The bagel setting is equally impressive. Turn on the toaster and press the bagel button straight away; the Dualit will toast only on one side to brown the middle, cut faces. The undersides are warm but soft. Frankly, it’s a revelation… It’s obvious now that I’ve been toasting my bagels incorrectly for years! Featuring Dualit’s patented Perfect Toast Technology, this toaster senses the temperature of its surroundings and calculates the exact toasting time for a consistent golden brown finish. If you’re kitting out your kitchen, there is also a matching kettle, as well as a larger 4-slice toaster. It’s all very smart-looking and intuitive with big clear icons. Unusually there’s no reheat button here though, we’re not big fans of reheated toast admittedly (it’s usually dry and inedible) but it’s also useful for giving a round of toast an extra blast without having to worry about it getting totally incinerated. Each of the four slots of the toaster measures 14 x 14 x 3cm, which means you’ll only just be able to squeeze in a 3cm doorstep. It also has buttons for toasting bagels and defrosting/toasting bread straight from the freezer.

Dualit says its technology takes into account each variable, from room and toaster temperature, to how many slices the appliance has already toasted, and how long it has had to cool. This should enable you to enjoy perfectly coloured toast every time, without having to touch any of the toaster's settings - and currently it's the only toaster on the market that offers this feature. Best toaster brands - find out how reliable Dualit toasters are compared with other popular brands.There are also defrost and cancel functions, for if you’re getting some bread out of the freezer or need to stop the toast cycle for whatever reason. While we think this toaster brings a modern industrial vibe with its stainless steel finish with grey accents, you can customise it to suit your particular colour scheme. With interchangeable screw-on side panels available separately, you can make sure this toaster effortlessly blends in with the rest of your kitchen, or, if you choose a slightly more vibrant finish, stands out from the rest of the worktop. Yes. It’s pricey but the Dualit turned out the best, most evenly cooked toast on test. This toaster isn’t style over substance: it’s style and substance. We loved the consistent results and the bagel setting is brilliant. Repairable toasting - if you can't stand the thought of your expensive toaster ending its life in landfill then a Dualit Classic range model could be right for you. All parts are fully repairable or replaceable, which Dualit claims means these toasters 'last a lifetime'.

Beneath the toaster sits a built-in cable tidy, but the cable is a little short – especially if you want to run it from the left-hand side of the toaster. If you’re looking for something even more flash-looking, consider the all-glass Morphy Richards Redefine Glass Toaster or the minimalist Graef TO100. And if you’re on a budget then look at the excellent four-slice Hotpoint TT44EAX0 or the cheap-as-chips Kenwood TTP210. Verdict Perfect toasting tech - Dualit claims that its patented 'perfect toast technology' helps you to get the perfect evenly browned slice each time, as it varies toasting time depending on the temperature of the room, the toaster and how long it's had to cool. The Dualit boasts “Perfect Toast Technology”, which measures room temperature and toaster temperature – whether it’s already hot from the last round of toast, for instance – to control cooking intelligently. The company claims this guarantees perfectly consistent, golden-brown toast every time without having to change the settings. With the Architect, Dualit tries its hand at the traditional pop-up toaster. As you’d expect the design is pretty stylish, in a chunky, no nonsense kind of way. If you want to soften the look, you can remove the metal side panels and replace them with coloured plastic alternatives – like a nineties Nokia mobile. There are three fascia options, all fairly garish, but someone might have a kitchen to match or complement them we suppose.Each pair of slots on the toaster has its own controls, and in the middle of each browning control knob is an “eject” button. This means that, during cooking, you can lift up the toast using the big handles to inspect progress without cancelling it. Only press the eject button when you’re done. I found the ability to peek at the toast through the process very handy – although this isn’t essential when a toaster works as consistently as the Dualit. But the eject button doesn’t make the toast pop up very high, which is a shame. Hand-built along geometric lines, this stylish 2-slice Architect toaster from Dualit combines modern good looks with handy features to ensure you consistently get the best slice of toast to start your day. Finished in stainless steel with chrome accents, the toaster fits in with modern kitchens effortlessly, and can be customised with additional side panels.