimensions (cm): H35.2 x W24.8 x D39.9

Crust and crunch are key to a satisfying loaf, and this bread maker delivers both. Our loaves were firm, fluffy, tasty and evenly baked, though the rapid loaf setting failed to rise as much as the regular setting. It's also not one to turn to for a gluten-free loaf as it struggled on test.

However, stylish and reasonably priced, it's a sturdy bit of kit. And with clear, large buttons, and a simple clear display, it's also super easy to use.

Key specs
Number of programs: 15 inc French, whole wheat, cake, pizza dough
Choice of crusts: Yes
Choice of sizes: Yes
Dimensions (cm): H29.9 x W28.9 x D40.7

This wallet-friendly bread maker might look basic, but it still offers 12 programs including pasta dough and jam. It can make small and large loaves and comes with a comprehensive recipe book for helping beginners on their way.

Our testers reported excellent results from both the brand's recipes and their own, and they found the lack of any gimmicky functions refreshing. It shook a bit when mixing and it's cumbersome to store, but it's hard to fault for just over £60.

Key specs
Number of programs: 12 inc sweet bread, cake, pasta and jam
Choice of crusts: Light, medium, dark
Choice of sizes: Small, large
Dimensions (cm): H35.4 x W28.7 x D25.8