Having read quite a few reviews which express varying degrees of dissatisfaction with this product, and following an excellent breakfast of buttered toast made with said device, I'm compelled to write a review that redresses the balance in its favour.
A little personal history: I'm in my sixties and have never possessed a toaster until now, having relied on cookers which came with their own grills. These always made great toast, so there was no need to get a toaster, even in my student digs in the mid-eighties. In 2009 I bought my own place, whose oven and range lacked a grill. For some reason I muddled along without a toaster, settling for occasional cheese on toast done in the oven. Nothing wrong with that, of course, especially made with homemade bread.
Then came lockdown, and with it a greater need for, and appreciation of, comfort foods and sod the waistline. One thing only was missing: toast. Cometh the hour, cometh the toaster... I browsed the relevant Amazon pages and for me the Russell Hobbs 2-slice Futura leapt from the page, appearing to be a decent, economical, basic entry-level toaster. For twenty quid it seemed a fine deal.
As it has indeed proved so far. I have absolutely no issues with this toaster. It does exactly what it says on the tin and is easy to clean. In fact, as my review title suggests, it has changed my life significantly for the better. This might sound a bit over-the-top, but I'm serious. After 11 years, I had all but forgotten what pleasure a couple of slices of hot, buttered toast could generate, and how I'd missed the heady aroma of freshly toasted bread. Add a nice cup of builders' tea or some decent coffee and Bob's your uncle. Bliss. Five solid stars.
| Brand | Russell Hobbs |
|---|---|
| Model Number | 18780 |
| Colour | Stainless Steel |
| Product Dimensions | 17.1 x 25.8 x 18 cm; 1.05 Kilograms |
| Power / Wattage | 850 watts |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Auto Shutoff | No |
| Energy Efficiency Class | A to G |
| Number of Slices | 2 |
| Special Features | Crumb Tray, Browning Control, Reheat, Defrost, Cool Touch, High Lift |
| Item Weight | 1.06 kg |
