We first used this toaster in a youth hostel in Wales and fell in love. My husband loves toast more than any one I've ever met. He loves this the dualit for a few reasons1. The manuel lever, which allows you to toast multiple pieces of toast without having to wait for the element to cool. His biggest frustration was the toast popping back up immediately after he pushed it down with a conventional toaster.2. The manuel lever also means your toast stays warm until you retrieve it.3. It will last a lifetime4. it looks great along with being functionalIt is a spendy item, but if you love toast, it is definitely worth every penny.