Breville Juicer Reviews

The Breville RM-JE98XL 850-Watt Juice Fountain Plus appears to be a remarkable refurbished centrifugal juicer. In fact, I was quite surprised at the positive consumer reviews this particular juicer received. My personal impression of refurbished machinery (of any type) is that it substandard. It turns out that many people are quite happy with their purchases of this re-manufactured Breville juicer.

Although I have already given you a brief synopsis of my overall opinion of this juicer, I feel it may be necessary for you to read on. If you still have any skepticism about the quality of this refurbished piece, allow me an opportunity to argue in its favor. Also, even if you are able to overlook its refurbished status and you are thinking of purchasing this juicer, allow me to run through a few of its specifications and features to help you decide if this is the right juicer for you. After all, there are hundreds of juicers on the market today. You should make your decision with as much information as possible, not simply by reading my two-sentence opening statement. So, onward and upward, let’s get on with this article.

Remarkable Re-manufacturing

I have already mentioned that, despite being re-manufactured, the Breville RM-JE98XL has received considerably positive consumer reviews. In fact, when I look at the reviews given to this product by actual consumers, I see that the ratio of positive to negative feedback for this juicer is equitable to that of other, non-refurbished Breville juicers. Basically, this means that consumers are giving the same type feedback for this re-manufactured machine as they have given to other non-re-manufactured Breville juicers.

When the process is completed correctly, purchasing a refurbished product is a great way to get a top-of-the-line product for a middle-of-the-line price. Another part of the reason I surprisingly find myself recommending this refurbished juicer is the superior re-manufacturing process Breville puts its products through.

Many of the refurbished products I have found in the past were re-manufactured by secondary companies who replaced broken parts with whatever they could find – whether those parts actually belonged with the machine or not. Alternatively, Breville has completed this entire re-manufacturing process themselves.

Some companies perform substandard refurbish process by replacing broken parts with similar parts, but not the kinds of parts which the design originally called for. Breville, on the other hand, has replaced broken parts with matching pieces instead of simply choosing whatever looks similar. Additionally, they have deep-cleaned and thoroughly inspected each re-manufactured juicer before allowing it to leave the warehouse.

Mid-Level Motor May Malfunction

Interestingly, although the non-refurbished version of this juicer sells for nearly top-of-the-line prices, its motor is in no way a reflection of superiority in the world of juicers. As a quick side note, you should know that I wouldn’t recommend paying top dollar for this juicer, which is why I find the refurbished version to be so attractive.

The 850-watt motor included in this juicer can sufficiently handle the task of juicing at this juicer’s two speeds of 6500 and 12,000 RPM for short periods of time. In fact, I think you should be able to easily extract a few glasses worth of juice before worrying about the motor overheating. For comparison sake, I would say that a 600-watt motor could only handle creating one glass without taking a break, and that a 1000-watt motor could create an entire pitcher, if not more.

Sufficient Speed Settings

This Breville juicer offers two different speed settings. The high speed (12,000 RPM) is meant for breaking down hard foods such as carrots and celery. The low speed setting (6500 RPM) is ideal for juicing soft foods without completely destroying their enzymes or creating massive amounts of foam.

If you plan to juice medium-density fruits and vegetables such as apples and pineapples you will have to select either the low setting (which may have difficulties breaking them down and, thus, not extract much juice) or the high setting (which may obliterate their enzymes and create a lot of foam), since there is no medium setting.

Breville Basics

Breville provides a few basic features which are unique to their juicing machines. First, the safety locking system ensures that the machine will not run if the lid is off and that once the machine is running the lid stays firmly in place. Second, the overload protection constantly monitors the temperature of the motor and shuts down the entire system if its senses that the motor may be on the verge of overheating.

Finally, Breville’s patented Nutri Disc stays cool during the juicing process to reduce the amount of heat transfer from the machine to the juice as the blades spin at high RPMs. This is important, because it is the heat produced by these high RPMs which is suspected of killing important enzymes in your food as it goes through the centrifugal juicing process.

The Extras

Expanding upon the many extras included with this particular juicer would cause me to stretch this article to unfathomable lengths. I fear that I would lose your attention half-way through simply because the article would become so long. Suffice to say that the incredible extras include a three-inch feeding chute capable of devouring entire fruits and vegetables, a large 1-liter juice pitcher with an easy-pour spout, handle, measurement lines and built-in froth separator, a special cleaning brush designed for the mesh filter, and a very large pulp collector.

