Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS vs Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine

The verdict

Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS and Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine score the same, 6.3 out of 10, so the choice is what each is better at rather than which is better.

Who each one suits

Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS

A drip machine for somebody who would otherwise be brewing by hand

Scores higher on brew quality, build quality & durability.

Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine

Home users who want retro-styled drip coffee with basic programmability and adjustable brew strength

Scores higher on ease of use & cleaning, capacity & flexibility.

How they score, criterion by criterion

Both are scored the same way against the rest of their category, from what their makers publish. The weight is how much each criterion moves the total. How the score works

CriterionWeightBreville Precision Brewer BDC400BSSSmeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine
Brew Quality22%8.35.0
Brewing Control & Programmability16%8.88.8
Build Quality & Durability15%5.04.5
Ease of Use & Cleaning14%6.58.0
Carafe & Heat Retention13%3.53.5
Capacity & Flexibility10%8.18.8
Value for Money10%5.05.0

What each one costs

PriceNot publicly statedNot publicly stated

Where they differ

Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.

Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSSSmeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine
Brand founded—1948
Based in—Guastalla, Italy
Best forA drip machine for somebody who would otherwise be brewing by handHome users who want retro-styled drip coffee with basic programmability and adjustable brew strength
What sets it apartPID temperature control and three flow rates, plus a cold brew cycle, on a drip machineRetro-style glossy stainless steel and plastic body with polished chrome base, pairing Smeg's distinctive aesthetic with adjustable aroma intensity and autostart in a drip coffee machine.
Compared with—Cuisinart DCC-3200, Breville BDC450, KitchenAid KCM1209
Auto shut-off—60 min
Bloom / pre-infusion✓—
Body MaterialBrushed stainless steel—
Brew Modes6: Gold, Fast, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew and My Brew—
Brew Temperature NoteBreville publishes PID control on this listing but no temperature figure and no SCA claim—
Capacity Cups12, from a published 60oz10 cups
Capacity1770, published as 60oz—
Carafe TypeGlassGlass carafe
Cold Brew✓—
Colour Options—Black (glossy), additional colours available in other product codes
Dimensions170 x 315 x 399 mm—
Dishwasher-safe parts—Permanent filter and filter holder
Filter Basket ShapesBoth a flat bottom and a cone basket are included—
Filter Type—Permanent stainless steel and plastic filter included
Flow Rates3, which the maker says optimise contact time—
Gold Cup NoteThe Gold preset targets the Gold Cup Standard. Breville does not claim the machine is certified, so no certification is recorded—
Heating SystemThermo Coil, which Breville says delivers purer water than systems using aluminium—
Hot Plate✓✓
Permanent filterNot published on this listingYes
PID control✓—
Power—1050 W
Programmable✓—
Programmable Timer✓✓
Showerhead NoteNot published on this listing—
Single-cup modeNot published on this listingYes, 1 to 4 cups function
Strength control✓✓
Warranty—1 year
Water reservoir—1.4 L
Weight—3.2 kg

Pros and cons

From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.

Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS
  • +Six modes including a dedicated cold brew cycle, plus a customisable My Brew
  • +PID control with three flow rates and an adjustable bloom time, which is more control than anything else here
  • +Both a flat bottom and a cone basket included
  • +A Thermo Coil system Breville says delivers purer water than aluminium systems
  • −Breville publishes PID but no temperature figure, and makes no SCA claim: the Gold preset targets the standard rather than being certified to it
  • −A glass carafe on a hot plate
  • −No price and no warranty term published
Full Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS review →
Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine
  • +A permanent stainless and plastic filter included, dishwasher safe with its holder
  • +Two strength levels and a 1 to 4 cup function, with programmable auto start
  • +A 1.4 litre reservoir and a 60-minute keep-warm on a stainless heating plate
  • −No price is published for it here
  • −A glass carafe on a heating plate
  • −A one-year warranty, and no brew temperature or SCA certification published
Full Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine review →

Every specification, side by side

Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSSSmeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine
The maker
Brand founded—1948
Based in—Guastalla, Italy
Who it suits
Best forA drip machine for somebody who would otherwise be brewing by handHome users who want retro-styled drip coffee with basic programmability and adjustable brew strength
What sets it apartPID temperature control and three flow rates, plus a cold brew cycle, on a drip machineRetro-style glossy stainless steel and plastic body with polished chrome base, pairing Smeg's distinctive aesthetic with adjustable aroma intensity and autostart in a drip coffee machine.
Compared with—Cuisinart DCC-3200, Breville BDC450, KitchenAid KCM1209
Specifications
Auto shut-off—60 min
Bloom / pre-infusion✓—
Body MaterialBrushed stainless steel—
Brew Modes6: Gold, Fast, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew and My Brew—
Brew Temperature NoteBreville publishes PID control on this listing but no temperature figure and no SCA claim—
Capacity Cups12, from a published 60oz10 cups
Capacity1770, published as 60oz—
Carafe MaterialGlassGlass
Carafe TypeGlassGlass carafe
Cold Brew✓—
Colour Options—Black (glossy), additional colours available in other product codes
Dimensions170 x 315 x 399 mm—
Dishwasher-safe parts—Permanent filter and filter holder
Filter Basket ShapesBoth a flat bottom and a cone basket are included—
Filter Type—Permanent stainless steel and plastic filter included
Flow Rates3, which the maker says optimise contact time—
Gold Cup NoteThe Gold preset targets the Gold Cup Standard. Breville does not claim the machine is certified, so no certification is recorded—
Heating SystemThermo Coil, which Breville says delivers purer water than systems using aluminium—
Hot Plate✓✓
Permanent filterNot published on this listingYes
PID control✓—
Power—1050 W
Programmable✓—
Programmable Timer✓✓
Ships toUSUS
Ships to NoteConfirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product.Confirmed on Amazon US, which is where this link points. Availability in other Amazon stores has not been checked, and a regional store may substitute a different product.
Showerhead NoteNot published on this listing—
Single-cup modeNot published on this listingYes, 1 to 4 cups function
Strength control✓✓
Warranty—1 year
Water reservoir—1.4 L
Weight—3.2 kg

Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS vs Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine: common questions

Which is better, Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS or Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine?

Both score 6.3 out of 10 on the specifications their makers publish, so neither is ahead overall. Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS leads on brew quality, and Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine on ease of use & cleaning.

Is Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS or Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine cheaper?

Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS starts at Not publicly stated, and Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine at Not publicly stated.

Who is Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS for?

A drip machine for somebody who would otherwise be brewing by hand

Who is Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine for?

Home users who want retro-styled drip coffee with basic programmability and adjustable brew strength

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