Breville Smart Scoop vs Cuisinart ICE-100

What they have in common

Both machines have a built-in compressor, the same kind of refrigeration system as a small freezer. It chills the bowl while the paddle churns, so there is no bowl to freeze overnight and you can run a second batch right after the first. That is the main reason to spend more than a freezer bowl machine costs. See compressor vs freezer bowl ice cream makers for the full trade-off.

Both make ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt and sorbet from a chilled base. Like any churner, they reward a well-balanced base with enough sugar and fat. Lean bases will churn but often freeze hard afterward.

Spec comparison from the listings

Only listing facts are used here. Where a listing does not state a spec, the table says so.

Hardness sensing vs a timer

The biggest difference is how each machine knows when to stop. The Breville senses the hardness of the mixture and stops at the setting you chose, from soft sorbet to firm ice cream, across 12 hardness settings. You can also pick one of 4 preset programs or run it manually. That takes the guesswork out of the churn and gives repeatable results batch to batch.

The Cuisinart ICE-100 uses a 60-minute countdown timer. You set a time, watch the base, and stop when it looks like thick soft serve. It is simple and works well once you learn your recipes, but you are the hardness sensor. Our Cuisinart usage guide covers timing and what done looks like.

Keep cool and serving time

The Breville's keep cool feature holds a finished batch chilled and churned for up to 3 hours. That is useful if you start a batch before dinner and want to serve it fresh later, or if you get pulled away. The ICE-100 keeps ice cream cool for 10 minutes after the timer goes off, which buys you a short window to grab a container.

Either way, most churned ice cream benefits from an hour or two in the freezer before scooping if you want a firm texture. If yours comes out too hard the next day, see why homemade ice cream is so hard.

Paddles, gelato and mix-ins

The ICE-100 includes two churning paddles: one for ice cream and one specifically for gelato. A gelato paddle is designed to work in less air, which gives the denser texture gelato is known for. If gelato is a priority, that is a real plus at its price. See how to make gelato at home.

The Breville listing highlights a mix-in feature: it beeps when it is time to drop in chocolate chips, fruit or other add-ins, so they are not crushed by a full churn. With the ICE-100, add mix-ins near the end of the churn yourself.

Who should buy which

If you are open to other brands, our best luxury ice cream makers and compressor ice cream makers under $300 guides cover more options at both price points.

• Best value compressor: Cuisinart ICE-100, at roughly half the listing price.
• Gelato fans on a budget: ICE-100, for its dedicated gelato paddle.
• Hands-off, repeatable results: Breville Smart Scoop, for automatic hardness sensing.
• Entertaining and dinner parties: Breville, for the 3-hour keep cool.
• Larger batches: neither is the biggest; see large capacity ice cream makers.

See more compressor ice cream makers →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Breville Smart Scoop worth twice the price of the ICE-100? It is if you value automatic hardness control and a 3-hour keep cool. If you are comfortable watching the churn and stopping it yourself, the ICE-100 makes very similar ice cream for much less.

Do either of these need the bowl frozen? No. Both have a built-in compressor, so the bowl chills on demand. Some compressor machines recommend waiting after moving the unit before running it; follow the manual. If yours stops freezing, see compressor ice cream maker not freezing.

Can I make two batches in a row? Yes. That is a key advantage of any compressor machine over a freezer bowl machine.

Which is better for gelato? The ICE-100 includes a dedicated gelato paddle. The Breville has a gelato setting among its hardness options. Both can make good gelato with the right base.