The Breville Joule Oven and the Anova Precision Oven accomplish similar goals but appeal to different home cooks through their design, size, and core philosophy. The Breville Joule Oven is a larger, premium-built appliance with a classic stainless steel look, best for users who want an all-around countertop workhorse for everything from roasting to baking. The Anova Oven, on the other hand, is a more compact, tech-forward oven that puts precise app-controlled sous vide cooking front and center at a more affordable price point.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which of these smart countertop ovens is the right fit for your kitchen.
Breville Joule Oven Smart Air Fryer Pro
The Joule Oven from Breville is a high-end, do-it-all countertop appliance that combines intelligent cooking functions with premium materials and a spacious interior. It's designed for home chefs who demand versatility and performance, acting as a convection oven, air fryer, roaster, and precision sous vide cooker in one polished package.
- What it is: A large, multipurpose smart countertop oven focused on high-quality construction and a wide range of cooking functions.
- Key features: Spacious interior for larger roasts or baking sheets, multiple rack positions, intuitive knobs and digital display, advanced cooking algorithms via the Joule app.
- Price: Typically ranges from $400 to $500.
- Style: Classic premium appliance with a brushed stainless steel finish that blends well with traditional and contemporary kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: Features a durable stainless steel exterior, high-grade internal components, and solid, satisfying control knobs.
- Pros: Excellent build quality feels robust and durable. Larger capacity accommodates more food than the Anova. Aesthetically pleasing design. Versatile functions cover nearly all cooking needs.
- Cons: Carries a premium price tag. Larger footprint requires more countertop space.
The Breville Joule Oven is for the home cook who wants a reliable, multi-functional appliance with a premium look and feel, and has the counter space and budget for it.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/ovens/sov860.html
Anova Precision Oven
The Anova Precision Oven is a modern, compact countertop oven built from the ground up for precision cooking, especially sous vide. It merges steam, convection, and a highly accurate temperature probe with seamless app connectivity, making complex cooking techniques accessible to any home cook.
- What it is: A tech-forward, compact countertop steam-combi oven specializing in precise temperature control for sous vide style cooking.
- Key features: Exceptional temperature stability, integrated steam capabilities, probe thermometer for accuracy, compact footprint, fully app-controlled.
- Price: Generally priced slightly lower than the Breville, around $300 to $400.
- Style: Minimalist and modern with a digital interface, clean lines, and a tech-centric look suitable for contemporary kitchens.
- Materials/Construction: Solid engineering focused on reliable electronic components and temperature precision. Lacks the heavy-duty feel of the Breville but is well-built for its purpose.
- Pros: More affordable than the Joule Oven. Unmatched sous vide precision. Compact design is ideal for smaller kitchens. Powerful and easy-to-use companion app.
- Cons: Smaller interior capacity. Build quality, while solid, isn't as premium-feeling as the Breville.
The Anova Oven is ideal for tech-savvy cooks who prioritize precise results for sous vide and steam cooking and value a compact, modern appliance.
Shop this product: anovaculinary.com/pages/precision-oven
Breville Joule Oven vs. Anova Oven Comparison
Dimensions & Scale
The most immediate difference between the two ovens is their size. The Breville Joule Oven is significantly larger, making it a better choice for those who need to cook for a family or want to handle larger items like a whole roast chicken or a 9x13 inch baking dish. This makes it a more viable replacement for a full-size oven for many daily tasks.
The Anova Precision Oven is purposefully more compact. It's designed to fit comfortably on countertops where space is at a premium. While it handles most standard tasks, you'll be more limited on the size and quantity of food you can cook at once. This smaller footprint is a major advantage for apartment dwellers or those with already-crowded kitchens.
Materials & Construction
Breville is known for its durable, high-quality builds, and the Joule Oven is no exception. It features a heavy-duty brushed stainless steel exterior and components that feel built to last. It has a reassuring weight and solidity that reflect its higher price point, and Breville generally offers strong warranties.
Anova's oven is still well-constructed, but its focus is more on the internal technology for temperature precision rather than an ultra-premium feel. The materials are solid and functional, perfectly suited for the job, but it doesn't have the same tank-like construction as the Breville. It's a trade-off of feeling versus technological function.
Price & Value
There's usually a ~$100 price difference between these two. The Breville Joule Oven typically sits near the $500 mark, while the Anova Oven is often found closer to $400. The value proposition depends entirely on your needs.
If you're seeking a robust, all-around performer that can air fry, bake, roast, and sous vide in large batches, the Breville's higher price offers value in its versatility and build quality. For someone whose primary goal is achieving perfect, restaurant-quality sous vide results and steam-based cooking, the more affordable Anova provides exceptional value with its specialized, high-tech features.
Style & Versatility
Aesthetically, the two ovens fit into different kitchen styles. The Breville has a timeless, classic look. Its stainless steel finish and tactile knobs would be at home in almost any kitchen, from traditional to modern.
The Anova exudes a sleek, modern, almost futuristic vibe. Its digital interface, minimalist design, and emphasis on app control make it appealing to a gadget-loving crowd and fit perfectly in a minimalist or tech-forward kitchen. In terms of cooking versatility, the Breville is the better all-rounder, while the Anova is a specialist that also happens to do other things well.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both the Breville Joule Oven and Anova Precision Oven are excellent appliances, but they are clearly designed for different priorities.
Choose the Breville Joule Oven if:
- You need a larger interior capacity for bigger meals and families.
- Premium build quality and a classic stainless steel look are your top priorities.
- You want a true all-in-one appliance to air fry, roast, bake, and act as a second oven.
- You have ample counter space and a higher budget for a top-tier appliance.
Choose the Anova Precision Oven if:
- Sous vide performance and precise temperature control are your main goals.
- You have limited kitchen counter space and need a compact design.
- You're more budget-conscious but still want cutting-edge cooking technology.
- You love controlling everything from an app and want a modern, tech-forward aesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Joule Oven and Anova Oven?
The main differences are size, price, and focus. The Breville Joule Oven is a larger, more expensive all-around oven with a premium build. The Anova Precision Oven is a smaller, more affordable oven that specializes in app-controlled sous vide and steam cooking.
Which oven is better for sous vide specifically?
While both are excellent, the Anova Precision Oven was built from the ground up for sous vide and steam cooking. Its temperature sensor and steam controls are considered best-in-class for a countertop unit, making it the top choice if sous vide is your priority.
Is the Breville Joule Oven worth the higher price?
If you value the larger cooking capacity, superior build quality, and all-in-one versatility for air frying and roasting, then yes. It's built like a premium appliance and functions as a highly competent second oven for almost any task.
Can the Anova Oven still bake and air fry well?
Yes, the Anova Oven is a capable convection oven for baking, roasting, and air frying. Its smaller size means it preheats very quickly, but you will be limited by its capacity compared to the Breville.
Which one is bigger and how much space do they take?
The Breville Joule Oven is considerably larger and heavier, requiring more counter depth and width. The Anova Oven has a much smaller footprint, making it a better choice for studio apartments or kitchens with limited counter space.
Which companion app is better, Breville or Anova?
Anova is famous for its powerful and user-friendly app, which allows deep control over every aspect of the cooking process. Breville's Joule app is also excellent and a core part of its functionality, but Anova's reputation in the app-controlled cooking space gives it a slight edge for many tech-savvy users.
Do I need a separate sous vide machine if I buy one of these?
No. Both of these ovens have built-in sous vide functionality that controls the temperature of the entire oven cavity with steam, meaning you don't need a separate water bath or circulator.
Which oven is easier to clean?
Both ovens have stainless steel interiors that can be wiped down. Due to steam and humidity being a core part of their function, periodic cleaning and descaling (for the Anova) are important. Ease of cleaning is roughly comparable between the two.
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