Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 vs CS20001: What’s the Difference?
In your research for finding the best sous vide machine for you to use at home, you might have noticed that the leading brand, Breville, has two very similar products. These are the Joule Sous Vide CS10001 (stainless steel) and Joule Sous Vide CS20001 (polycarbonate).
Both look the same and seem to have the same features, so here I’ll aim to help you understand the difference between the Joule CS10001 vs CS20001 (the Joule stainless steel vs polycarbonate).
Note: You also might have seen the brand ChefSteps associated with the Joule sous vide machines. This is because ChefSteps was the original manufacturer, but Breville has since acquired ChefSteps. So if you see ‘ChefSteps’ on your package, just know that it’s still the same product. Click here for more information.
What Are the Differences and Similarities Between the Joule Models?
The Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 is the original model that has a stainless steel finish for the top button and magnetic base. On the other hand, the Breville Joule Sous Vide CS20001 is a newer model and has a white, polycarbonate finish.
This key difference between these two sous vide cookers is the reason for the difference in price. The CS20001 costs less because polycarbonate is cheaper to make compared to stainless steel.
Outside of the finishing material and cost, these two sous vide immersion circulators are the same. They’re both the same compact size, light weight, have the same powerful water heating capacity, and have the extremely convenient magnetic base to hold the unit in place to most pots.
Take a look at my table below comparing the Joule Sous Vide stainless steel vs polycarbonate models.
| Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 | Breville Joule Sous Vide CS20001 |
|---|---|
| Original model | Newer model |
| Stainless steel finish for top button and magnetic base | White polycarbonate finish for top button and magnetic base |
| 11.0 x 1.85 inches in dimension | 11.0 x 1.85 inches in dimension |
| 1100 Watts of power for very fast heating of water bath | 1100 Watts of power for very fast heating of water bath |
| Check price | Check price |
For more details on the features and full product specifications for the Breville Joule Sous Vide stainless steel vs white polycarbonate models, keep reading and see my more detailed table at the end of this article.
Breville Joule Sous Vide Review
The Breville Joule Sous Vide immersion circulators are known for their minimalist design with optimal functionality. Now that you understand that the Joule CS10001 and Joule CS20001 models are equally excellent and work the same, let’s take a closer look at the features.
- Lightweight, sleek and compact. The Joule line of sous vide machines is the smallest available. The Joule can easily be stored in your kitchen drawer, saving you considerably on counter top space. If you’re on-the-go, the Joule is also very portable and will easily fit in your bag.
- Bluetooth and WiFi capable. You can use either Bluetooth or WiFi to control your Joule remotely. Use these to connect to the iPhone or Android app to set your cooking time and temperature. A really cool feature about the app is the Visual Doneness feature, which shows you an image of exactly how your food will look when finished cooking to give you an idea of how well you want it cooked. If you have an Amazon Alexa or Google Home, you can also connect to this to control your Joule remotely while you’re busy moving around and getting things done in the kitchen. With the WiFi capability, you can also control your Joule from work while it’s running at home and connected to WiFi!
- Magnetic base. The Joule is known for its magnetic base. This is a super easy and convenient way to hold your sous vide machine to most pots (ones that are metal and induction-ready) to keep it in place. If you want to use a plastic container, no worries. The Joule also has a clip, so you can attach it to almost any container.
- Fast water heating. With a powerful wattage, the Joule heats water faster than most other sous vide machines. It can reach a maximum water temperature of 208 °F (98 °C). Not only does it preheat your water bath super fast so you don’t have to wait too long, but it’s also very precise in heating the water bath to your target cooking temperature.
- Large water capacity. The Joule is also impressive in how much water it can heat. It can heat up to 10 gallons (40 liters) of water in a well-insulated, covered container. And in a covered pot, it can heat about 5 gallons (20 liters). If your container doesn’t have a cover, it’s recommended to limit the water volume to about 2.5 gallons (10 liters).
Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 vs. CS20001 Product Specifications Comparison
| Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 | Breville Joule Sous Vide CS20001 | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Original model | Newer model |
| Finish of Top Button and Magnetic Base | Stainless steel | White polycarbonate |
| Dimensions | 11.0 x 1.85 inches | 11.0 x 1.85 inches |
| Weight | 1.28 pounds | 1.28 pounds |
| Maximum Water Bath Capacity | 10+ gallons (40+ liters) | 10+ gallons (40+ liters) |
| Wattage | 1100 Watts | 1100 Watts |
| Voltage | 120 Volts | 120 Volts |
| Maximum Water Temperature | 208 °F (98 °C) | 208 °F (98 °C) |
| Bluetooth Capability | Yes, Bluetooth 4.0 | Yes, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Wi-Fi Compatible | Yes, 2.4 Ghz only | Yes, 2.4 Ghz only |
| Control | Set temperature, timing, and other settings using the iPhone or Android app or Amazon Alexa | Set temperature, timing, and other settings using the iPhone or Android app or Amazon Alexa |
| Material | UL Certified Polycarbonate, Stainless Steel | UL Certified Polycarbonate, Stainless Steel |
| Maximum Water Depth | 8 inch (203mm) | 8 inch (203mm) |
| Minimum Water Depth | 1.5 inch (38mm) | 1.5 inch (38mm) |
| Temperature Accuracy | 0.2 °F / 0.1 °C | 0.2 °F / 0.1 °C |
| Warranty | 1 year limited | 1 year limited |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Read also: 12 Different Uses for Sous Vide Cookers
Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 vs. CS20001 Summary
All in all, when comparing the Breville Joule Sous Vide CS10001 to the Breville Joule Sous Vide CS20001, what it comes down to is aesthetics (stainless steel vs white polycarbonate) and cost.
If you like the more classic look of the stainless steel finish of the magnetic base and top button, that’s great. Just remember that it costs a bit more due to the stainless steel material being more expensive compared to polycarbonate.
You can’t go wrong with the white polycarbonate version either, as it has the exact same excellent functionality as the stainless steel one.
These are both top-of-the-line sous vide machines. It really just comes down to personal choice.
For tips on taking care of or troubleshooting your new Joule, check out my guides below on:
- Cleaning the Joule
- Connecting Joule to Amazon Alexa devices or Google Home
- Troubleshooting common problems with Joule
For more sous vide comparison articles and reviews, check out these below:
