The catch
Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
The body alone is 18 inches wide, with operating clearance on top.
Side by side
Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20 vs Supreme BB-CEC20 Compared: Virtuoso brings specialist courses, while Supreme takes up less counter depth
Quick verdict
The Virtuoso Plus is the better fit if you want dedicated gluten-free and other specialist courses. The Supreme is better for familiar everyday recipes and a shallower counter.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Counter depth can decide it
At 144.5 square inches, the Supreme's body is smaller than the Plus at 189. That works out to about 24% less body area for the same nominal 2 lb maximum, before operating clearance.
Where this comes from
(189 − 144.5) ÷ 189 = 23.5%, where 17 × 8.5 = 144.5 and 18 × 10.5 = 189.
The catch
Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
Gluten-free baking goes through the supplied Homemade recipe route. There is no dedicated course for it.
Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
- Why pick it
- Dedicated gluten-free, vegan or multigrain courses are what you want.
- The documented lid and base heater design is the feature you are after.
- The catch
- The body alone is 18 inches wide, with operating clearance on top.
Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
- Why pick it
- Your counter needs the shallower 8.5-inch body depth.
- For repeated cupboard lifting, you would rather have the 19.5 lb machine.
- The catch
- Gluten-free baking goes through the supplied Homemade recipe route. There is no dedicated course for it.
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What this page compares
Each one bakes a horizontal 2 lb loaf with two paddles and stores three custom cycles. What it comes down to is whether dedicated recipe courses are worth a larger, heavier machine.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Dedicated gluten-free recipes come up often
With the Plus you get the dedicated course, where the Supreme needs its Homemade recipe route.
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
- Better fit
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
- Caution
The counter is where the machine stays
Without any cupboard lifting, the Plus's extra 4.5 lb matters less.
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
- Good
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
- Good
You have a shallow counter
Depth of the Supreme's body is 8.5 inches, against 10.5 inches.
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
- Caution
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
- Better fit
Your repeats are three familiar custom recipes
Each saves three cycles, which means the Plus brings no memory advantage.
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
- Good
- Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
Counter depth can decide it
At 144.5 square inches, the Supreme's body is smaller than the Plus at 189. That works out to about 24% less body area for the same nominal 2 lb maximum, before operating clearance.
How we worked this out
(189 − 144.5) ÷ 189 = 23.5%, where 17 × 8.5 = 144.5 and 18 × 10.5 = 189.
Specialist bread without having to rebuild the cycle
If a household moves between ordinary bread and a supported gluten-free recipe, the Plus offers the simpler starting point. The Supreme can still run manufacturer gluten-free recipes through Homemade. So the gap is in programming work and does not prove that only one machine can make that bread.
How we worked this out
PDC20 offers a dedicated course, CEC20 the manufacturer Homemade recipe route.
Lifting it from a cupboard favors the lighter machine
Compared with the Supreme, the Plus is 4.5 lb heavier and two inches deeper. If the bread maker comes out of the cupboard after every breakfast, you notice that at every bake, and the three recipe memories are equal on both.
How we worked this out
24 − 19.5 = 4.5 lb and 10.5 − 8.5 = 2 inches, with three Homemade memories documented for both.
Option A
Zojirushi, BB-PDC20BA
Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
This horizontal machine bakes a family loaf and can save three custom cycles. Because it has dedicated gluten-free, multigrain and vegan programs, matching recipes need less setup.
- Best for
- Dedicated gluten-free, vegan or multigrain courses are what you want.
Facts we checked
- Specialist recipes: Dedicated gluten-free course
- Body footprint: 18 × 10.5 inches
- Moving it: 24 lb
- Saved recipes: Three Homemade memories
Option B
Zojirushi, BB-CEC20BA
Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
Bakers who like their familiar recipes and want to tune the cycle themselves get a two-paddle horizontal bread maker here.
- Best for
- Your counter needs the shallower 8.5-inch body depth.
Facts we checked
- Specialist recipes: Gluten-free recipes use the Homemade route
- Body footprint: 17 × 8.5 inches
- Moving it: 19.5 lb
- Saved recipes: Three Homemade memories
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20 | Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist recipes | Dedicated gluten-free course | Gluten-free recipes use the Homemade route | Setting up a saved custom recipe is different work from using a ready-made course. |
| Body footprint | 18 × 10.5 inches | 17 × 8.5 inches | Counter depth is lower on the Supreme, and the nominal maximum loaf size stays the same. |
| Moving it | 24 lb | 19.5 lb | Every cupboard lift is 4.5 lb heavier with the Plus. |
| Saved recipes | Three Homemade memories | Three Homemade memories | Choosing the Plus does not buy you more saved custom recipes. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
- When a recipe includes fruit and nuts, you have to add them by hand.
With Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
- Fruit and nuts have no automatic dispenser.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Dedicated gluten-free, vegan or multigrain courses are what you want.
Go with Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20. Dedicated courses for these recipes come with the Virtuoso Plus. For gluten-free bread, the Supreme relies on its Homemade route.
Your counter needs the shallower 8.5-inch body depth.
Go with Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20. The Supreme keeps the horizontal pan and three Homemade memories while coming in a shallower, lighter body. Check how much storage depth you have and how much you can lift comfortably.
Your recipe goes beyond the documented flour or loaf limits of both models.
Neither model fits. Either pick a supported recipe size or use a different machine. A recipe scaled up can overflow the pan.
Decision guide
How to decide
For dedicated gluten-free and other specialist courses, go with the Virtuoso Plus. For familiar everyday recipes and a shallower counter, go with the Supreme.
Counter depth can decide it
At 144.5 square inches, the Supreme's body is smaller than the Plus at 189. That works out to about 24% less body area for the same nominal 2 lb maximum, before operating clearance.
Specialist bread without having to rebuild the cycle
If a household moves between ordinary bread and a supported gluten-free recipe, the Plus offers the simpler starting point. The Supreme can still run manufacturer gluten-free recipes through Homemade. So the gap is in programming work and does not prove that only one machine can make that bread.
Lifting it from a cupboard favors the lighter machine
Compared with the Supreme, the Plus is 4.5 lb heavier and two inches deeper. If the bread maker comes out of the cupboard after every breakfast, you notice that at every bake, and the three recipe memories are equal on both.
What this page can’t tell you
- The loaf weights shown are nominal supported recipe sizes. No matched baking, noise or energy tests were run for this comparison. A gluten-free course does not guarantee that a loaf is free from allergen cross-contact.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the bread makers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20 |
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| Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus BB-PDC20
Dedicated gluten-free, vegan or multigrain courses are what you want.
See price & reviews on AmazonZojirushi Home Bakery Supreme BB-CEC20
Your counter needs the shallower 8.5-inch body depth.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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