Closing Remarks

I would recommend this juicer to those who are looking to create one to three glasses of juice at a time. Larger quantities will risk overheating the motor. Luckily, Breville’s overload protection would kick in at that point to stop you from actually causing damage to the motor, but would still require that you take a break to allow the motor to cool. Who wants to have to take multiple breaks when trying to create a large pitcher of juice? Not me. If you are likely to create large pitchers or glasses of juice for multiple people, I would suggest selecting a juicer with a higher-wattage motor.

Also, the two speed settings are sufficient, but may leave you wanting more if you are someone who often creates juices with medium-density foods such as apples and pineapples.

Although upgraded features such as the Breville basics and multiple extras are tempting all on their own, especially at the reduced price associated with a refurbished product, I caution you to select your juicer on the basis of your needs rather than just to get the most bang for your buck.

In this review, we will take a second look at the Breville BJE510XL. You may or may not be aware of this, but I have already reviewed this particular juicer on this website, but with one major exception: this review is about the re-manufactured version of the Breville 5-Speed 900-Watt Juice Fountain, whereas the other review was about the original version of this juicer.

This review will differ slightly from most of the other reviews posted on this website. In most of my other reviews I focus on giving you facts about a juicer and my educated opinion as to if it’s worth your time, based on what your needs may be. In this review, I will compare the re-manufactured version of the Breville BJE510XL with the original version, helping you decide whether you would like to purchase the product brand new or whether you would like to purchase the much less expensive re-manufactured version.

I will begin by explaining the re-manufacturing process Breville uses for its juicers. I will also reiterate some of the major features of this juicer, so that you will not have to read the original article if you find that to be too much of a time commitment. Finally, I will compare the features and function of the two versions of this machine.

The Re-manufacturing Process

I put this part of the article first, because I believe it is the most important information you will need in making this decision. I am often skeptical and wary when it comes to purchasing re-manufactured products and, therefore, expect some of you to feel the same. Through my research I came to find that Breville was able to set my mind at ease with this particular juicer.

The thing which originally made me wary of purchasing re-manufactured products is that they are often re-manufactured in such a way that they are less valuable and more prone to problems than many other similar products. I have purchased re-manufactured goods in the past only to find that they were fitted with metals and circuitry which were not originally meant to be used with those machines. Ultimately, I found problems with rusting and malfunctioning.

The great thing about this particular re-manufactured product is that the same company who originally created it is the company who refurbished it. These are juicers which, for whatever reason, have been returned to Breville. Perhaps they incorporated some faulty piece, which is bound to happen somewhere along the line in any manufacturing process. Or maybe those which were returned were sent back simply because they didn’t end up being exactly what the consumer was looking for. Let’s be honest, most of us have purchased items without researching them first and had to return them, or we have returned gifts given to us by other people.

Regardless of how or why they were returned to Breville, the fact is that they were returned. Instead of disposing of them and wasting all of the materials involved in creating them, Breville has chosen to fix them up and re-sell them at a lower cost. Each piece has been thoroughly cleaned, repaired (if needed), and inspected to ensure they meet the same high qualities expected from all Breville machines. Any parts replaced in these machines are the exact kind of parts originally included with this machine.

Same Features, Lower Price

If saving money isn’t an alluring concept to you, I must admit that you and I have little in common. I am always searching for the best bargain. For me, a bargain isn’t simply the cheapest thing I can find, it is the cheapest version of a high-quality product I can find. Quality is extremely important when it comes to bargain hunting. A product isn’t much of a bargain if you are just going to find yourself replacing it, after all.

The re-manufactured version of the 900-Watt Juice Fountain is available for two-thirds of the price of the non-re-manufactured version. One-third the price of a product is considerable savings, especially if that product lives up to the reputation built by its predecessor.

In this case, there is nothing missing from the re-manufactured Breville 900. It features the same 900-watt motor, which can easily process soft and hard foods alike without needing very many breaks. It still features a large 3-inch feeding chute, allowing you to juice entire fruits and vegetables without the hassle of peeling and cutting them first.

The extra-large pulp collector, though taking up considerable countertop space, makes it easy to create large batches of juice without having to stop. The extra-large juice pitcher features a built-in froth suppressor and measurement markings.

