Meet Joule: How ChefSteps’ Connected Sous-Vide Cooker Evolved Under Breville

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Joule was a smartphone-controlled sous-vide immersion circulator launched by Seattle food-technology company ChefSteps in November 2015. Its slim, screen-free cylinder heated and circulated water around sealed food, while an app supplied temperatures, recipes, visual doneness guidance and remote monitoring. ChefSteps presented that combination of culinary expertise, software and engineering as a possible new model for the home kitchen—not proof that it had already revolutionized cooking.

The product is no longer exactly the 2015 device. Breville acquired ChefSteps’ assets, including Joule, in July 2019. The current US product is the Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide, integrated with Breville+ and marketed with updated cooking features.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Breville BSV600PSS Joule Turbo Sous Vide Machine, Polished Stainless Steel	$149.95	Buy on Amazon
2		Greater Goods Sous Vide Cooker, 1100W, No App or WiFi Needed (Onyx Black)	$89.99	Buy on Amazon
3		Sous Vide Cooker 1100W – Precision Immersion Circulator with ±0.2°F Accuracy, Quiet Brushless...	$83.99	Buy on Amazon
4		InkSous Sous Vide Cooker WiFi 2.4G,1000W Sous Vide Machine ISSV-200-W with Free APP w/ 18 Recipes,...	$95.99	Buy on Amazon
5		EVERIE Sous Vide Container 12 Quart with Collapsible Hinged Lid Compatible with Breville Joule Sous...	$35.99	Buy on Amazon

What Joule actually does

Joule is a precision immersion circulator for sous-vide cooking. The device does not heat food directly like an oven or pressure cooker. Instead, it brings a water bath to a selected temperature and continuously circulates the water so food cooks evenly.

1. Season food and place it in a suitable food-safe bag.
2. Submerge the bag in a heat-safe container filled with water.
3. Set the target temperature and cooking time in the app or, on current models, through the supported Breville+ experience.
4. Remove and dry the food. Many proteins need a separate finish in a skillet, grill or with a torch to develop browning.

Breville’s explanation of the method is available at its sous-vide guide. Precise water temperature can make doneness more repeatable, but it does not guarantee ideal texture, seasoning, browning or safe handling.

#1 Best Overall

Sale

Breville BSV600PSS Joule Turbo Sous Vide Machine, Polished Stainless Steel

• The Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide cooker provides an automated cooking experience in your kitchen, powered by the Joule App; Powerful sous vide machine makes cooking easy, especially cooking meat; Put it on Autopilot and let it do all the work
• TURBO MODE: Precise results in half the time; Breville's sous vide machine has a new Turbo feature; Uses complex algorithms and powerful cloud computing to cook sous vide proteins, including delicious chicken, steak and fish, in half the time
• VISUAL DONENESS: Select desired doneness results before you begin cooking your culinary masterpiece; Setting options include Rare, Medium, Well Done, and everything in between; It's the quick, simple and reliable way to get started with sous vide cooking
• PRIME TIME: Breville sous vide delivers a window of time when food is at its prime; Prime Time feature gives you ultimate flexibility to eat when you are ready, simplifying the cooking process and making time spent in the kitchen more efficient
• COOK GUIDES: Confidently cook your core ingredient with preset times and temperatures tested by the Breville Test Kitchen chefs; Experience sous vide steak like never before; Cook mouthwatering pork; Serve light and tasty fish; Now you can try it all

$149.95

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Why ChefSteps thought a circulator could change home cooking

ChefSteps argued that kitchens had accumulated appliances without experiencing a transformation comparable to the microwave. Its proposal was to make a restaurant technique approachable by putting difficult, repetitive decisions into a connected system.

The launch team combined chefs, designers, data scientists, mathematicians, fluid dynamicists and propulsion engineers. The idea was not to remove creativity, but to let software handle repeatable parts of cooking while cooks chose ingredients, flavors and finishing techniques. ChefSteps also discussed eventually exposing parts of its technology through APIs and an SDK so other manufacturers could build on the platform.

“Revolution” was the company’s ambition and marketing thesis, not an independently demonstrated result. Joule did, however, provide an early example of cooking as a combined hardware, app, recipe and data experience.

The people and company behind the launch

ChefSteps had built an audience with cooking videos, interactive lessons, online classes and a home-cook community before attempting hardware. Co-founder and CEO Chris Young had been the founding chef of Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck Experimental Kitchen. Co-founder Grant Crilly brought professional culinary experience. Both had worked with Nathan Myhrvold on Modernist Cuisine.

