Waffle Maker vs. Toaster: Which Breakfast Appliance First?
By Breville | High End Kitchen & Cooking Appliances | Published: 2026-10-17
Category: Comparisons
Compare a waffle maker and a toaster on counter space, daily use, and cleanup to decide which breakfast appliance earns a spot in your kitchen first.
Quick answer
Buy the toaster first if toast, bagels, or reheated pastries are part of your normal weekday routine; it earns counter space through frequency. Choose the waffle maker first only if weekend waffles are a real habit and you can spare a dedicated, less frequently used spot. Neither appliance replaces the other, so the decision comes down to which breakfast you make more often.
What each appliance actually does for breakfast
A toaster browns sliced bread, bagels, and similar items quickly and with little attention, which is why it tends to stay on the counter. A waffle maker cooks batter into waffles and usually involves mixing, pouring, and a short wait, so it behaves more like a planned cooking session than a quick grab. If your mornings are rushed, the toaster wins on convenience; if your mornings include a sit-down weekend breakfast, the waffle maker adds a capability the toaster cannot match.
Counter space and storage trade-offs
Toasters are generally compact and can often live near the bread box or coffee station. Waffle makers are bulkier and often need to stay out because repeated storing and unpacking discourages use. Before buying either, measure the free counter depth and check whether a nearby cabinet can hold the appliance when it is not in use. If space is tight, a toaster is the easier fit; if you have a spare outlet and a clear landing zone, a waffle maker can justify its footprint.
How often will you really use it?
Count the mornings in a typical week when you eat toast or a bagel versus the mornings when you would actually make waffle batter. A toaster used five days a week is a better investment than a waffle maker used twice a month, even if the waffle maker feels more exciting on day one. Be honest about cleanup, too: waffle irons have grids that need brushing, while toasters mostly need a crumb tray emptied. Frequency and cleanup effort together predict which appliance stays in service.
Where Breville fits if you want more than toast
If your breakfast goals extend beyond sliced bread, Breville's espresso and pizza tools show how the brand approaches countertop cooking. The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo, for example, is a dedicated countertop oven that reaches 750°F for wood-fired style pizza in about two minutes, which is a different kind of investment than a toaster. The Barista Pro and the Baratza Encore ESP with the Bambino Plus bundle serve coffee rather than breakfast breads, but they compete for the same counter space and outlet. Plan the whole breakfast station before adding another appliance.
Trade-offs to weigh before you buy
- Daily frequency vs. weekend ritual: A toaster supports quick weekday habits, while a waffle maker tends to serve slower weekend breakfasts. Choose the one that matches your real schedule rather than your ideal one. If you eat toast most mornings, start with the toaster.
- Counter footprint vs. stored convenience: Waffle makers are larger and often stay out; toasters are easier to tuck away. Measure your free counter depth and outlet access before deciding. Limited space favors the toaster.
- Cleanup effort vs. novelty: Waffle grids need brushing and batter bowls need washing; toasters mainly need the crumb tray emptied. The appliance you will clean without dread is the one you will keep using. Pick the appliance whose cleanup you will actually do.
- Breakfast breadth vs. budget: A toaster covers bread and bagels cheaply, while a waffle maker adds a new food category but costs more and takes more room. Espresso and pizza appliances serve different meals entirely and should be budgeted separately. Decide whether you are buying variety or convenience.
Product facts that affect the decision
- Pastillas de limpieza para máquina de espresso (8): Pack of 8 cleaning tablets designed to remove coffee oils and residue from the shower screen and filters, compatible with all Breville espresso machines. If you are building a breakfast station around espresso, cleaning supplies are part of the ownership cost and counter routine, not an afterthought.
- Baratza Encore™ ESP x the Bambino® Plus: Bundle includes the Baratza Encore ESP precision grinder and the Bambino Plus espresso machine, with a 54mm stainless steel portafilter and a hands-free automatic steam wand for microfoam. A coffee setup like this can anchor a breakfast counter, but it uses more space and budget than a toaster, so decide whether coffee or waffles is the higher priority.
- the Smart Oven® Pizzaiolo: Countertop oven reaches 750°F and cooks wood-fired style pizza in about two minutes, with Element iQ settings for New York, pan, thin and crispy, and frozen pizzas. This is a specialized cooking appliance rather than a breakfast shortcut; it only makes sense if you have the counter room and a real pizza habit.
- the Barista Pro™: Integrated grinder delivers ground coffee on demand, and the ThermoJet heating system reaches ready temperature in about 3 seconds. Fast heat-up matters on rushed mornings, but the machine still needs dedicated counter space and regular cleaning to perform well.
Which should you buy first?
Buy the toaster first if you...
- Eat toast, bagels, or reheated pastries most weekdays
- Have limited counter space or want an appliance you can store easily
- Want the lowest-fuss cleanup and the shortest path to breakfast
Buy the waffle maker first if you...
- Rarely eat toasted bread and mainly want weekend waffles
- Have a clear, dedicated counter spot and don't mind grid cleanup
- Are willing to trade speed and space for a more involved breakfast