Just As Safe

Like most centrifugal Breville juicers, both the regular and re-manufactured version of this one offer two important safety features. First, the overload protection feature will sense if the motor comes close to overheating and will shut the system down to allow it to cool, instead of it overheating and breaking down.

The second important safety feature is the locking arm. This system ensures that the juicer will not run without the lid securely attached and that you will not be able to open the lid once you have begun the juicing process.

Pure Power in Five Settings

The 900-watt motor included in this juicer is packed with all the power necessary to efficiently break down fruits and vegetables of various densities. From bananas to carrots and everything in between, the Breville BJE510XL can handle it all, and the re-manufactured version is no different.

Just like the original 900-Watt Juice Fountain, this one features five different speed settings designed to break down foods at the perfect rate. Simply match the type of food you are juicing with one of the five settings (each named for a food type, by the way) and you can quickly extract the optimal amount of juice with minimal froth.

Consumer Feedback

Consumer feedback has been very positive for the refurbished version of this juicer. In fact, it has been equally as positive as the consumer feedback for the regular version of this juicer. Consumers are overwhelmingly saying that this re-manufactured juicer runs like a dream and that they would never have known the difference between it and a new one.

Concluding Remarks

Although I have always been quite the skeptic when it comes to re-manufactured goods, I must say that I am quite impressed with Breville’s re-manufacturing process, and that consumers seem to agree that this juicer is no different from any brand new juicer Breville has to offer. It appears that you can easily get all of the positive qualities of the 900-Watt Juice Fountain without compromising a thing, except for cost. Save yourself one-third of the money it would cost to purchase this product brand new by purchasing this re-manufactured version.

The Breville Multi-Speed 900-Watt Juice Fountain is packed with the power I would expect from a mid to high-priced centrifugal juicer with the addition of several spectacular special features.

As always, it is my intention to walk you through the various features of this juicer in an attempt to discover if it is the juicer for which you have been searching. I know my own hunt for the perfect juicer lasted far longer than necessary and included a lot of trial and error. Luckily for me, those trials and errors were performed using other people’s juicers. Eventually, I figured out just what it was I was looking for. Unfortunately, that was in addition to exhaustion and I nearly lost my determination along the way. It is my hope that this article and the others on this website will make your own journey less frustrating than my own.

Packed With Power

Only one in an entire line of Breville Juice Fountain Juicers, this particular Juice Fountain is packed with 900 watts of power. For comparison sake, consider that the general range of motor wattages for centrifugal juicers is 600 to 1000 watts. This places a 900-watt motor near the top of its class.

A 900-watt motor isn’t necessary for juicing at low speeds and, therefore, is not a requirement for juicing soft foods such as bananas and oranges. Let’s face it, though, those of us who commit ourselves to a juicing lifestyle do so because we are looking to supplement our diets with nutrient-packed juices, and those juices need to be made up of more than just soft fruits and vegetables. Different fruits and vegetables offer us different types of vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is important for us to pack as many different types of these foods into our juicing diets as possible.

Carrots are the base for many nutritious and balanced juices, but are so hard that they are difficult for a 600-watt juicer to handle. High speeds are required to break down hard fruits and vegetables with the rotating blades used by centrifugal juicers. Low wattage motors risk overheating and breaking down if they attempt to power a juicer’s blades to move at such high speeds for long periods of time. Thankfully, the 900-watt motor of this Juice Fountain isn’t likely to experience such difficulties; it is likely to stand the test of time at high speeds without overheating or malfunctioning.

Five Speed Settings

Where many centrifugal juicers feature one or two different speed settings, the Breville 900 has five unique settings. These settings are made to change the speed at which the blades rotate according to the best speed for the particular food you are attempting to juice.

The lowest setting is ideal for soft foods and leafy greens. The next setting is great for any citrus fruit, including oranges, limes, and grapefruits. Foods with the hardness and consistency of a pineapple are best broken down using the medium setting. The highest speed settings are ideal for juicing harder fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots. An additionally awesome part of this feature is that you can easily select any of these settings using its light-up digital display.

Spectacular Special Features

The additional special features included with this juicer are almost too numerous to count. I will do my best to bring some of the most important of them to your attention and explain how they can make your life easier.

First, let’s discuss this juicer’s ridiculously large pulp collector. I have come across several juicers in my research which have similarly large pulp collectors and I still manage to be impressed. Large pulp collectors save a lot of time by eliminating the need to empty them during the juicing process.