Rank #2

Greater Goods Sous Vide Cooker, 1100W, No App or WiFi Needed (Onyx Black)

• Get Doneness Right: Take the guesswork out of medium-rare steaks, juicy chicken, tender fish, and more with precise control that keeps the water at your chosen temperature. With 1100W power for baths up to 15L, continuous circulation moves heated water throughout the container and around your food for steady, even heat from every direction.
• Twist, Press, Cook: Set temperature and time on the cooker with a simple twist and press of the single dial—no app, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, accounts, or pairing required. A large, bright LED display sits at a 45° angle toward you, keeping your settings easy to see right from the counter without hovering over the pot.
• Precision You Can Fine-Tune: Choose any temperature from 68–203°F in 0.5°F increments, with easy °F/°C switching and a 0.1°F readout that tracks the water in real time. For home cooks who like to check for themselves, built-in calibration lets you fine-tune the reading against a trusted thermometer.
• Take Your Time: From homemade yogurt to weekend brisket and holiday roasts, give each recipe the time it calls for with a 1-minute to 99-hour timer, adjusting temperature anytime without resetting the clock. When your set time is reached, an audible alert sounds while the cooker holds temperature and an overtime counter tracks every minute beyond the timer.
• Guided From Start To Finish: Keep tabs on your cook while you move around the kitchen with a color-coded status light—blue when ready, pulsing blue while heating, pulsing green while cooking, and solid green once the timer reaches zero. Clearly marked MIN/MAX lines show where to fill, and if water runs low, heating stops as the status light turns red; simply refill and reconfirm your settings to continue.

$89.99

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Seattle-based ChefSteps received financial backing from Valve co-founder Gabe Newell, according to the 2015 launch coverage. Moving from digital content into a physical appliance meant taking on manufacturing, inventory, support and capital risks that a media business could avoid.

GeekWire’s launch report provides the founders’ background and the multidisciplinary development story. The phrase “top chefs” is best understood as promotional shorthand for these specific credentials and collaborators, not evidence that a large group of celebrity chefs jointly invented the appliance.

What made the original Joule unusual

The first Joule was designed to disappear into a drawer rather than occupy a permanent place on the counter.

Those specifications and the original mission are documented by GeekWire and ChefSteps’ launch announcement. Claims such as “smallest” or “most powerful” were manufacturer claims, not independent category measurements.

Rank #3

Sous Vide Cooker 1100W – Precision Immersion Circulator with ±0.2°F Accuracy, Quiet Brushless Motor, Adjustable Clamp, 4–20L Capacity, Stainless Steel, Built-In Timer, Easy Digital Control

• PRECISION COOKING, PERFECT RESULTS EVERY TIME: Achieve restaurant-quality meals with ±0.2°F temperature accuracy. Lock in flavor, moisture, and texture for consistently perfect steak, chicken, fish, and vegetables.
• POWERFUL 1100W FAST HEATING & CIRCULATION: High-performance 1100W motor quickly heats and evenly circulates water for consistent cooking. Ideal for 4–20L containers, from single meals to family portions.
• QUIET BRUSHLESS MOTOR - COOK WITHOUT DISRUPTION: Advanced low-noise design lets you cook anytime without disturbance- perfect for overnight cooking or relaxing while your meal prepares.
• EASY TO USE - NO GUESSWORK REQUIRED: Simple digital controls and built-in timer make it easy to set and forget. Great for beginners and experienced home chefs alike.
• DURABLE & SAFE DESIGN WITH ADJUSTABLE CLAMP: Made with 304 stainless steel and a 4-stage safety system (auto shut-off, low water detection, overheat protection). Adjustable clamp fits most pots securely.

$83.99

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The app was the product’s central interface

Removing a screen made the phone app essential rather than optional. Launch-era software let users start the circulator, select temperature and time, monitor progress and control the device remotely. Recipes supplied step-by-step instructions, and “Visual Doneness” let users choose a result from food images instead of beginning with a technical temperature.

The software could recognize whether a temperature was entered in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Current Breville material still emphasizes Visual Doneness, guided recipes and notifications. Product capabilities, app names and operating-system requirements can change, so buyers should check the current Joule product information rather than rely on launch-era phone requirements.

Remote operation is conditional on a compatible device, account, app and network configuration. Breville’s material describes Bluetooth operation as well as Wi-Fi on the connected product, but support can vary by model and region.

