Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL Review: The Ultimate Balance of Power and Convenience?

I remember my first foray into the world of juicing. It started with a zealous commitment to health and a budget-friendly, slow-masticating juicer I picked up online. The promise was nutrient-rich, vibrant juice. The reality? A kitchen counter that looked like a farmer’s market explosion, an hour spent chopping endless piles of carrots and apples into tiny, manageable pieces, and a tedious, multi-stage cleanup that made me question my life choices. The delicious juice was almost an afterthought to the sheer effort involved. I quickly realized that for a juicing habit to stick, it needs to fit seamlessly into a busy life. It has to be fast, powerful, and forgiving. This frustrating experience is what led me on a quest for a machine that valued my time as much as my health, a search that ultimately pointed me toward centrifugal juicers and the highly-regarded Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL.

What to Consider Before Buying a Centrifugal Juicer

A centrifugal juicer is more than just a kitchen appliance; it’s a key solution for anyone who wants to incorporate fresh, homemade juice into their diet without the significant time commitment required by other methods. These machines work by using a flat cutting blade on the bottom of a rapidly spinning basket to shred produce, then flinging the juice out through a fine mesh filter by centrifugal force. The main benefits are incredible speed and the ability to handle whole fruits and vegetables, drastically cutting down on preparation time. A glass of fresh apple-carrot-ginger juice can be ready in under a minute, a feat that makes maintaining a daily juicing habit realistic rather than a chore.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing a time crunch—busy professionals, parents trying to get more nutrients into their kids, or fitness enthusiasts needing a quick post-workout recovery drink. If your primary goal is convenience and speed for juicing hard fruits and vegetables like apples, beets, and carrots, a centrifugal model is likely the perfect fit. However, it might not be suitable for those who are juicing purists focused exclusively on maximizing the yield from leafy greens like kale and spinach, or those who prioritize the longest possible shelf life for their juice. For them, a slower, more methodical masticating (or cold press) juicer, which chews and squeezes produce, would be a better, albeit more time-consuming, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Centrifugal juicers, with their powerful motors and large pulp containers, can have a significant footprint. The Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL measures 14.09″D x 12.6″W x 16.42″H. Before buying, measure your counter space and storage area to ensure it will fit comfortably. Consider if you’ll be storing it on the counter or in a cabinet, as its height might be a factor for upper cabinet clearance.
• Capacity/Performance: Look at the motor’s wattage, the feed chute’s diameter, and the capacity of the juice jug and pulp container. An 850-watt motor, like the one in this Breville model, is exceptionally powerful for its price class, capable of pulverizing hard root vegetables with ease. A wide, 3-inch feed chute is a non-negotiable feature for convenience, as it minimizes pre-cutting and saves valuable time.
• Materials & Durability: The quality of the materials directly impacts the machine’s lifespan and performance. Look for a stainless steel cutting disc and micro-mesh filter, as these are the components doing the heavy lifting. The Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL uses a titanium-reinforced disc for added durability, housed in a heavy-grade polymer body that feels sturdy and is easy to wipe clean. While a full stainless steel body might feel more premium, this combination offers excellent durability for the price.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Juicing is only sustainable if the cleanup isn’t a nightmare. Check for dishwasher-safe components, a simple assembly/disassembly process, and whether a cleaning brush is included for the tricky mesh filter. The best juicers are designed with rounded parts and minimal crevices to prevent pulp from getting trapped, which is a key advantage we found in our testing of this machine. If you’re considering a centrifugal juicer, you can explore the full feature set and user feedback on this model.

While the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Well-Built Machine Designed for Speed

Unboxing the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL, the first thing we noticed was the thoughtful design and solid construction. It doesn’t feel like a flimsy, budget appliance. The brushed silver finish gives it a professional look, and the components click together with a satisfying and secure feel. Assembly was incredibly intuitive; right out of the box, we had it put together in under two minutes without even glancing at the manual. The locking safety arm is a standout feature, preventing the juicer from operating unless the cover is securely in place—a crucial safety measure given the high-speed spinning disc.

Included in the box are the juicer base, a large 2.6-quart pulp container, a 35.2 fl oz juice jug with a built-in froth separator, and a specially designed cleaning brush. Every piece feels purposeful. The power cord cleverly wraps around the feet at the base of the unit for tidy storage, a small but appreciated detail. Compared to cheaper models that often feel plasticky and unstable, the Breville has a reassuring heft and stability, weighing in at just over 10 pounds. It immediately gives the impression of a serious piece of equipment ready to tackle whatever produce you throw at it. You can check the latest price and availability for this impressive juicer.

