Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 vs Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System

The verdict

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 is narrowly ahead, 6.4 to Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System's 6.3. It leads on ease of use & cleaning.

Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System costs $185.95 less.

Who each one suits

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1

Home users who want a single machine to brew a full 12-cup carafe, single-serve pods, Nespresso capsules, and frothed-milk drinks

Scores higher on ease of use & cleaning.

Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System

Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing

Scores higher on build quality & durability, value for money.

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

CriterionWeightCuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
Build Quality & Durability15%6.57.5
Ease of Use & Cleaning14%7.55.8
Value for Money10%1.76.0

What each one costs

Price$349.95$164

Where they differ

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

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
Brand founded19711998
Based inStamford, USANeedham, USA
Price$349.95$164
Sizes and variants10-Cup variant$19412-Cup variant (sale)$23212-Cup variant (standard)$316Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker Deluxe (CFN601)$164
Best forHome users who want a single machine to brew a full 12-cup carafe, single-serve pods, Nespresso capsules, and frothed-milk drinksHome users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing
What sets it apartFour brew modes in one compact machine, 12-cup drip carafe, K-Cup single-serve, Nespresso OriginalLine capsule, and a steam wand for frothed-milk drinks and hot waterCombines Nespresso-compatible capsule espresso (19-bar, 3 brew styles) with ground-coffee brewing in up to 9 sizes and a 12-cup carafe, plus a built-in fold-away frother. All in one machine.
Compared withNinja CFN601, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, De'Longhi All-in-One, Cuisinart SS-16De'Longhi All-in-One Espresso & Coffee Maker, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601
Automatic milk frother—✓
Auto shut-off240 min—
Body Material—Plastic
Bottomless Available—✕
Built in Grinder—✕
Capacity Cupsup to 12 cups (approx. 5 oz per cup)—
Capsule Material—Aluminium
Capsule System—Original-style espresso capsules
Carafe MaterialGlass—
Carafe Type12-cup glass carafe—
Cost per capsule—0.90
Dimensions12"D x 13"W x 16.8"H (page shows inches, not mm)309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm
Dishwasher-safe partsFilter basket (upper rack); glass carafe and carafe lid (upper rack only); drip tray and drip tray plate; pod capsule holder and espresso capsule holder (top shelf, low-temperature cycle); funnel (top rack); HomeBarista reusable filter cup and filter (top rack)—
Drink Sizes—Espresso 1.35 oz, Lungo 3.75 oz, Over Ice 1 oz
Filter TypeGold-tone commercial-style permanent filter and charcoal water filter included—
Hot Plate✓—
Machine Type—Capsule + ground-coffee dual-function drip/espresso machine
Milk Frother Type—Manual built-in fold-away frother
Milk System—Built-in fold-away frother
Permanent filter✓—
Plumbable—✕
Power—1550 W
Pressure Gauge—✕
Programmable Timer✓—
Pump pressure—19 bar
Take-back scheme—Nespresso mail-back: free recycling bags, returned at a UPS drop-off point or a Nespresso boutique
Shot Timer—✕
ShowerheadScratch-resistant, nonstick-coated showerhead that distributes water evenly over the coffee—
Single-cup mode✓—
Steam Wand Type—Built-in fold-away frother
Strength control✓—
Used Capsule Bin Capacity—20
Warranty3 years1 year
Water reservoir2.13 L—
Water Tank—1.77 L
Weight—6.9 kg

Pros and cons

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

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1
  • +Two machines in one: a 12-cup carafe and a single-serve side at 6, 8 or 10oz
  • +A 2.13 litre reservoir, the largest here, with a charcoal water filter and a gold-tone permanent filter
  • +A three-year warranty with adjustable keep-warm up to 4 hours
  • +A scratch-resistant nonstick showerhead that spreads water over the bed
  • −$349.95 against an $84.99 median
  • −A glass carafe on a hot plate
  • −No brew temperature is published and there is no SCA certification
Full Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 review →
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
  • +It takes both capsules and ground coffee, so it covers two households in one machine
  • +A built-in fold-away frother for cappuccinos, lattes and flat whites
  • +A 1.77 litre tank at $164, and a one-year warranty
  • −A plastic body
  • −No built-in grinder, no pressure gauge and no shot timer
  • −19 bar is a pump maximum rather than extraction pressure
Full Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System review →

Every specification, side by side

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
The maker
Brand founded19711998
Based inStamford, USANeedham, USA
Price
Price$349.95$164
Sizes and variants10-Cup variant$19412-Cup variant (sale)$23212-Cup variant (standard)$316Ninja Espresso & Coffee Maker Deluxe (CFN601)$164
Who it suits
Best forHome users who want a single machine to brew a full 12-cup carafe, single-serve pods, Nespresso capsules, and frothed-milk drinksHome users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing
What sets it apartFour brew modes in one compact machine, 12-cup drip carafe, K-Cup single-serve, Nespresso OriginalLine capsule, and a steam wand for frothed-milk drinks and hot waterCombines Nespresso-compatible capsule espresso (19-bar, 3 brew styles) with ground-coffee brewing in up to 9 sizes and a 12-cup carafe, plus a built-in fold-away frother. All in one machine.
Compared withNinja CFN601, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, De'Longhi All-in-One, Cuisinart SS-16De'Longhi All-in-One Espresso & Coffee Maker, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601
Specifications
Automatic milk frother—✓
Auto shut-off240 min—
Body Material—Plastic
Bottomless Available—✕
Built in Grinder—✕
Capacity Cupsup to 12 cups (approx. 5 oz per cup)—
Capsule Material—Aluminium
Capsule System—Original-style espresso capsules
Carafe MaterialGlass—
Carafe Type12-cup glass carafe—
Colour OptionsBlackBlack
Cost per capsule—0.90
Dimensions12"D x 13"W x 16.8"H (page shows inches, not mm)309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm
Dishwasher-safe partsFilter basket (upper rack); glass carafe and carafe lid (upper rack only); drip tray and drip tray plate; pod capsule holder and espresso capsule holder (top shelf, low-temperature cycle); funnel (top rack); HomeBarista reusable filter cup and filter (top rack)—
Drink Sizes—Espresso 1.35 oz, Lungo 3.75 oz, Over Ice 1 oz
Filter TypeGold-tone commercial-style permanent filter and charcoal water filter included—
Hot Plate✓—
Machine Type—Capsule + ground-coffee dual-function drip/espresso machine
Milk Frother Type—Manual built-in fold-away frother
Milk System—Built-in fold-away frother
Permanent filter✓—
Plumbable—✕
Power—1550 W
Pressure Gauge—✕
Programmable Timer✓—
Pump pressure—19 bar
Take-back scheme—Nespresso mail-back: free recycling bags, returned at a UPS drop-off point or a Nespresso boutique
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.
Shot Timer—✕
ShowerheadScratch-resistant, nonstick-coated showerhead that distributes water evenly over the coffee—
Single-cup mode✓—
Steam Wand Type—Built-in fold-away frother
Strength control✓—
Used Capsule Bin Capacity—20
Warranty3 years1 year
Water reservoir2.13 L—
Water Tank—1.77 L
Weight—6.9 kg

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 vs Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System: common questions

Which is better, Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 or Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System?

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 scores 6.4 against 6.3, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System is still ahead on build quality & durability.

Is Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 or Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System cheaper?

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 starts at $349.95, and Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System at $164.

Who is Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1 for?

Home users who want a single machine to brew a full 12-cup carafe, single-serve pods, Nespresso capsules, and frothed-milk drinks

Who is Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System for?

Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing

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