Two important built-in sensors also make this a unique product in the world of centrifugal juicers. Unlike most juicers on the market today, many Breville juicers feature a sensor which monitors heat levels and shuts the entire system off if the motor gets close to overheating. I don’t believe that overheating should be too large of an issue, considering the abilities of this juicer’s 900-watt motor, but it is still a wonderful feature to have. You will not need to worry about melting any of the plastic pieces or breaking the motor completely.

This juicer’s other sensor calculates the heaviness of the load you are attempting to juice and will adjust the speed setting to match that load. This means that if you happen to select the wrong setting, you will not need to worry about wasting food that will not get properly juiced, because the machine will adjust itself and rectify your mistake.

The final feature I find impressive is the safety lock system. As soon as you engage the machine in the juicing process, safety locks will hold the lid closed until the juicer has completely halted its process. Also, the juicer will not work at all unless the lid has been securely fastened. This excellent feature not only means less splatter in the kitchen, it also means increased safety. You will not need to worry about your child wandering over to the machine, turning it on, and getting hurt.

Consumer Feedback

Usually, I include this section in my product reviews so that I can acknowledge the shortcomings of the product I am reviewing. I can only speculate and conclude so much from reading about an item and knowing about the best and worst features of that type of product. Additionally, important information can be gleaned from reading reviews written by people who have actually used the product.

Consumer feedback about this machine has been overwhelmingly positive, which leaves me little to write in this particular section. It appears that the Breville Multi-Speed 900-Watt Juice Fountain performs precisely as it claims it will.

Closing Remarks

In conclusion, I must say that I am rather impressed with this centrifugal juicer. Although centrifugal juicers are not the top choice for juicing hard fruits and vegetables, Breville appears to have tried to make that process easier and less wasteful by providing a high wattage motor and multiple, easy-to-understand speed settings.

I believe that this juicer would be worth its price even without its many special features. Things such as its safety locking system and built-in sensors only increase its value and make this juicer a bargain deal.

If you are in search of a top-quality centrifugal juicer, you need not look any further. The Breville Juice Fountain Plus, while slightly more expensive than many other centrifugal juicers, will outperform many similar juicers on the market today. If you are unsure of what it is you are looking for, you need not worry, because this article intends to review the Juice Fountain Plus in such a way as to assist you in figuring out if it will meet your needs.

Strong and Fast

The Breville JE98XL features a powerful 850-watt motor designed to handle almost anything you throw at it. For comparison sake, allow me to explain a little bit about wattage when it comes to juicer motors. Lower-end juicers often feature 400 to 600-watt motors. High-end masticating juicers often feature 900 or 1000-watt motors. Centrifugal juicers like the Juice Fountain Plus work much differently than masticating juicers, which means they do not require as strong of a motor.

Regardless of the type of juicer you choose to purchase, any 400 to 600-watt motor isn’t likely to last very long or handle large loads of difficult-to-process foods. If you are confused about the differences between centrifugal and masticating juicers or motors with different wattages, head over to my informational pages for more details.

The 850 watt motor of the Breville will easily handle everyday use. Whereas some 400-watt and 600-watt motors become overheated and break down with heavy usage, you should be able to use your Juice Fountain Plus multiple times a day with little problem. Some 400 and 600-watt centrifugal juicers have a very difficult time breaking down hard foods such as carrots and cucumbers. The rotating slicer simply cannot gather enough energy to break through their tough compositions. The 850-watt motor will provide the strength necessary for breaking down these foods without sacrificing the speed offered by a centrifugal juicer. In fact, this particular juicer can create up to 8 ounces of juice in just 5 seconds.

Two Speeds

This juicer offers you the choice of two speeds: 12,000 RPM and 6,500 RPM. The 12,000 RPM setting is best used for breaking down hard foods such as carrots and apples. It is necessary for the blade to spin rather quickly to make its way through these foods. Softer foods, such as bananas and strawberries can easily be broken down at the slower, quieter 6,500 RPM setting.

Feed It Whole Apples

Something I love about this juicer is that you can easily slide a small to medium-sized apple into its 3-inch feeder tube. You will not need to spend extra time cutting up your food into small pieces. You will not need to spend extra time cleaning up the mess you made while chopping up your food. Simply drop it in and turn it on.

