The premium kitchen appliance has seven browning levels and special settings for everything from sourdough to crumpets.
Say goodbye to burnt toast with the handy kitchen device that keeps a close eye on every slice(Image: Sage Appliances)
Toast isn’t just a breakfast staple, it’s also an easy snack at any time of day – whether it’s a snack between meals or want a quick bite before bed. But there’s nothing worse than taking a bite of burnt toast, only to be left with a bitter taste and a kitchen filled with the smell of smoke.
But thankfully the fear of burning your toast could be a thing of the past thanks to a high-tech toaster designed to keep a close eye on every slice. The Sage Eye Q Auto Toaster uses optical sensors to monitor the colour of the bread, automatically stopping the toasting process when it reaches your chosen shade.
The premium toaster is available in two sizes. The Eye Q 850 Auto 2 Slice costs £279.95 in Noir or £249.95 in Brushed Stainless Steel, while the larger Eye Q 870 Auto 4 Slice is priced at £399.95 in Noir or £349.95 in Brushed Stainless Steel.
Instead of leaving the toasting process to guess work, hungry diners can choose from seven different browning levels using the Toast Shade Selector. The clever kitchen appliance then monitors the bread as it cooks and automatically pops it up once it reaches the desired colour.
Powered by Sage’s Sensability Technology, the optical sensors track changes in colour in real time. This helps to ensure more consistent results without you having to repeatedly check on your toast, reports the Daily Star.
Get the Eye Q Auto Toaster
Available in different colours and sizes, this toaster is equipped with a colour selector so users can choose what shade they want their toast to be.
It’s also designed to handle different types of bread. Sourdough Mode is tailored to thicker-crusted, denser artisan loaves, while Crumpet Mode directs extra heat towards the top surface to help achieve more even browning.
For those who enjoy darker toast, Sage’s ‘A Bit More’ feature offers an additional burst of browning, while the Timer Mode deactivates the optical sensors and allows the machine to function using traditional timed heating – ideal for warming pastries and similar baked goods. The toaster additionally lowers and raises bread automatically for touch-free operation and can handle frozen bread without requiring a separate defrost setting to be selected.
Sage has designed the Eye Q with easy maintenance in mind, incorporating a non-stick ceramic-coated top that prevents crumbs from becoming baked onto the surface, while its Clearway Cavity channels crumbs downwards into a removable Catch All Crumb Tray. Both the two and four-slice models are available in Brushed Stainless Steel and Noir finishes, with integrated cord storage contributing to neat kitchen worktops.
Another popular option is the Kitchenaid Artisan 2-Slice Toaster in ink blue, priced at £269 at Currys. This model includes a defrost function, extra-wide slots, a bagel function and a reheat option, providing customers with considerable flexibility.
Robert Dyas currently offers the Zwilling Enfinigy Toaster in black, priced at £148.99. According to the product specifications, this particular four-slot model features eight separate heating elements and ensures even heat distribution throughout.
While specific reviews for the newest Sage toasters weren’t available, shoppers have taken to Trustpilot to share their thoughts on the brand. One customer commented: “Very satisfied with the resolution to an issue with a great product. The 4 slice smart toaster is streets ahead of its competition.”
A further reviewer stated: “I own a Sage toaster and Sage Barista Express coffee machine, which have been fantastic for many years. Needed some further advice, so phoned Sage for a second time in a week, needing to check something and was assisted by Hope, who was fantastic. She was superbly friendly, knowledgeable, had a great sense of humour and offered excellent customer service. In addition to the call, Hope also emailed me with the guidance.”
That said, some shoppers remained less enthusiastic, with one purchaser observing: “Good customer service. Faulty toaster replaced immediately. Although it did take a while to setup the online account to facilitate this.”
Overall, most customers seemed pleased with their experience. One satisfied purchaser wrote: “Very easy to deal with, everyone we spoke to was professional and friendly, answering all of our questions. The order processing was quick and efficient, and the new toaster arrived within a day of ordering it. What a great product, what a great service – thank you.”