Why sous vide was a plausible mainstream use case

• Consistency: A controlled bath can make repeated batches of steak, poultry, fish, eggs or vegetables more predictable.
• Scheduling: Food can cook while the user performs other tasks, and batch meals can be prepared in a large container.
• Technical help: Guided recipes can reduce the intimidation of choosing temperatures and times.
• Forgiving workflow: The circulator can prevent food from exceeding the selected bath temperature, although time, thickness and finishing still matter.

The trade-offs are substantial. Sous vide usually takes longer than a skillet or pressure cooker, requires bags and a water container, and often needs a separate sear. Food safety remains the cook’s responsibility, including chilling, refrigeration and storage. “Never overcook” should therefore be read narrowly: the bath can hold a chosen temperature; it cannot guarantee perfect texture or safe handling.

Rank #4

InkSous Sous Vide Cooker WiFi 2.4G,1000W Sous Vide Machine ISSV-200-W with Free APP w/ 18 Recipes, Thermal Immersion Circulator with Timer Alarm & Calibration, 3D Fast Heating for Precision Cooking

• WIFI Remote Sous Vide Cooker: Open the InkSous sous vide wifi app and start your sousvide (3D Water Fast Heating) on the way home. With 2.4GHz WiFi and multi-user access for up to 100 family members, anyone can monitor or adjust this sous vide cooking from APP remotely. Walk through the door to a perfectly cooked steak that's been waiting for you, not the other way around
• Sous Vide APP with 18 Chef-Grade Preset Menus: New to this wifi sous vide cooker machine? The bright LCD and 18 built-in recipes take the guesswork out of every meal prep.Simply clamp the immersion circulator to any pot up to 15L, seal your ingredients, and select your preset. Instantly toggle between °F and °C, or fine-tune with the calibration feature. Uniform heating for consistent meat texture.From Sunday roast to weekly meal-prep chicken, pro-quality cooking is now as easy as pressing a button
• Quiet Operation & High Precision — At under 40 dB, this thermal circulator is quieter than your refrigerator, so this suvee cooker won't interrupt movie night or wake a sleeping baby. A broad temperature range (32°F–194°F / 0°C–90°C) and the ±1°F(0.1℃) accuracy locks in edge-to-edge perfection, whether you're craving 129°F medium-rare steak or delicate soft eggs for brunch. Set the 100-hour timer and focus on your day instead of hovering over the stove
• Protection and Temperature Alarm: If water drops below the minimum line, this smart sous vide circulator will auto-shuts off and triggers an immediate alarm. When your target temperature is reached or cooking finishes, the alert notifies you right away via mobile notification. Unattended precision that this sous-vide fits your real schedule
• Fast Heat,Easy Clean & Durable: The immersion cooker has adopted stainless steel column and high-end fast heating element. The 1000W stainless steel element brings water up to temp rapidly, while 3D circulation keeps the entire bath consistent. When dinner is done, the detachable stainless steel sleeve rinses clean in seconds. Designed for everyday home chefs, this InkSous wifi sous vide cooker ISSV-200-W delivers restaurant-quality meals while keeping cleanup simple

$95.99

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The business risk behind the kitchen vision

ChefSteps acknowledged that hardware was expensive, time-consuming and risky, with little expectation of immediate profit. A connected appliance adds factory quality control, logistics, warranty service, software maintenance and customer support to the cost of developing recipes and media.

The later ownership change is the clearest documented business outcome. Breville acquired ChefSteps’ assets, including the Joule circulator and ChefSteps.com, in July 2019. The acquisition placed Joule inside a larger appliance company, but the available records do not establish that ChefSteps’ original standalone “kitchen revolution” business plan succeeded on its own terms.

See Breville’s 2019 filing and its 2021 annual report for the acquisition and integration context.

2026 update: what the Joule Turbo adds

The active US model is the Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide. Breville says selected dishes can be cooked in as little as half the time of conventional sous vide. That comparison applies to selected recipes; it is not a promise that every ingredient or schedule takes half as long.