For Your Safety

The JE98XL has two very important safety features designed to protect you from harm and from breaking your juicer. Firstly, it features a safety locking arm which prevents the juicer from turning on without its cover. It also has special sensors built in to its motor which will disable your juicer if the motor begins to overheat. Personally, I have on more than one occasion sniffed my small kitchen appliances for signs that they were overheating. Like you, I work hard for my money and do not intend to spend more of it fixing broken and worn-out motors.

Overheating shouldn’t be too much of a problem, considering that the 850-watt motor is designed to handle difficult foods and extended use. Still, it is nice to have such a feature just in case; you will not need to worry that your motor is overheating.

All The Extras

Since the Breville Juice Fountain Plus is more expensive than many other centrifugal juicers, it is nice to know that it contains some special extras intended to make your life easier. I like to call these kinds of extra features “convenience” features. They are not necessary and really do not make much of a difference in terms of the juicer’s performance, but they will make a difference in your busy life.

A major complaint many people have about juicers is that you often have to stop what you’re doing to empty the pulp collector. This juicer’s large external pulp collector will allow you to create large batches of juice without having to stop. Also, you can easily wrap this juicer’s electrical cord around its feet and clip it into place so that you do not need to worry about it getting in the way. As someone whose cupboard shelves are actually metal grates, this feature is very important to me. There are few things more annoying in my kitchen than having to fight with cords which fall between the cracks and tangle themselves around the Lazy Susan.

Consumer Concerns

A major consumer concern relating to most centrifugal juicers is linked to food enzymes. People often worry that the high speeds at which the blades spin create aa high heat that breaks down the enzymes of food, thus making it lose a lot of its nutritional value. The Juice Fountain Plus features a patented “Nutri Disc” which is designed to maintain low temperatures and preserve food enzymes.

In my research I was able to find a fair number of consumer reviews. Of those reviews, I was happy to see that only a small percentage was negative. The most common complaint was that the pulp was often rather wet. Ideally, pulp should be dry. The purpose of a juicer is to remove as much liquid as possible from food. Wet pulp means that a considerable amount of juice has been left behind. Unfortunately, wet pulp is simply ‘par for the course’ when it comes to centrifugal juicers.

As centrifugal juicers go, the Breville BJE820XL Juice Fountain sits near the top end of the price range, but also features a nearly flawless design.

I have never been a big fan of centrifugal juicers. I prefer the dependability and high yields brought forth by masticating juicers. Still, masticating juicers work rather slowly, so I can understand why many other people feel drawn toward the centrifugal option. Another reason I haven’t been much of a fan of centrifugal juicers is because I haven’t been able to find one that I feel is capable of handling the work it claims it will.

As you will see in this article, the Breville BJE820XL appears to be fully capable of living up to its claims, save for a few minor issues which we will also discuss.

High Power For Ultimate Performance

This Breville juicer features a 1200-watt motor. Let me say that again to make sure you read it correctly – this Breville juicer features a 1200-watt motor. Most other juicers contain motors ranging between 600 and 1000 watts. A 1200-watt motor is actually quite difficult to find in a centrifugal juicer, though it is certainly a wonderful addition.

To give you a quick lesson in centrifugal juicer motors, let me begin by telling you that more is better. Since the centrifugal process requires that the blades inside the juicer spin at incredibly high speeds while forcing themselves against dense foods, it is incredibly important that the motor of a centrifugal juicer be able to handle this stress load. The lower the wattage of a centrifugal juicer’s motor, the higher the chances of it overheating and breaking down.

The 1200-watt motor of this Juice Fountain is likely to stand up to just about anything you can throw at it. I do not hesitate to say that you can easily create large batches of juice from difficult-to-process foods without worrying about the motor overheating, breaking down, or needing to rest.

Pick a Speed, Any Speed

As I have said in other articles, I am not sure that it is really necessary to feature five speeds in a centrifugal juicer, but five speeds are better than two speeds, which is infinitely better than one speed. In centrifugal juicing, different speeds are required to break down different types of foods. Soft foods can easily be broken down at low speed settings such as 6500 RPM. In fact, you will not want to place your speed setting any higher, otherwise you may obliterate the enzymes in your food and you will likely create massive amounts of froth.

Hard, dense foods, such as carrots and celery, are best broken down at high speed settings, such as 12,000 RPMs. Any setting below this level will not be able to break down the food completely. It will send large chunks of unprocessed wet pulp into the pulp collector instead of properly extracting the juice from it.

Traditional two-speed centrifugal juicers force you to choose between these two types of settings, while completely ignoring the fact that medium density foods, such as apples and pineapples, require their own speed setting to properly extract juices from them. Luckily, with the five speed settings available on this Breville Juice Fountain, you will be able to select just the right setting for the food you are juicing.

Convenience Features

Multiple features have been added to this Juice Fountain to make your life both safer and easier.

Although I have already stated that I do not believe the motor of this Juice Fountain will overheat or break down very easily, it is nice to know that certain measures have been taken to further reduce the likelihood of that happening. Breville’s overload protection system ensures that if internal sensors believe there is a risk of the system overheating, the motor will be turned off to allow it time to cool.

Another interesting feature is the safety locking system included with most, if not all, Breville juicers. This system makes it nearly impossible to open the juicer if it is running, and will not allow you to turn it on without the lid securely fastened.

This juicer also features a large 3-inch feeding chute, perfect for dropping in entire fruits and vegetables without the hassle of having to chop them up prior to juicing. The extra-large pulp collector bin also saves you time, as you will not need to stop to empty it during the juicing process.

An additional impressive feature is the large juice pitcher. This juice pitcher appears to attach directly to the machine to reduce splatter and spillage. It also incorporates a handle for easy lifting, an easy-pour spout, and measurement lines.

Almost Flawless

While I am incredibly impressed with the 1200-watt motor, five speed settings, and the plethora of convenience features built into this juicer, I must say that it is not perfect. Nothing is perfect, though, so I am sure you were expecting me to point out the minor flaws associated with this juicer.

One unfortunate drawback of the Breville BJE820XL is that it takes up a lot of counter space. Adding to the amount of space it utilizes are its oversized juice pitcher and large pulp collector. Although the juice pitcher and pulp collector can be quite convenient, they can also be a bit of a pain for those with small countertops and scarce cupboard space.

I would also like to take a moment to caution you against Breville’s claim that this juicer can easily digest leafy greens on its low speed setting. While the low speed setting is the best way to extract some juice from leafy greens, you are unlikely to extract very much juice from leafy greens using any centrifugal juicer. Juice must be squeezed from this kind of vegetable, not diced up and bled from within it. If you are looking for a juicer which can adequately handle leafy green vegetables, you may want to look into purchasing a masticating juicer.

Concluding Remarks

In conclusion, although the Breville BJE820XL Juice Fountain exists at the high end of the centrifugal juicer price range, it appears to be very well built and is likely to stand the test of time as you throw large batches of fruit and vegetables at it. Its incredibly strong motor can easily handle tasks which the motors of other juicers will find difficult. The convenience and safety features added to this juicer only serve to increase its value even further. It is my opinion that this juicer is built for serious juicers who do not have a strong need to incorporate leafy green vegetables into their juicing diet, and that it is well worth its increased price.

Generally speaking, I am quite the fan of Breville Juicers. As far as centrifugal juicers are concerned, theirs are some of the best I have come across in my research on juicers. It pains me to say it, but I believe they fell short of the mark when it comes to the BJE200XL 700-Watt Juice Fountain.

I understand that, like any company, Breville is trying to offer a low-cost alternative to some of its more expensive juicers. The company wants to appeal to people who cannot afford expensive juicers and those who are new to the world of juicing. In order to provide a product for a lower cost, a company must make it lower in quality in some way. Otherwise, who would purchase their higher-priced items? Economically, this makes complete and total sense to me. I would never expect to purchase a low-priced version of a product and receive the same quality I would get if I were to purchase a high-priced version of that product from the same company. Still, I believe that Breville could have made some better decisions about how to reduce the costs associated with the Juice Fountain.

In this review, I will explore the specifications of the 700-Watt Juice Fountain. My focus will be on helping you decide if this is the juicer you would like to purchase. Although I have already stated that I believe this juicer falls short of the mark, you may disagree. I intend to provide facts along with my opinions so that you can make your own informed decision.

An Apple Eater

Let’s begin with one of the most positive aspects of this juicer. Unlike masticating juicers, centrifugal juicers such as this one are able to process large chunks of food with ease. This ability is actually one of the biggest selling features of centrifugal juicers, since it considerably reduces prep and cleanup time. This juicer’s large 3-inch feeding tube allows you to take full advantage of its large-chunk processing ability. You can easily feed it an entire apple or orange without worrying about jamming the system.

