merry-christmas-hd-images copy.jpgTis the season to start shopping for the upcoming holiday, and I don’t know about you, but I find the entire process of searching out the best gift a lot of fun if I get into the spirit and start early enough. By starting early, I completely avoid the holiday rush and holiday stress that seems to start on December 1st and carries on like a freight train until Christmas Eve.

To make things even easier, this year I’m giving the gift of appliances to almost everyone on my list. Why? Just like tech devices change on a yearly basis, so do small kitchen appliances. They get faster, more efficient, and become one of those things you turn to every single day for a great cup of coffee, the perfect cake, or even a wonderfully brown piece of toast.

When you think about it, the only thing you use more than your coffee maker or your toaster is your smartphone or computer, so upgrading someone’s small appliances this Christmas is a thoughtful way to simplify and improve their day. To make it even easier for you to shop this holiday, here’s a look at some of the best small kitchen appliances as rated by Best Buy customers.

Breville Espresso MachineBreville-Espresso-Maker.jpg

31 ratings, 16 reviews

It really is the ultimate kitchen luxury: an espresso maker on your counter means you can create pro-style coffee beverages just like you would have at your local coffee shop.

Best Buy customers weighed in on what their favourite at-home espresso machine was and the Breville Espresso Machine came up as the clear winner. It has a 15-bar pump, dual wall crema system, and Thermoblock heating system so every single cup is perfect. Your gift recipient will also love the warming tray that heats up to 6 espresso cups.

Happy from Red Deer, Alberta gave the Breville Espresso Machine 5 stars.

 

 

Love it!

I bought this machine today because my espresso machine broke and this machine was a good price. I am very pleased with it. It is much quieter than the competition. It made excellent espresso, and frothed the milk just fine. The end result was a great cappuccino. I would definitely recommend this machine.

 

Cusinart-single-serve.jpgCuisinart Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker

37 reviews, 39 ratings

Busy mornings mean your coffee pot has to be ready to serve when you’re ready to drink, and when your coffee maker goes down, so does your morning. That’s why you can’t go wrong with the gift of a new coffee maker this Christmas. The best coffee makers have the versatility to brew up coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, and that’s exactly why the Cuisinart Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker is a Best Buy fan favourite.

In under one minute the Cuisinart Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker brews up any type of hot beverage available in a K-cup. If you just want hot water, there’s a button for that, and the extra large 80 oz reservoir means you don’t have to refill all the time. Plus, its programmable so it will be ready to brew right when you need it.

Rob McTavish of Surrey, BC had this to say about the Cuisinart Single Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker:

 

We like this machine a lot.

We’ve had several Keurig machines and a Tassimo machine and probably two or three dozen coffee makers over the years, and this Cuisinart unit is the best of all of them. We haven’t had any issues with it yet, and expect it to last longer than some of the previous machines of different brands we’ve had to throw out. It’s nice that it takes ALL the K-cups, not just the Keurig ones.

Cuisinart Stand MixerCusinart-stand-mixer.jpg

5 reviews, 5 ratings

I received a stand mixer a few years back and it’s been my favourite small kitchen appliance every since. It’s so easy to whip cream, cake batter, cookie dough, and even the perfect pie crust, and even years after receiving it I’m still discovering new ways to use it.

KitchenAid recently became available at Best Buy so new reviews will be coming in soon, but customers rating and reviewing stand mixers have put Cuisinart Stand Mixer at the top of the current list. With an 800-watt motor, 12 speeds, and big 5.5 quart mixing bowl, someone you love will enjoy creating recipes in the kitchen for years to come.

Barbara Grant of Kanata, Ontario loves her Cuisinart Mixer.

 

I am in love with my mixer, it does everything it says it will do. I only wish it would have had a smaller bowl included as well, as the larger deeper bowl just does not whip 2 or 3 egg whites at all well. Other than that it is a wonderful well made mixer, the workmanship is superb. Is a joy to own.

Breville-smart-toaster.jpgBreville Smart Toaster

21 ratings, 15 reviews

What sets off a bad morning more than burnt toast? Not much, especially when that was breakfast and you’re in a rush. Rather than have someone on your holiday list worry about whether or not they’re going to have another slice of burnt toast, why not give the gift of a great toast with the Breville Smart Toaster?

The Breville Die-Cast 4-slice Smart Toaster looks amazing on a countertop and it ensures toast will be perfect each and every time you use it. It has a defrost and bagel function, and the motorized lever will automatically lower, lift, and center your toast. You can even take a peek at it to see how things are going with the Life and Look button.

The Breville Smart Toaster has a smart chip to adjust the browning cycle if the toaster has already been used, and that means no more burnt toast on a busy morning.

Jessica from Toronto thinks it’s a great addition to her kitchen.

 

Great toaster

The toaster is amazing, modern design, and easy to use.

Because most of my friends and families are foodies, bakers, and general kitchen fans, I know they’ll love receiving one of the latest and greatest small kitchen appliances to hit the market this Christmas. The only problem is choosing just one.

Gift giving is easy in 2015. Take a look at everything available on Best Buy right now and choose the best small kitchen appliance to suit someone on your list.

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Shelly Wutke
Editor TV & Home Theatre
I'm a Vancouver freelancer and tech enthusiast. When I'm not writing you'll find me on my farm with my alpacas, chickens, and honeybees. Visit my website Survivemag