Alongside the separate browning controls for each pair of slots, which are controlled by a small stick below each dial window, you’ll find an array of buttons down the centre with cancel, reheat and defrost modes, plus a bagel setting for when you only want to toast something on one side. With its sophisticated metallic grey finish and chrome detailing, this De’Longhi Distinta 4-Slice Toaster already has a lot going for it. The toast itself was still tasty stuff, but I did notice that certain bites were less crispy than others. We loved its unusual industrial look, with brushed chrome, dials with six browning settings in place of the traditional knob, and soft angles that give it an Art Deco feel.

Founded in the early twentieth century in Treviso, De’Longhi are an Italian engineering company famous for their stylish and high-quality home appliances. This isn’t hard to do, but when the dials only turn in 90-degree increments, it doesn’t feel like it was designed to work this way. This De'Longhi CTI4003 Distinta Flair Toaster 4-Slice Toaster cleverly combines futuristic and vintage design elements to make a truly iconic toaster.The De’Longhi Distinta looks great and it’s not a bad toaster, but a number of small issues add up to tarnish it in my eyes. With its sophisticated metallic red finish and chrome detailing, this De’Longhi Distinta 4-Slice Toaster already has a lot going for it.

There are two crumb trays accessed at the back and the toaster’s feet have excellent grip: there’s no danger of the De’Longhi slipping around as you use it. These unique browning controls include a defrost setting, so you can toast straight from the freezer, and a re-heat option should you leave your toast just that little bit too long. Offering six shades of brown via the progressive browning controls, everyone’s toast can be done just how they like it – and because the controls can be adjusted independently of each other, you can toast two different shades at once. The back of the machine toasts slightly less than the front and sometimes one side of a slice turned out slightly browner than the other.Our range of support options ensure you experience an easy and hassle free process when you need to talk to us about your Product Care ™ plan. But when you add in the fact that it makes slice after slice of perfectly browned toast (there are six shades to choose from), we’re sure you’ll be able to find space for it in your kitchen, preferably alongside the matching kettle. After an assessment, if your product suffers a fault covered by the terms of your plan, we’ll arrange to have a brand new replacement delivered to your doorstep. Extra-high liftThe handy extra lift position makes it simple to retrieve smaller slices of bread or crumpets without the risk of burnt fingers.

Underneath is the usual space for keeping your cable neat and tidy, and the cable itself is a standard 65cm long. The handy extra lift position makes it simple to retrieve smaller slices of bread or crumpets without the risk of burnt fingers. Control is fully variable so you can crisp your toast as you like it and you can operate 2 slots independently of the others.

There isn’t great access to smaller items, it’s not the quickest or the most power efficient, the controls are little fiddly and the toasting isn’t brilliantly even either.

However, a four-slot design like this isn’t as flexible as a model with two long slots, which can then take a whole pitta lying down or a whole slice from the middle of a big round loaf. The front is somewhat cluttered with controls, but it’s got more or less every feature you could wish for. Refunds will be credited to the original payment method as soon as they are received but some banks may take up to 14 days to credit your account. The Distinta Flair collection is truly unique just like those that select it to grace their worktop. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) must never be placed in your waste disposal or recycle bins.But it wasn’t a patch on the Dualit Brushed Architect Four-Slice Toaster’s excellent bagel setting which leaves the undersides warm but beautifully soft.