Stylish and Sleek

The Breville 700-Watt Fountain is appealing to the eye. Most juicers look like stereotypical appliances – bulky with a lot of plastic encasements and created with no regard for your interior design plans. While large appliances (such as refrigerators and ovens) have begun to be designed to match your décor, smaller appliances are lagging behind – probably because they can be tucked away inside cupboards. What if you do not have the space to tuck it away, or what if you simply use it so often it would be a waste of your time to put it away and pull it back out on a regular basis?

This juicer is one of the very few stylishly designed juicers I was able to find in my research. Its modern design and brushed stainless steel finish mean it will match nicely with many interior designs. Appearance should be a bonus, however; performance should be your main focus when it comes to purchasing a juicer.

700-Watt Motor with One Speed Setting

700 may sound like a large number, but in the world of centrifugal juicer motors it is not. In fact, it exists closer to the lower end of the range, meaning that it isn’t very powerful. Interestingly, Breville chose to place this 700-watt motor inside a juicer intended to work at 14,000 RPM. For comparison sake, consider that many high-quality centrifugal juicers utilize 850-watt motors designed to power a maximum of 12,000 RPM. I have serious concerns about this motor being able to handle working at such a high speed for extended periods of time, especially if it is working to break down the hard foods Breville claims is it capable of juicing.

My other concern is the fact that there is only one speed setting. While speeds of 12,000 RPM or over are often necessary for centrifugal juicers to be able to break down hard foods such as carrots and apples, a speed of 6,000 to 7,000 RPM is better for soft foods such as berries. I suspect that this high speed will cause foaming and wet pulp when processing soft foods.

Breville had to make the choice of using a smaller, cheaper motor in this low-priced juicer. I only wish that they had matched this small motor with a lower RPM setting to prevent wear and tear.

Where’s The Pulp?

The Compact Juice Fountain does not feature an external pulp cup. Perhaps that is why they chose to call it “compact.” In my opinion, Breville presented it as a compact option to distract buyers from the fact that internal pulp cups are much more difficult to clean. Sure, it takes up less space on your countertop than a juicer with an external pulp cup, but is that little bit of space worth the hassle of disassembling parts every time you need to empty the pulp cup?

I am not sure how the addition of an external pulp cup would impact the price of this juicer. I do not design and manufacture juicers for a living, so I am not familiar with the costs involved. That being said, the addition of an external pulp cup would have placed this particular juicer above many similarly-priced competitors and still wouldn’t have placed it in direct competition with any of Breville’s higher-priced juicers.

Consumer Feedback

Despite my concerns about the 700-watt motor and the 14,000 RPM setting, most consumers have stated that this particular juicer actually stands the tests of time and daily use. The only major concern to come forward was that this Juice Fountain has a difficult time processing leafy green vegetables. This may be due to the incredibly high speeds at which this juicer runs. It may also be related to the fact that it is a centrifugal juicer – they just aren’t made to handle leafy foods.

Concluding Remarks

As I said in the introduction of this article, I believe that Breville could have done better in their design for the 700-Watt Compact Juice Fountain. I understand that adding another speed setting is probably not an option and will not call for them to do so. The company would have to charge more money for an appliance with more features since it would cost more to produce. That being said, they could have chosen a lower, more standard RPM speed to compliment the low-power motor.

I am not saying that this juicer is useless. Many people who are just beginning to get into juicing prefer to purchase low-cost juicers until they are sure it is something they enjoy and can commit to. If this sounds like you, the Breville Compact Juice Fountain may actually be a good choice – just try not to judge all juicers by the experience you will have with this one. It is not an incredible juicer, but it can get the job done as long as you do not expect too much from it. Be prepared for wet pulp, lots of foam, and having a difficult time processing hard foods and leafy greens.

The Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite is a powerful centrifugal juicer with many great features and very few drawbacks.

This mid-priced juicer is quite similar to the much more expensive Breville BJE820XL, although it does not feature a puree disc and offers slightly less power. In my opinion, the differences are negligible, making this cheaper option a fine choice for those on a budget.

That being said, different people require different things from their juicers. In this article, I will review the Breville Juice Fountain Elite. I will look at all of its positive qualities, special features, and drawbacks. I hope to help you decide if this is the right juicer for you – or at least help you narrow down your choices.