A Deep Dive into the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL’s Performance

After several weeks of rigorous daily testing, putting the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL through its paces with everything from tough beets and fibrous ginger to soft oranges and watery cucumbers, we have a comprehensive understanding of where this machine truly shines and where its limitations lie. It’s a powerhouse of convenience, but understanding its specific performance characteristics is key to determining if it’s the right juicer for your kitchen.

Raw Power and Speed: The 850-Watt Motor in Action

The heart of this machine is its 850-watt dual-speed motor, and it does not disappoint. This is where the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL distinguishes itself from many competitors in its price range, which often feature motors with less than half the power. During our tests, the difference was palpable. On the high setting (12,000 RPM), designed for hard produce, the juicer absolutely obliterated whole carrots, dense beets, and firm apples with a ferocious roar. There was no hesitation, no motor strain, just a rapid conversion of solid vegetable to liquid juice. One user perfectly captured this sentiment, stating it “chews through fruits and veggies easily.” We found this to be consistently true; the machine processes ingredients so quickly that you can feed them in as fast as you can push them down the chute.

The lower speed setting (6,500 RPM) is designed for softer fruits and leafy greens. We used this for oranges, cucumbers, and kale. While it’s effective for soft fruits, its performance with leafy greens is a known trade-off for centrifugal juicers. We confirmed what many users noted: the yield from kale and spinach is modest, and the pulp comes out noticeably damp. For best results with greens, we found that balling them up tightly and sandwiching them between harder items like apple slices helped to extract more juice. The dual-speed functionality is a crucial feature, though, allowing for a degree of control that optimizes the extraction process across a wide variety of produce. This raw power is a feature that really sets it apart in its category.

The 3-Inch Chute: A Game-Changer for Prep Time

Perhaps the single greatest quality-of-life feature of the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL is its extra-wide 3-inch feed chute. This design choice directly addresses the most tedious part of juicing: the prep work. In our kitchen, this feature was a revelation. We were able to feed in whole small-to-medium apples, peeled oranges, and large carrots without any pre-cutting. This saved an immense amount of time and effort, transforming juicing from a 20-minute project into a 5-minute task. Many users echoed our enthusiasm, with one reviewer highlighting, “I love the wide mouth chute because I don’t have to cut everything up first.”

This convenience is what makes the juicer so appealing for daily use. When you can simply wash your produce and feed it directly into the machine, you’re far more likely to make juicing a regular habit. We did notice a minor quirk, also mentioned by a user, where very small or final pieces of hard vegetables like carrots can sometimes “dance” on top of the spinning disc without being fully processed. This was infrequent and only resulted in a tiny amount of waste, but it’s worth noting. Overall, the benefit of bypassing the chopping board far outweighs this small imperfection. The time saved makes the entire juicing process feel effortless and accessible.

Juice Yield and Quality: Fast, Fresh, and a Little Foamy

The Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL produces delicious, fresh-tasting juice. The Unique Extraction System, combining the titanium-reinforced cutting disc with the Italian-made micro-mesh filter, does an excellent job of separating juice from pulp at high speed. The resulting juice is smooth, though as is typical with centrifugal juicers, it contains a fair amount of foam due to the high-speed aeration of the process. Breville cleverly addresses this with the included 35.2 fl oz juice jug, which features a built-in froth separator. When you pour, it effectively holds back the majority of the foam, leaving you with a cleaner glass of juice. We found this to be a simple but highly effective design feature.

When it comes to yield, the results are very good for hard and high-water-content produce. We got an impressive amount of juice from apples, cucumbers, celery, and beets. The pulp from these items was consistently compacted and relatively dry. However, as discussed, the story changes with leafy greens and some softer fruits, where the pulp is visibly wetter. One user astutely noted, “The pulp is not as dry as saw dust, but it’s only slightly wet.” This is the fundamental trade-off of a centrifugal juicer: you exchange some yield and nutrient preservation (due to oxidation) for incredible speed. For most everyday users, this is a compromise worth making. The juice is best consumed immediately to maximize its nutritional value.

From Juicing to Cleanup: A Surprisingly Seamless Workflow

If prep time is the first barrier to a juicing habit, cleanup is the second. Breville clearly engineered the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL to overcome this hurdle. Disassembly is as fast as assembly—simply unlatch the safety arm, lift the cover, and the five main components (plunger, cover, filter basket, filter bowl surround, and pulp container) come apart instantly. We timed our cleanup process, and a thorough rinse of all parts immediately after juicing took less than three minutes. As one happy user stated, “Cleanup? Super easy.”

