Keurig K-Classic vs Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
The verdict
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System is narrowly ahead, 6.3 to Keurig K-Classic's 5.9. It leads on drink quality and build quality & reliability.
Keurig K-Classic costs $64.01 less.
Who each one suits
Keurig K-Classic
A house where everyone drinks something different, on the cheapest pods going
Scores higher on capsule system & choice, running cost per cup, machine value for money.
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 drink quality, build quality & reliability, ease of use & speed.
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
| Criterion | Weight in category | Keurig K-Classic | Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drink Quality | 18% | 4.0 | 7.3 |
| Capsule System & Choice | 16% | 10.0 | 5.0 |
| Running Cost Per Cup | 16% | 5.5 | 4.0 |
| Build Quality & Reliability | 12% | 4.5 | 7.5 |
| Ease of Use & Speed | 12% | 5.5 | 5.8 |
| Waste & Disposal | 10% | 3.0 | 8.0 |
| Maintenance & Cleaning | 8% | 5.0 | 8.8 |
| Machine Value for Money | 8% | 8.7 | 6.0 |
What each one costs
| Price | $99.99 | $164 |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Keurig K-Classic | Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand founded | — | 1998 |
| Based in | — | Needham, USA |
| Price | $99.99 | $164 |
| Best for | A house where everyone drinks something different, on the cheapest pods going | Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing |
| What sets it apart | K-Cup is an open standard many brands make, so the pod price is set by competition rather than by Keurig | Combines 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 with | — | De'Longhi All-in-One Espresso & Coffee Maker, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601 |
| Automatic milk frother | — | ✓ |
| Auto Shutoff | ✓ | — |
| Body Material | — | Plastic |
| Bottomless Available | — | ✕ |
| Built in Grinder | — | ✕ |
| Fits | K-Cup | — |
| Capsule Material | Plastic, a #5 plastic cup | Aluminium |
| Capsule System | K-Cup pods, Keurig's own standard, widely licensed and copied | Original-style espresso capsules |
| Colour Options | Black, Rhubarb | Black |
| Cost per capsule | 1.04 | 0.90 |
| Dimensions | — | 309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm |
| Drink Sizes | — | Espresso 1.35 oz, Lungo 3.75 oz, Over Ice 1 oz |
| Machine Type | — | Capsule + ground-coffee dual-function drip/espresso machine |
| Milk Frother Type | None | Manual built-in fold-away frother |
| Milk System | None | Built-in fold-away frother |
| Plumbable | — | ✕ |
| Power | 1470 W | 1550 W |
| Pressure Gauge | — | ✕ |
| Proprietary Capsules | ✕ | — |
| Pump pressure | — | 19 bar |
| Take-back scheme | — | Nespresso mail-back: free recycling bags, returned at a UPS drop-off point or a Nespresso boutique |
| Reusable Capsule Available | ✓ | — |
| Shot Timer | — | ✕ |
| Steam Wand Type | — | Built-in fold-away frother |
| Third Party Capsules Available | ✓ | — |
| Used Capsule Bin Capacity | — | 20 |
| 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.
Keurig K-Classic
- +K-Cup is an open standard made by many brands, so the pod price is competitive rather than fixed
- +A reusable capsule is available, so loose coffee is an option
- +$99.99, well under the $154.99 median, with a one-year warranty
- +1470W with a 2-hour auto shut-off
- −No tank size, drink sizes or weight is published
- −One year of cover, where Nespresso's Creatista and Lattissima publish two
- −Descaling is required
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
Every specification, side by side
| Keurig K-Classic | Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System | |
|---|---|---|
| The maker | ||
| Brand founded | — | 1998 |
| Based in | — | Needham, USA |
| Price | ||
| Price | $99.99 | $164 |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | A house where everyone drinks something different, on the cheapest pods going | Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing |
| What sets it apart | K-Cup is an open standard many brands make, so the pod price is set by competition rather than by Keurig | Combines 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 with | — | De'Longhi All-in-One Espresso & Coffee Maker, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601 |
| Specifications | ||
| Automatic milk frother | — | ✓ |
| Auto Shutoff | ✓ | — |
| Body Material | — | Plastic |
| Bottomless Available | — | ✕ |
| Built in Grinder | — | ✕ |
| Fits | K-Cup | — |
| Capsule Material | Plastic, a #5 plastic cup | Aluminium |
| Capsule System | K-Cup pods, Keurig's own standard, widely licensed and copied | Original-style espresso capsules |
| Colour Options | Black, Rhubarb | Black |
| Cost per capsule | 1.04 | 0.90 |
| Dimensions | — | 309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm |
| Drink Sizes | — | Espresso 1.35 oz, Lungo 3.75 oz, Over Ice 1 oz |
| Machine Type | — | Capsule + ground-coffee dual-function drip/espresso machine |
| Milk Frother Type | None | Manual built-in fold-away frother |
| Milk System | None | Built-in fold-away frother |
| Plumbable | — | ✕ |
| Power | 1470 W | 1550 W |
| Pressure Gauge | — | ✕ |
| Proprietary Capsules | ✕ | — |
| Pump pressure | — | 19 bar |
| Take-back scheme | — | Nespresso mail-back: free recycling bags, returned at a UPS drop-off point or a Nespresso boutique |
| Reusable Capsule Available | ✓ | — |
| Ships to | US | US |
| Ships to Note | 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. | 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 | — | ✕ |
| Steam Wand Type | — | Built-in fold-away frother |
| Third Party Capsules Available | ✓ | — |
| Used Capsule Bin Capacity | — | 20 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Water Tank | — | 1.77 L |
| Weight | — | 6.9 kg |
Keurig K-Classic vs Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System: common questions
Which is better, Keurig K-Classic or Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System?
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System scores 6.3 against 5.9, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Keurig K-Classic is still ahead on capsule system & choice.
Is Keurig K-Classic or Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System cheaper?
Keurig K-Classic starts at $99.99, and Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System at $164.
Who is Keurig K-Classic for?
A house where everyone drinks something different, on the cheapest pods going
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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