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.
