Aroma ‎ABM-250 Breadmaker - Review

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker is an affordable, compact machine designed to help you easily bake fresh loaves of bread at home. With a 1.5 pound capacity, 12 baking functions, and intuitive controls, it aims to provide delicious homemade bread with minimal effort.

The ABM-250 features a streamlined white plastic housing that won't take up much space on your kitchen counter. Its viewing window allows you to monitor your bread as it bakes. This bread maker can mix, knead, and bake a variety of breads including white, whole wheat, French, sweet, and more. It also includes settings for jam and cake.

Overall, the Aroma ABM-250 offers an accessible entry point into bread making. Its reasonable price tag and straightforward functionality make it a potential option for anyone seeking homemade loaves without the work of kneading and baking the dough themselves. This review will provide an in-depth look at the key features and real-world performance of the ABM-250 bread machine.

Design & Appearance

The Aroma ABM-250 has an attractive and compact design that will look great on any countertop. Despite its small footprint measuring approximately 13 x 13 x 14 inches, it packs in a generous 1.5 pound loaf capacity.

The bread maker comes in a sleek black housing with stainless steel accents, giving it a modern and elegant look. The black plastic used for the majority of the housing seems durable yet lightweight.

The LCD display is easy to read and allows you to easily select settings and monitor the baking progress. It has a bright backlight that illuminates when in use. The display shows information such as the selected baking function, timer, and temperature.

Overall, the Aroma ABM-250 has a stylish design with a compact form factor that belies its large baking capacity. The combination of black plastic housing and stainless steel accents gives it an attractive look that will complement both modern and more traditional kitchen decors.

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker has a number of design features that make it an attractive and convenient appliance. The LCD display and intuitive controls allow users to easily select settings and monitor baking progress. The black and stainless steel color scheme gives it a sleek, modern aesthetic that looks great on countertops. Despite being compact in size, it can bake loaves up to 1.5 pounds in capacity. This combination of form and function is what makes the Aroma ABM-250 such a well-designed bread maker.

While the Aroma ABM-250 has an impressive design, some other bread makers like the Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 offer higher-end features. The Panasonic model has a more premium brushed metal exterior and large blue LCD screen. It can bake loaves up to 2 pounds in capacity and has a transparent viewing window so you can monitor the baking process. The Panasonic also offers more baking modes and settings than the Aroma. So while the Aroma ABM-250 looks great, the Panasonic Croustina SD-ZP2000 provides a more advanced design and user experience.

Capacity

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker has a 1.5 lb loaf capacity, allowing you to make loaves of up to 1.5 pounds. This is a good size for smaller households or those who don't eat a lot of bread. The machine can make a 1 lb, 1.25 lb, or 1.5 lb loaf.

It doesn't have a 2 lb capacity, so if you need to make larger loaves to feed more people, this model may be too small. The 1.5 lb maximum loaf size is fairly standard for compact bread machines. But if you prefer really large loaves, you may want to look for a model with a 2 lb or larger capacity.

The ABM-250 can only make one loaf at a time. It doesn't have a dual loaf feature to make two smaller loaves simultaneously. This isn't a big deal for many users, but could be an inconvenient if you like to make more than one loaf at once. Overall, the 1.5 lb single loaf capacity will be sufficient for small households. But larger families may want more versatility.

If you need a bread maker with a larger capacity, check out the Hamilton Beach 29987. This model can make loaves up to 2.5 pounds, giving you more flexibility. The digital programmable menu lets you easily adjust settings for 1.5, 2, or 2.5 pound loaves. It also has a dual loaf feature to make two 1.5 pound loaves at once, which is great for larger households.

With 12 pre-programmed settings and an express cycle, the Hamilton Beach 29987 is designed to handle high volume bread making needs. The large capacity means you can create two loaves at once or make one oversized 2.5 pound loaf. If you need to feed a crowd, this versatile bread maker can rise to the occasion.

So if you find the 1.5 pound maximum capacity of the Aroma ABM-250 too limiting, take a look at the Hamilton Beach 29987. With options for 1.5 pound all the way up to 2.5 pound loaves, it provides more flexibility for larger batches. The convenient dual loaf feature also lets you make two loaves simultaneously. This added capacity and versatility make it a great choice for larger households with high bread consumption.

Features & Settings

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker comes with 12 pre-programmed settings to handle a variety of breads, doughs, and jams. This includes settings for:

• Basic Bread
• French Bread
• Whole Wheat Bread
• Sweet Bread
• Ultra Fast Bread (under 1 hour)
• Dough
• Cake
• Bake
• Sandwich Bread
• Super Rapid Bread (under 2 hours)
• Jam
• Homemade Yogurt

It also has 3 crust color options (light, medium, dark) and 3 loaf size options (1 lb, 1.5 lbs, 2 lbs) for customization. The delay timer allows you to program the bread maker up to 15 hours in advance.

There is an audible beep notification when you need to add ingredients during the kneading or baking cycles. The keep warm function will keep the bread warm for up to 60 minutes after baking is complete.

