The Anova Precision Cooker and the Breville Joule are two of the most popular sous vide machines, but they target different home chefs with key differences in design, control, and price. Anova offers reliable, budget-friendly devices with both manual and app controls, making it ideal for beginners, while the premium-priced Breville Joule is an app-only device known for its sleek, compact design and powerful performance.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right sous vide circulator for your kitchen.
Anova Precision Cooker
Anova is a household name in the consumer sous vide market, known for producing accessible, reliable, and user-friendly immersion circulators. Their devices, like the Precision Cooker Nano and Pro, bring restaurant-level precision cooking into home kitchens without a steep learning curve or high price tag. Anova focuses on practical functionality, blending app connectivity with on-device controls for a versatile user experience.
- What it is: A line of immersion circulators designed to make sous vide cooking easy and affordable for home cooks.
- Key features: Hybrid control system (on-device screen/buttons and app), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, adjustable clamp for various pot sizes, extensive recipe library within the Anova app.
- Price: Ranges from ~$99 for the Anova Precision Cooker Nano to ~$199 for the more powerful Anova Precision Cooker.
- Style: Functional and utilitarian. The design is practical, typically featuring a black plastic body with stainless steel components, prioritizing performance over aesthetics.
- Materials/Construction: Built with a durable plastic housing and a stainless steel heating chamber, designed for reliability and frequent use.
- Pros: Excellent value for the price. User-friendly for beginners with simple on-device controls. Versatile clamp fits almost any pot. The Anova app is feature-rich with tons of recipes. More affordable entry point to sous vide cooking.
- Cons: Bulkier design compared to the Breville Joule. The plastic construction feels less premium. The utilitarian aesthetic may not appeal to design-conscious cooks.
The Anova lineup is perfect for anyone new to sous vide or home cooks who prioritize straightforward performance and value over a sleek design and app-only functionality.
Shop this brand: anovaculinary.com
Breville Joule Sous Vide
The Breville Joule Sous Vide is a premium offering from Breville, a brand celebrated for its high-performance, design-forward kitchen appliances. The Joule stands out with its incredibly sleek, compact body and exclusive reliance on a smartphone app for all controls. It packs a powerful heating element into its small frame and features a magnetic base, making it a favorite among tech-savvy cooks and those with a keen eye for kitchen design.
- What it is: A high-end, compact immersion circulator controlled exclusively through a mobile app.
- Key features: Extremely compact and lightweight design, magnetic base for secure pot placement, powerful and fast heating, controlled entirely via the Joule app with voice control compatibility.
- Price: Typically retails around $249 - $299.
- Style: Modern and minimalist. Its sleek, metallic-finished cylinder looks more like a high-tech gadget than a kitchen tool, blending seamlessly into contemporary kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: Features premium aluminum and seamless plastic components, contributing to its stylish look and durable feel.
- Pros: Beautiful, minimalist design is visually appealing. Incredibly compact size makes it easy to store in a utensil drawer. The magnetic base is a clever, convenient feature. Fast and powerful heating element.
- Cons: Higher price point. Complete reliance on a smartphone app for operation can be inconvenient for some. No on-device controls means you always need your phone nearby to cook.
The Joule is built for the serious home cook who values aesthetics and compact storage, loves tech, and is willing to invest in a premium, high-performance kitchen tool.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/sous-vide/bsv600.html
Anova vs. Breville Joule Comparison
Price & Value
There is a clear price difference between the two brands. Anova provides an accessible entry into sous vide, with models starting around $99. Even their more powerful standard Precision Cooker is often available for under $200. This makes it an outstanding value, delivering consistent, reliable results at a fraction of the cost of premium alternatives.
The Breville Joule sits firmly in the premium category, typically priced around $250 or more. The higher cost gets you superior design, more powerful heating, premium materials, and an incredibly compact form factor. While less of a budget buy, its value lies in its aesthetic appeal and space-saving construction, which for some users is well worth the investment.
Design & Materials
Anova's design philosophy is function-first. Its cookers are user-friendly and robust, made from durable plastic and stainless steel. While perfectly suitable for a busy kitchen, the look is practical and utilitarian rather than decorative. They're built to perform reliably for years but won't be the centerpiece of a modern kitchen.
Breville's Joule is all about design. It's slim, sleek, and finished with attractive metallic accents. The materials feel premium and the streamlined shape is small enough to fit in a drawer. If your kitchen tools double as design objects, the Joule's sophisticated and minimalist aesthetic is a clear winner. Its magnetic base is another thoughtful design touch, allowing it to stand unsupported in most steel or induction-ready pots.
Performance & Features
Both devices deliver precise temperature control required for perfect sous vide cooking. The primary functional difference lies in their control interfaces. Anova offers hybrid controls: you can set the time and temperature directly on the device's screen or use their full-featured app. This flexibility is a huge advantage if you prefer not to rely on your phone for everything.
The Breville Joule is operated exclusively through its highly polished mobile app. There are no screens or buttons on the device itself. While the app is excellent and offers features like voice control, this app-only approach is a make-or-break feature. For tech-savvy users, it's a seamless experience. For those who prefer manual controls as a backup or for quick cooks, it can be a limitation. However, the Joule does have a more powerful heating element, allowing it to bring water to temperature more quickly.
Size & Versatility
The Anova devices are larger than the Joule, but their adjustable clamp system is highly versatile and grabs securely onto the side of almost any pot, container, or cooler. It offers excellent stability for a wide range of batch sizes.
When it comes to size, the Breville Joule is in a class of its own. It is significantly smaller and lighter than any Anova model, making it incredibly easy to store. Its combination of a powerful side clip and a magnetic base gives it great flexibility - it can cling to the side of a pot or stand freely in the middle, depending on what you're using.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both the Anova and Breville sous vide machines cook food to perfection, but they are built for different people and priorities.
Choose the Anova if:
- You are new to sous vide cooking and want a user-friendly, forgiving device.
- You're on a budget and want the best performance for under $200.
- You want the flexibility of setting the temperature on the machine itself, without needing your phone.
- You prioritize practical function and reliability over a high-end, stylish design.
Choose the Breville Joule if:
- Aesthetics are important, and you want a kitchen tool that looks sleek and modern.
- Kitchen storage is tight, and you need a compact device that fits in a utensil drawer.
- You are comfortable with an app-only interface and enjoy smart home tech features.
- You're an experienced home cook willing to pay a premium for powerful performance and superior design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between an Anova and a Breville Joule?
The three main differences are price, design, and control. Anova is more budget-friendly and features a practical design with both on-device and app controls. The Breville Joule is a premium-priced device with a sleek, minimalist design that is controlled exclusively through a mobile app.
Which is better for beginners, Anova or Breville?
Anova is generally considered better for beginners. Its lower price point makes it a more accessible entry into sous vide, and the option for on-device controls offers a simpler learning curve without needing to sync a phone for every cook.
Does the Breville Joule have to be controlled by an app?
Yes. The Breville Joule has no physical buttons or screen for setting the time or temperature. All operations are run through the Joule smartphone app via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Which one is smaller and easier to store?
The Breville Joule is significantly smaller and more lightweight than any of the Anova models, making it the clear winner for easy storage. It can comfortably fit into a standard kitchen drawer.
Can both devices be used with any pot?
Yes, both are highly versatile. The Anova uses a sturdy, adjustable clamp that can attach to the side of nearly any container. The Breville Joule has both a side clip and a magnetic base that allows it to stand freely in ferromagnetic pots (like steel or cast iron).
Which one heats water faster?
Generally, the Breville Joule has a more powerful heating element (around 1100 watts) compared to Anova's standard models, allowing it to heat water to the target temperature more quickly.
Do I need Wi-Fi to use these devices?
You can operate an Anova cooker manually without any connection. For app control, both brands require an initial Bluetooth connection to your phone, Wi-Fi is optional for controlling the cook when you're away from home.
Is the Breville Joule worth the extra cost?
Whether the Joule is worth the extra cost depends on your priorities. If you value a compact, stylish design, powerful performance, and a completely app-based experience, the premium price is justified. If you prioritize value and functional flexibility, the Anova offers very similar cooking results for much less money.
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