Small Kitchen Appliances

Provided there's room in your budget and kitchen, Consumer Reports recommends owning a toaster and a toaster oven. Toasters pop out the fastest, most consistent toast, while toaster ovens add a versatile second oven for heating pizzas and roasting chickens. And some toaster ovens toast nearly as well as a toaster.

What makes a great cup of joe? Smoothness and complexity with no off-flavors. For discerning drinkers, especially those who like their coffee black, only a very good cup will do. Milk, sugar, and flavorings can only do so much to camouflage the defects of a so-so cup. Here's a guide to the best.

For whipping, pureing, and a host of other food prep tasks, a reliable mixer is essential. The market is divided into hand mixers and stand mixers that range in price from $10 to $400.

More blenders are adding chopping, juicing, food-processing, and even soup-making to their usual menu of margaritas and smoothies. You'll even find hand-held blenders you can put right in a drink or a pot. But our tests show that not all of these multitaskers are winners.

Citrus juicers and juice extractors are especially appealing if you like the idea of making your own juice from fresh fruits and vegetables. Use this juice maker guide to select one, whether for a glass of fresh-squeezed juice in the morning or a more robust mixture later in the day.