Food processor recommendations

[Dogmama]

I called my local Williams Sonoma - they don't carry it so I'd need to go to Phoenix (120 miles away.) BUT the lady raved about it - said they've never received a Breville appliance back. Apparently, the company started making commercial equipment.

CarolP - do you need to use the 16 cup bowl to slice or grate - or can you use one of the smaller bowls?

Oak - anything that catches on fire is terrifying to me.

I was wondering if the Costco stuff is the real-deal. Sometimes I've bought things that are just not quite up to snuff. Things that make you go "hmmm"

[Blueberry]

I stopped shopping Williams Sonoma over a Breville appliance. Someone gave me one of their multi temp water boilers as a very nice present (thankfully, including a gift receipt). The first one wouldn't been when the water was ready as it is supposed to, so I exchanged it. The second one wouldn't open when it was hot (i.e., you had to stick your fingers over the spout in the path of steam to refill it). I brought it back. The clerk accused of me lying in the store, plugged the thing in to "make sure I was telling the truth" (yes, other customers witnessed this lovely experience), and then told me this was the last exchange they would accommodate even though I had received 2 defective units. This was around the time they drastically shortened their return policy. I haven't purchased anything from Williams Sonoma since, and I would hesitate to purchase a Breville appliance after their tea kettle. FWIW I think the lid thing is a design defect. The lid release doesn't work on unit number 3 either - I've become very adept at getting it open without getting scalded by prying up the lid.

[carolp]

I tend to use the big bowl for everything because I'm too lazy to go to the garage to get the small one. As far as Breville espresso makers, I would NOT recommend it. I'd get a Gaggia or a Saeco, or if you want real simplicity, Nespresso.
How awful that someone at Wm. Sonoma would accuse you of lying. I used to work at Sur La Table and they take back anything, any time.
I have a Capresso electric kettle and love it, but again, never saw the brevilles coming back.

[Atlas]

I have a 14 cup Cuisinart (like this) and I love it. I looked at the new Kitchenaid one because my mom has had one for years but I really didn't like the newest incarnation. The lid was hard to work and it didn't seem as well built. I use mine mostly for making hummus/frozen banana ice cream/pesto/grinding nuts for baking. I used one of those 20% coupons from Bed, Bath, and Beyond so it was a pretty great deal.

[malkin]

As long as this is the internet dream land, I might as well admit that if someone offered me a ROBOT COUP I wouldn't refuse it!

[Dogmama]

I have the coupon & think I'm going to go to BBB for the same thing. But here's my question - for $100 more you get basically the same machine but it's listed as "die cast metal." So - does that make it worth $100 more? The motor has a longer warranty & it comes with a case for the blades but...$100?

What the heck does that mean, anyway??

[Atlas]

As long as this is the internet dream land, I might as well admit that if someone offered me a ROBOT COUP I wouldn't refuse it!

We have one at work and it's so amazing. Even well used and slightly broken it's better than any food processor I've ever seen in a store. It's impossible to kill those things.

[Irulan]

I have the coupon & think I'm going to go to BBB for the same thing. But here's my question - for $100 more you get basically the same machine but it's listed as "die cast metal." So - does that make it worth $100 more? The motor has a longer warranty & it comes with a case for the blades but...$100?

What the heck does that mean, anyway??

if it's anything like sewing machines, it means that the gearing and machine parts inside are all metal and not super hardened plastic.

FWIW, I got my cuisinart at Tuesday Morning on sale.