Best Value

EVERIE Sous Vide Container 12 Quart with Collapsible Hinged Lid Compatible with Breville Joule Sous Vide Immersion Circulator Cooker (Side Mount)

• Everie Sous Vide Bundle - 12 Quart container and lid with side mount hole to snugly mount Breville Joule cooker to the container. Does not fit Anova or other brands sous vide cookers. Hole diameter 48mm/1.89"
• Minimum Water Evaporation - Cook long time even over night without having to refill water.
• Collapsible Lid - The hinge is close to the machine giving enough space to check or refill or remove ingredients any time. Please check the image of the notice of installation to make sure the lid fits.
• No Clamps Required - The lid fits to the container snugly to clamps the sealed bags to stop it from swimming in the bath, no additional clamps required.
• Compatible with Breville Joule only.

$35.99

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Confirm the live checkout price and regional specifications on Breville’s Joule Turbo page. Breville+ is the current connected platform; its app and content offering are described at Breville+. The Turbo retains the original motor, magnetic foot and connected concept while adding the newer Turbo, Primetime and recipe functions, so it should not be treated as identical to a 2015 unit.

Legacy Joule owners need a model-specific check

Breville’s support documentation has distinguished the original Joule from Joule Turbo and has stated that the original device could not, at that time, be paired with the newer app. Other support pages direct Joule owners to Breville+. Because compatibility can depend on model, region and current app releases, legacy owners should verify support before buying used equipment or depending on it for an event.

For a transferred used unit, check the exact model number, warranty and parts availability. Breville’s FAQ describes a reset involving unplugging and reconnecting the unit, then holding the top button until the light blinks yellow. Follow the current instructions at Breville’s Joule Turbo FAQ.

What you need to use Joule safely

• A compatible smartphone or tablet and the relevant current app.
• A heat-safe pot, container or sous-vide vessel with enough room for circulation.
• Food-safe bags or another suitable containment method.
• A heat-safe work surface; steam, splashing and condensation can damage unsuitable materials or nearby electronics.
• A skillet, grill or torch for foods that need browning.
• Reliable refrigeration and food-safety practices for chilling, storage and delayed service.

A special pan is not required: ChefSteps says Joule can run in a regular pot. The magnetic foot only holds to suitable magnetic steel cookware, and a separate Big Clamp may help with larger containers. Guidance on cookware and surfaces is available from ChefSteps support.

Who should consider it—and who should not

Good fit

• Frequent home cooks who want repeatable protein doneness.
• Meal preppers and batch cooks using larger water baths.
• People who value guided recipes, notifications and remote monitoring.
• Cooks willing to finish food separately for browning.

Poor fit

• People who cook sous vide only occasionally.
• Users who want physical controls or offline operation.
• Buyers seeking one appliance for baking, roasting, frying and searing.
• Anyone unwilling to manage bags, water, app setup and food-safety procedures.

A traditional stovetop water bath costs less but demands more monitoring and is less precise. A non-connected circulator suits app-averse cooks. Other connected circulators may differ in price, onboard controls, container compatibility and support, but availability and current specifications should be checked individually. Countertop smart ovens and precision induction cookers serve different jobs: the Joule Oven targets baking, roasting and air frying, while Control Freak Home targets precise pan cooking rather than water-bath circulation.

What Joule’s lasting significance is

Joule did not single-handedly prove that the kitchen had been revolutionized. Its enduring significance is more specific: ChefSteps treated a cooking appliance as a coordinated system of industrial design, culinary knowledge, software guidance, connectivity and content. Breville’s continued Joule line shows that this model found a place inside a broader appliance strategy, even as the hardware, app and ownership changed.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1

Breville BSV600PSS Joule Turbo Sous Vide Machine, Polished Stainless Steel

$149.95

Bestseller No. 2

Greater Goods Sous Vide Cooker, 1100W, No App or WiFi Needed (Onyx Black)

$89.99

Bestseller No. 3

Sous Vide Cooker 1100W – Precision Immersion Circulator with ±0.2°F Accuracy, Quiet Brushless Motor, Adjustable Clamp, 4–20L Capacity, Stainless Steel, Built-In Timer, Easy Digital Control

$83.99

Bestseller No. 4

InkSous Sous Vide Cooker WiFi 2.4G,1000W Sous Vide Machine ISSV-200-W with Free APP w/ 18 Recipes, Thermal Immersion Circulator with Timer Alarm & Calibration, 3D Fast Heating for Precision Cooking

$95.99

Bestseller No. 5

EVERIE Sous Vide Container 12 Quart with Collapsible Hinged Lid Compatible with Breville Joule Sous Vide Immersion Circulator Cooker (Side Mount)

Minimum Water Evaporation - Cook long time even over night without having to refill water.

$35.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.