Most components are top-rack dishwasher safe, offering another layer of convenience. However, the most critical part, the stainless steel micro-mesh filter, requires special attention. Pulp can dry and clog the tiny pores, making it difficult to clean later. The included nylon bristle brush is perfectly designed for this task. We found that a quick, firm scrub under running water right after use kept the filter pristine. Some users have found clever hacks, like placing a compostable bag in the pulp container, to make cleanup even faster. While one reviewer lamented having to wash several pieces, we found the process to be so quick and straightforward that it never felt like a burden, solidifying this machine’s status as a genuinely user-friendly appliance. The simplified cleaning process is a major reason why this model remains a top recommendation, and you can see why so many users praise its ease of use.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, user feedback for the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL is overwhelmingly positive, centering on a few key themes. The most frequently praised attribute is its raw power and speed. One user summed it up perfectly: “This juicer is powerful! I’ve been using it almost every day and it makes fresh juice in seconds.” This sentiment is echoed by many who have upgraded from less powerful models and were amazed by the difference.

Another common point of praise is the combination of the wide chute and easy cleanup. A reviewer shared, “I’m so glad we made this purchase! … It juices FAST and is one of the easiest I’ve had to clean.” This highlights the core value proposition of the machine: making healthy habits sustainable for busy people and families.

However, the feedback isn’t without its criticisms, which align with our own findings. Several users mention the noise level, noting that while it’s only on for a minute or two, it is quite loud. The most common performance-related complaint, which we also verified, is its inefficiency with leafy greens. Some users also report issues with leaking or splattering if the lid isn’t perfectly aligned and locked, as one person noted: “If the top is completely aligned w the bottom portion and placed properly in, then it will not leak.” This underscores the importance of proper assembly, as a slight misalignment can cause messy problems.

How the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL Compares to the Alternatives

While the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL is a formidable contender, the market is filled with strong competitors. Here’s how it stacks up against three notable alternatives.

1. KOIOS Centrifugal Juicer 3-Inch Feed

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The KOIOS juicer makes a compelling case with its beefy 1300-watt motor and three-speed settings, offering more power and control than Breville’s two-speed, 850-watt model. This extra power may translate to slightly more efficient extraction, particularly with very tough produce. Like the Breville, it features a 3-inch feed chute for minimal prep. For users who want the absolute maximum power available in this price range and appreciate the granular control of a third speed setting, the KOIOS is an excellent alternative. However, Breville’s long-standing reputation for build quality and thoughtful design might give it the edge for those prioritizing reliability and a proven track record.

2. NutriBullet Juicer Pro Centrifugal Juicer 1000W

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Coming from the well-known NutriBullet brand, the Juicer Pro offers a 1000-watt motor, placing it between the Breville and the KOIOS in terms of raw power. It boasts a similar wide feed chute and multiple speed settings, along with a reputation for user-friendly design. It also includes accessories like freezer trays and glass-to-go bottles in some packages, which might appeal to those looking for an all-in-one juicing starter kit. The choice between the NutriBullet Pro and the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL may come down to brand loyalty, specific accessory needs, and current pricing, as both offer a very similar core experience of fast, powerful, and convenient juicing.

3. Breville Juice Fountain Cold XL Juicer

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For those with a larger budget who are committed to the Breville ecosystem, the Juice Fountain Cold XL represents a significant upgrade. Its main selling point is Breville’s “Cold Spin Technology,” which is designed to transfer less than 1.8°F of heat during the juicing process, better preserving delicate vitamins and enzymes. It also features a massive 70 fl oz seal-and-store juice jug, a more powerful motor, and a quieter operation mode. This machine is for the serious, high-volume juicer who wants the speed of a centrifugal model but with enhanced nutrient preservation and a more premium build. It is a substantial investment compared to the JE98XL, making it a choice for enthusiasts rather than beginners.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL Worth It?

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is a resounding yes. The Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL stands out as a near-perfect entry point into the world of fast, efficient juicing. It masterfully balances power, convenience, and value, making it an ideal choice for anyone whose previous attempts at juicing were derailed by tedious prep and cleanup. Its powerful 850-watt motor and game-changing 3-inch feed chute slash preparation time, while its intelligently designed, dishwasher-safe parts make the end-of-process cleanup feel like an afterthought. While it shares the common centrifugal-juicer weaknesses of being loud and less effective on leafy greens, its strengths in handling hard fruits and vegetables are undeniable.

This is the juicer for the busy parent, the time-crunched professional, and anyone who wants to make a healthy lifestyle change that actually sticks. It removes the most significant barriers to forming a daily juicing habit. If you’re looking for a reliable, powerful, and remarkably user-friendly machine that delivers delicious juice in seconds without demanding a huge investment of time or money, the Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL is an exceptional choice. Ready to make fresh, hassle-free juice a part of your daily routine? You can purchase your Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL right here.

Last update on 2025-11-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API