Is it cheaper to make your own bread with a breadmaker? And is it as good?

[IlanaK]

We currently spend about £2-£3 per loaf of bread as we buy the really good solid loaves (usually spelt) from the farmer's market or places like Flour Power.

I have bought cheaper bread in supermarkets (including more expensive ones like M+S) and it just does not compare. We like a really solid loaf where the bread really fills you up.

So, if I got a breadmaker, can I make this type of bread? And is it much cheaper? How much does it cost per loaf (not including the cost of the machine)? And are they easy to use? I have three young kids so no time!

Thanks.

we have a Panasonic 253 that's several years old and still going strong.

We buy flour 5kg at a time and it's not too bad to store.

Yes, I'm London. MArylebone to be specific. We really are spoiled for bread here. There are three great bread stalls at out market at the weekend (one of which is Flour Power). My husband works near Borogh Market so can get their bread there too. And I have the independant baker on my street.

It depends on the breadmaker. If you buy a panasonic, it will be cheaper and nicer. Read reviews on Amazon to decide model (I think the 255 is the latest, but some say the finishing beep to say it is done is too quiet).

We had probs with ours recently but it was the poor quality of flour from recent summers so had to switch from Hovis and Sainsbury's bog standard to Waitrose (99p a 1.5kg bag) and it is perfect again.

Does anyone know where I can get a bread maker with TWO blades in the bowl?
Apparently they make a normal shaped loaf.

Here and it's German so will be VERY efficient (I'm allowed to say that because I live here!)