Nespresso Pixie vs Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
The verdict
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System is narrowly ahead, 6.3 to Nespresso Pixie's 6.2. It leads on drink quality and build quality & reliability.
Nespresso Pixie costs $15 less.
Who each one suits
Nespresso Pixie
Espresso lovers wanting a compact, fast, no-fuss capsule machine for home or small office
Scores higher on running cost per cup, capsule system & choice, ease of use & speed.
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, maintenance & cleaning.
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 | Nespresso Pixie | Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drink Quality | 18% | 5.3 | 7.3 |
| Running Cost Per Cup | 16% | 6.5 | 4.0 |
| Capsule System & Choice | 16% | 7.0 | 5.0 |
| Build Quality & Reliability | 12% | 5.5 | 7.5 |
| Ease of Use & Speed | 12% | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| Waste & Disposal | 10% | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Maintenance & Cleaning | 8% | 3.8 | 8.8 |
| Machine Value for Money | 8% | 6.4 | 6.0 |
What each one costs
| Price | $149.00 | $164 |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Nespresso Pixie | Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand founded | 1986 | 1998 |
| Based in | Lausanne, Switzerland | Needham, USA |
| Price | $149.00 | $164 |
| Best for | Espresso lovers wanting a compact, fast, no-fuss capsule machine for home or small office | Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing |
| What sets it apart | One of the most compact full-aluminium Nespresso Original Line machines with a rapid 25-second heat-up and built-in used-capsule container. | 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 | Nespresso Essenza Mini, De'Longhi Dedica, Keurig K-Slim | 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 | — | ✕ |
| Box price | 9 USD | — |
| Capsule System | Nespresso Original Line capsules | Original-style espresso capsules |
| Capsules per box | 10 | — |
| Colour Options | Aluminium | Black |
| Descaling Required | ✓ | — |
| Dimensions | 111 x 326 x 235 mm | 309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm |
| Drink Sizes | Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml) | 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 | 1160 W | 1550 W |
| Pressure Gauge | — | ✕ |
| Proprietary Capsules | ✓ | — |
| Reusable Capsule Available | ✓ | — |
| Shot Timer | — | ✕ |
| Steam Wand Type | — | Built-in fold-away frother |
| Third Party Capsules Available | ✓ | — |
| Used Capsule Bin Capacity | 9-11 | 20 |
| Warm-up time | 25 s | — |
| Water Tank | 0.7 L | 1.77 L |
| Weight | 3 kg | 6.9 kg |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
Nespresso Pixie
- +19 bar, 25-second warm-up, 3kg, on a 0.7 litre tank
- +A 9 to 11 capsule used bin
- +$149, just under the median, and Original line so capsules are widely available
- +Nespresso capsules are 100% recyclable and a bag can be added to an order
- −Espresso and lungo only, with no milk system
- −$0.90 a capsule at $9 for 10
- −One-year warranty and descaling 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
| Nespresso Pixie | Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System | |
|---|---|---|
| The maker | ||
| Brand founded | 1986 | 1998 |
| Based in | Lausanne, Switzerland | Needham, USA |
| Price | ||
| Price | $149.00 | $164 |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | Espresso lovers wanting a compact, fast, no-fuss capsule machine for home or small office | Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing |
| What sets it apart | One of the most compact full-aluminium Nespresso Original Line machines with a rapid 25-second heat-up and built-in used-capsule container. | 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 | Nespresso Essenza Mini, De'Longhi Dedica, Keurig K-Slim | 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 | — | ✕ |
| Box price | 9 USD | — |
| Capsule Material | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Capsule System | Nespresso Original Line capsules | Original-style espresso capsules |
| Capsules per box | 10 | — |
| Colour Options | Aluminium | Black |
| Cost per capsule | 0.90 | 0.90 |
| Descaling Required | ✓ | — |
| Dimensions | 111 x 326 x 235 mm | 309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm |
| Drink Sizes | Espresso (40 ml), Lungo (110 ml) | 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 | 1160 W | 1550 W |
| Pressure Gauge | — | ✕ |
| Proprietary Capsules | ✓ | — |
| Pump pressure | 19 bar | 19 bar |
| Take-back scheme | Nespresso mail-back: free recycling bags, returned at a UPS drop-off point or a Nespresso boutique | 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 | 9-11 | 20 |
| Warm-up time | 25 s | — |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Water Tank | 0.7 L | 1.77 L |
| Weight | 3 kg | 6.9 kg |
Nespresso Pixie vs Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System: common questions
Which is better, Nespresso Pixie or Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System?
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System scores 6.3 against 6.2, both computed from published specifications rather than opinion. Nespresso Pixie is still ahead on running cost per cup.
Is Nespresso Pixie or Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System cheaper?
Nespresso Pixie starts at $149.00, and Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System at $164.
Who is Nespresso Pixie for?
Espresso lovers wanting a compact, fast, no-fuss capsule machine for home or small office
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
Keep comparing
More Nespresso Pixie matchups
More Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System matchups
- Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS
- Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine
- Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Nespresso Citiz
- Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Keurig K-Express Single-Serve
- Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Nespresso Inissia
- Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-4N1