Extreme Style and Durability

The Juice Fountain Elite reminds me of a high-tech, extremely expensive cappuccino machine. Its futuristic style and brushed stainless steel exterior add a touch of industrial flare to any kitchen.

Additionally, the stainless steel exterior lends to the superior durability of this particular juicer. Unlike many plastic juicers, you will never need to worry that parts of the Elite will melt as you juice at high speeds and your motor grows warm.

Packs a Punch

Even more important than the appearance and durability of this juicer is its performance. The single most important factor in the performance of any centrifugal juicer is its motor. Since centrifugal juicers work by spinning blade discs to break down food and extract juices, it is important that the motor of this type of juicer is strong enough to handle the speeds at which the blade must move.

This particular juicer has two speed settings, distinguished by their ability to break down specific foods. The low speed is 6,500 rotations per minute (RPM), which is ideal for breaking down soft foods such as bananas and oranges. Harder foods such as pineapples and carrots can be broken down at the high speed of 13,000 RPM. Although I would worry if Breville had placed a 600 or 700-watt motor in the Juice Fountain Elite, I can rest easy knowing that they chose a 1000-watt motor, which is fully capable of handling the above-mentioned speeds.

No Hassle

Many of the special features included in the Juice Fountain Elite are based around convenience. For example, the large 3-inch wide feeder tube makes it easy to drop entire fruits and vegetables inside.

The large pulp container means that you will not have to stop in the middle of a task to empty it out. Also, optional juicer bags can be placed inside the pulp collector and folded over its edges, much like a garbage bag. When you have completed your juicing tasks, you simply lift the juicer bag out of the pulp collector and pitch it into your rubbish disposal. Talk about an easy clean up.

Another wonderful addition is the one-liter juice pitcher which features a built-in froth separator. You will not need to try to separate froth by skimming the top of your juice with a flat spoon (this is what I often do when working with a centrifugal juicer) – the juicer will do all the work for you.

A Smart Machine

This Breville juicer includes a special sensor which will shut the entire system down if it detects the possibility of the motor overheating or if it believes the machine has been overloaded with food. To disengage this ‘overload protection,’ simply unplug your Juice Fountain, allow it to cool, press the reset switch and then carry on.

Another awesome feature which relies on the intelligent design of this machine is its safety locking feature. Like many other Breville juicers, the Elite Juice Fountain will not run without the lid being firmly attached, and the lid will not open if the juicer is running.

Drawbacks

A major drawback I found is that the juice spout appears to sit rather low, which will make it quite difficult to fit a juice pitcher beneath it. In fact, it appears as if you will have to make only one glassful at a time. This may be especially frustrating if you are trying to create an entire pitcher for your family or during a party you’re hosting.

I am also slightly put off by the fact that many less expensive juicers have multiple speed settings for different types of foods. Although I am happy to see at least two speed settings and do not believe that five or more speed settings are necessary, I do believe that at least three speeds would be nice to see on such an expensive centrifugal juicer. That way, you will be able to effectively and efficiently extract juice from medium density foods such as apples and pineapples without having to use the high speed setting, which is ideal for carrots and other hard, low-juice foods.

Although consumer reviews for the 800JEXL Juice Fountain are amazingly positive, a few core themes ran through the negative reviews I was able to find. Typical complaints for centrifugal juicers were the most common and included things like the juicer makes a lot of noise, and it takes a lot of fruits and vegetables to get small amounts of juice. One major complaint I found, which was not part of the typical complaints against centrifugal juicers, was that some people have had problems with the Juice Fountain Elite leaking. Not enough people reported this problem for me to be concerned that it is a major manufacturing issue – the majority of people did not experience this problem – but it is still something to be aware of.

Closing Remarks

As always, I would like to point out that if you are looking for high juice yields, absolutely no froth, and a juicer which easily breaks down leafy greens, there is no centrifugal juicer on the market which can satisfy your needs. Therefore, this juicer will not be the one for you.

However, if you are looking for a quick and easy juicing experience you are on the right track. Style, durability, and the high-efficiency motor of this Juice Fountain Elite are features that make it a top competitor in its price class among centrifugal juicers. Its additional safety and convenience features place it a step above much of the competition. Nothing is without its drawbacks, however, so it is important to keep in mind the drawbacks as outlined above.