Ease of Use

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker is very easy to use thanks to its intuitive interface and clear instructions.

The LCD control panel is straightforward with buttons for selecting the baking cycle, crust color, and loaf size. There are also buttons for starting and stopping the baking process. The display shows the selected settings and time remaining. The manual includes recipes and detailed operating instructions.

Baking with the Aroma is simple - just add ingredients to the non-stick pan in the order listed, select your settings, and press start. The machine does the mixing, kneading, rising and baking automatically. An audible beep lets you know when each stage is complete.

Cleaning up after use is quick and hassle-free. The non-stick bread pan easily wipes clean with a damp cloth. The viewing window and lid can be washed by hand. Any crumbs or spills inside the machine can be removed with a soft brush.

Baking Performance

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker performs very well when it comes to baking loaves of bread. The machine produces evenly baked loaves with a nice golden brown crust. The crust comes out with just the right texture - not too soft and not too hard.

Inside, the bread has a light and fluffy texture. The loaves are able to rise fully, resulting in an airy interior crumb. The machine does an excellent job at kneading the dough thoroughly to develop the gluten. This gives the bread great structure to trap in air bubbles.

The loaves baked in this bread maker have a delicious homemade taste and aroma. They are moist and chewy on the inside. The flavors are well balanced. The machine can handle a variety of bread recipes from basic white bread to hearty whole wheat. It performs equally well with different dough types like yeast doughs to quick breads.

Overall, the baking performance of the Aroma ABM-250 bread maker is exceptional. It consistently produces high-quality loaves with great texture, taste and aroma. The machine lives up to its name in delivering delicious homemade bread.

Noise Level

The Aroma ABM-250 has a relatively quiet operation compared to other bread makers. The motor emits a low hum while kneading and mixing that is unlikely to disturb most users. Some users may find the beeping alerts slightly loud.

Overall, the noise rating is average and on par with similar models in this price range. It's not whisper quiet, but shouldn't be an issue for most kitchen environments. Those sensitive to noise may want to consider a model with sound dampening features or place it in another room while operating.

During kneading and baking, the Aroma makes a muffled whirring sound around 60-65 decibels. This is quieter than a typical conversation. The beeps when adding ingredients or signaling cycles complete are 70-75 decibels. For context, a vacuum cleaner is around 70 dB and a blender is up to 90 dB.

Some buyers noted the Aroma seems quieter than previous bread machines they owned. But a few felt the alerts were louder than expected. If you prefer no audible beeps, there is an option to mute them. Overall, the noise level is unlikely to disturb most users.

Accessories

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker comes with a number of handy accessories to get you started with baking right away.

• Baking Pan: This bread maker includes a non-stick inner baking pan that is easy to insert and remove for cleaning. The pan has a 1.5 pound capacity.

• Kneading Paddle: A heavy-duty kneading paddle mixes ingredients thoroughly and evenly during the kneading cycle. It is made from durable plastic.

• Measuring Cup and Spoon: Convenient measuring tools are included to help you accurately add ingredients per the recipe. The set includes a 0.5 cup measuring cup and 1 tablespoon measuring spoon.

• Hook Tool: To safely remove the hot baking pan after a cycle, a plastic hook tool is provided. This allows you to pull the pan out without burning your fingers.

• Recipe Book: To get you started, the Aroma ABM-250 comes with a helpful recipe book that provides bread recipes optimized for this machine. It contains 15 recipes total with nutritional information.

The included accessories provide everything you need to begin exploring homemade breads. From the baking pan to measuring tools, Aroma equips this bread maker with useful extras for the aspiring home baker.

Warranty

The Aroma ABM-250 bread maker comes with a 1 year limited warranty. This covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal household use for 1 year from the date of original purchase.

The warranty does not cover improper installation, misuse, abuse, accidents or unauthorized repairs. It also does not cover normal wear and tear or cosmetic damage.

To obtain warranty service, you will need to provide proof of purchase and contact Aroma's customer service team. They will troubleshoot the issue and determine if a replacement or repair is needed under the warranty terms.

The 1 year warranty provides peace of mind that any manufacturing issues will be addressed within the first year of ownership. However, some users report wishing the warranty period was longer than 1 year given the cost of the appliance. Overall, the coverage appears standard for bread machines in this price range.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Generous 1.5 pound loaf capacity
• Wide range of settings for different loaf sizes and crust colors
• Removable non-stick bread pan for easy cleaning
• Viewing window to monitor baking progress
• 13 hour delay start timer
• 2 hour keep warm function
• Accessories include measuring cup and spoon
• Affordable price point

Cons

• No gluten-free or specialty bread settings
• No fruit and nut dispenser like higher end models
• Louder than some competing bread makers
• Short 1 year warranty
• Mixed reviews on reliability over time

Overall, the Aroma ABM-250 bread maker delivers good value and performance for the price. It offers ample loaf capacity and versatility for different bread styles in a compact, streamlined design. The lack of specialty settings and short warranty are limitations to consider. This model is best for beginner home bakers wanting an affordable machine with essential functionality. More advanced users may prefer a machine with more options and settings.