Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine
The verdict
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System 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
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 & reliability, machine value for money.
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 & 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 | Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System | Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build Quality & Reliability | 12% | 7.5 | 4.5 |
| Ease of Use & Speed | 12% | 5.8 | 8.0 |
| Machine Value for Money | 8% | 6.0 | 5.0 |
What each one costs
| Price | $164 | Not publicly stated |
Where they differ
Every specification the two makers publish differently. Everything they match on is in the full table below.
| Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System | Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand founded | 1998 | 1948 |
| Based in | Needham, USA | Guastalla, Italy |
| Price | $164 | — |
| Best for | Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing | Home users who want retro-styled drip coffee with basic programmability and adjustable brew strength |
| What sets it apart | 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. | Retro-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 | De'Longhi All-in-One Espresso & Coffee Maker, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601 | Cuisinart DCC-3200, Breville BDC450, KitchenAid KCM1209 |
| Automatic milk frother | ✓ | — |
| Auto shut-off | — | 60 min |
| Body Material | Plastic | — |
| Bottomless Available | ✕ | — |
| Built in Grinder | ✕ | — |
| Capacity Cups | — | 10 cups |
| Capsule Material | Aluminium | — |
| Capsule System | Original-style espresso capsules | — |
| Carafe Material | — | Glass |
| Carafe Type | — | Glass carafe |
| Colour Options | Black | Black (glossy), additional colours available in other product codes |
| Cost per capsule | 0.90 | — |
| Dimensions | 309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm | — |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | — | Permanent filter and filter holder |
| Drink Sizes | Espresso 1.35 oz, Lungo 3.75 oz, Over Ice 1 oz | — |
| Filter Type | — | Permanent stainless steel and plastic 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 | 1050 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 | ✕ | — |
| Single-cup mode | — | ✓ |
| Steam Wand Type | Built-in fold-away frother | — |
| Strength control | — | ✓ |
| Used Capsule Bin Capacity | 20 | — |
| Water reservoir | — | 1.4 L |
| Water Tank | 1.77 L | — |
| Weight | 6.9 kg | 3.2 kg |
Pros and cons
From each full review, written from the same published facts as the scores above.
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
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
Every specification, side by side
| Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System | Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| The maker | ||
| Brand founded | 1998 | 1948 |
| Based in | Needham, USA | Guastalla, Italy |
| Price | ||
| Price | $164 | — |
| Who it suits | ||
| Best for | Home users wanting a dual-function espresso capsule and ground-coffee brewer with built-in frothing | Home users who want retro-styled drip coffee with basic programmability and adjustable brew strength |
| What sets it apart | 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. | Retro-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 | De'Longhi All-in-One Espresso & Coffee Maker, Chefman 8-in-1 Coffee Station, Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601 | Cuisinart DCC-3200, Breville BDC450, KitchenAid KCM1209 |
| Specifications | ||
| Automatic milk frother | ✓ | — |
| Auto shut-off | — | 60 min |
| Body Material | Plastic | — |
| Bottomless Available | ✕ | — |
| Built in Grinder | ✕ | — |
| Capacity Cups | — | 10 cups |
| Capsule Material | Aluminium | — |
| Capsule System | Original-style espresso capsules | — |
| Carafe Material | — | Glass |
| Carafe Type | — | Glass carafe |
| Colour Options | Black | Black (glossy), additional colours available in other product codes |
| Cost per capsule | 0.90 | — |
| Dimensions | 309.9D x 249.9W x 380W mm | — |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | — | Permanent filter and filter holder |
| Drink Sizes | Espresso 1.35 oz, Lungo 3.75 oz, Over Ice 1 oz | — |
| Filter Type | — | Permanent stainless steel and plastic 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 | 1050 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 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 | ✕ | — |
| Single-cup mode | — | ✓ |
| Steam Wand Type | Built-in fold-away frother | — |
| Strength control | — | ✓ |
| Used Capsule Bin Capacity | 20 | — |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Water reservoir | — | 1.4 L |
| Water Tank | 1.77 L | — |
| Weight | 6.9 kg | 3.2 kg |
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System vs Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine: common questions
Which is better, Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System or Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine?
Both score 6.3 out of 10 on the specifications their makers publish, so neither is ahead overall. Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System leads on build quality & reliability, and Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine on ease of use & speed.
Is Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System or Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine cheaper?
Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System starts at $164, and Smeg DCF02 Drip Coffee Machine at Not publicly stated.
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
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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