Does the R180S come with everything needed to make paninis?
No. Revolution says panini mode makes paninis, grilled cheeses and quesadillas when you pair the toaster with its panini press sandwich maker accessory, and that accessory is sold separately. On its own the R180S is a 2-slice toaster, so budget for the press as well if toasted sandwiches are part of the appeal.
Is the R180S worth the money?
It is a premium toaster at a premium price, so it is worth it if you will use and enjoy what the money buys: fast, even toast, presets that take the guesswork out, a progress display and alert, and a stainless design that looks beautiful. Even people who agonise over the splurge tend to be glad they made it. If you just want reliable toast at the lowest cost, a conventional toaster does that job for far less.
What are its biggest strengths?
Evenness and speed come first. Breads, waffles and bagels toast perfectly and evenly, and it can be noticeably faster than an older toaster. After that it is the small things the screen makes possible: seeing progress on the animated ring, hearing when it is done and using the idle display as a clock. And it looks very good.
Is the touchscreen durable, or does it fail?
Reliability is the main concern. Quality and functionality split opinion, and several owners have had a screen that went black and would not turn on about a month in after roughly ten uses, bread that would not lower on first use until the toaster was unplugged for a while, and middle elements that stopped heating shortly after the return window closed. Many other units run for months with no problems. In each of those stories Revolution responded well, replacing units quickly or following up to check the toaster was working, which is a real point in its favour.
How many toasting settings does the R180S actually have?
Revolution gives it six preset bread-type programs, three toasting modes and seven shade levels, plus options for fresh and frozen food, all run from the touchscreen. The brand says its algorithms adjust time, temperature and heat placement for each choice. One owner describes the three modes as warm, fresh and frozen.
What's the wattage and what is it made of?
It draws 1500 watts at 120 volts and toasts two slices at a time. The body is brushed stainless steel with a large full-color display on the front, and it sits especially well next to other stainless appliances.
