Cuisinart ICE 100 vs Breville – Is the Breville worth twice the price.

On this page we’re going to give you an overview of the Cuisinart ICE-100 and the Breville BC1600XL and try to answer the question, “Is the Breville worth twice the price”. 

The quick answer to that question is, if you buy either of these machines you are going to be getting a great compressor ice cream maker, that will deliver delicious ice cream for you.

Cuisinart ICE 100 Overview

The Cuisinart ICE 100 is a 1.5 quart capacity compressor ice cream maker. At the touch of a button you can be churning your own favourite ice cream automatically and if you want you can clean out the container and make another batch straight after. You’re not limited to just ice cream but there is a second paddle to make gelato which is a denser type of ice cream. There is also the option for making frozen yoghurt and sorbet. Depending on the size of the batch you can have ice cream ready to eat in 30-50 minutes. This machine is very easy to use with a simple timer.

If you want to read our full product review click Cuisinart ICE-100 

Check out the Cuisinart ICE-100 at Amazon.com

 

Breville BCI600xl overview

The Breville BCI600xl is also a 1.5 litre capacity compressor ice cream maker. The pleasure of having a machine like this in your possession is that you can make your ice cream or other iced desserts on a whim, all you need are the ingredients to make up an ice cream mixture and you’re ready to go.

The Breville has a see through lid and removable bowl but the best feature it offers is the intuitive control panel. The control settings of different levels of hardness so you can choose just how you like your finished ice cream. You can set the alert to play a tune like an ice cream van which is great if you have kids and you have the option to leave it in the machine for up to 3 hours with the keep cool feature.

If you want to read our full product review click Breville BCI600XL here.

Check out the Breville BCI600XL at Amazon.com

Compressor Ice Cream Maker Comparison

What do these 2 ice cream makers have in common:

Both the Cuisinart Ice-100 and the Breville smart scoop BCI600xl are compressor ice cream makers. That means having their own refrigeration unit inside the machine, doing away with having to freeze a bowl, which makes a great ice cream maker machine for home use. They are both of a similar size and weight so they will both take up the same amount of space in your cupboard or on your worktop.

Both of these compressor ice cream makers have the same capacity for making ice cream, both being 1.5 quarts. They both also have removable bowls and paddles and a transparent twist lock lid with opening window.

Both of these machines look very similar, have similar fittings and capabilities for making ice cream.

So what are the differences:

The main differences are in the automatic timer options, the Breville BC1600XL has the option for you to use the default settings for the different ices that you can make. You can also select 3 levels of firmness for the finished product to suit your own preference. The Cuisinart ICE-100 has no pre-set options, only a timer selector for you to choose the time you want.

Is this a deal breaker?

To be honest, if you know the times to churn your ice cream then you can have the same results in both machines, it’s definitely easier not to think about it and just use the pre-set option but enough to pay double?

The Breville BC1600XL does have a pre-cool function, this brings the temperature down on the machine and the bucket for about 10 minutes before you make the ice cream, this is a useful option, and there is a keep cool option for up to 3 hours which beats the Cuisinart ICE-100 which only keeps cool for 10 minutes. I’m not sure if the pre-cool function makes enough of a difference, but being able to keep you ice cream cool in the machine for up to 3 hours is good, but would you use that option much?

Looking at customer opinion on both of these machines there have been issues with the compressor on both, but lots of happy customers on both ice cream makers too. The Cuisinart compressor has a better star rating but not by much, so hard to use that to make a decision.

Who should go for the Breville BC1600XL:

The person who should go for the Breville BC1600XL , is a person who wants a compressor ice cream maker that can make ice cream at the touch of a button, without any thought to the process, who will make good use of the pre-cool and stay cool functions and who doesn’t mind paying for those benefits. They like being able to see the countdown function, they want a reminder of when they can add their chocolate chips and a tune when its all complete.

Check out the latest offers and FREE Shipping for the Breville BC1600XL at Amazon.com

Who should go for the Cuisinart ICE-100:

The person who should go for the Cuisinart ICE-100 is a person who wants a compressor ice cream maker and doesn’t mind setting the timer for a certain time and checking on it to make sure it’s right. This person wants a machine that does the job but would rather pay less money than have all the extras.

Check out the latest offers and FREE Shipping for the Cuisinart ICE-100 at Amazon.com

Verdict

Choosing the right ice cream maker for you is the most important thing, both of these ice cream makers do the job that you expect of them. They can both make the same amount of ice cream in the same time frame and to the same standard. The main differences are in the pre-set functionality of the Breville BC1600XL and it’s extra cooling options. These are great options, without a doubt, but they are not essential to making good ice cream. If you have the money and don’t mind paying the extra, then go for the Breville BC1600XL, I’m sure you’ll be happy with it, and it’s easy settings.

If you feel that the extra money isn’t justified for those extra functions, then go for the Cuisinart ICE-100, you’ll still be able to make delicious ice cream and you’ll be more than happy with your choice.

To answer the question “Is the Breville worth twice the price”, we don’t think that the extras justify the cost, but we have given you the facts so that you can make your own choice.

We suggest you check out the Cuisinart ICE 100 at Amazon.com for FREE Shipping