BREVILLE ESPRESSO MACHINES
In 1932, Bill O'Brien and Harry Norville mixed their last names together and the Breville brand was created. They started off making radios, then mine detectorsfor the war. After World War II and the arrival of the television, they turned their attentions to small appliances and sold the radio business. After Bill O'Brien had set up the Breville Research and Development center in the 1960's the ideas just kept coming. In 1974, they invented the toastie maker. In 1977, they invented Australia's first food processor, the Breville Kitchen Wizz. Breville's Centre of Design Excellence is in Botany in Sydney
Ownership of the brand is now split. In Europe, it is owned by Pulse Home Products Outside of Europe, the Breville brand is now a division of the Australian Housewares International, which also has bases in the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand.
The company makes kettles, toaster, microwave ovens, irons, pressure cookers, coffeemakers, breadmakers, juicers, deep fryers, and food processors.
- Ross Nobel referred to the Breville in a stand-up sketch, in which he described a monkey with a Breville attached to his leg, so when he fancied a cheese toasted sandwich, he would clap his hands and shout "Breville Monkey!".
- In Shawn of the Dead, when Shaun is desperately trying to think up an impressively swank restaurant where he can take his girlfriend to, his slacker friend Ed suggests their regular pub because "They have a Breville out back!".
- In 2007, Oprah listed Breville's Panini Press in her list: "Oprah's Favorite Things 2007."
