Breville Smart Scoop BCI600

Terrible, the last Breville product I will ever purchase – Broke after 4 or 5 uses. Just out of warranty and Breville doesn’t care. Trips all the power switches in the house when plugged in. That’s almost 100$ per litre of icecream when you work out the cost of the machine and ingredients divided by the batches I was able to make with the machine. This will be my last Breville purchase ever! We have… Read more

about 7 or 8 Breville appliances as we slowly replaced everything with their Pro-range over the years. Despite the loyalty and obvious flaw in their product they don’t care.

Breville used to be great. Something changed over the past few years. Did they change ownership? Breville used to be a Brand to seek out as they went above and beyond when something went wrong. Not anymore. Now they are as bad as most of the rest.

*** Update. After spending almost a month trying to resolve this with Breville and been given the run around and having wasted countless HOURS trying to find a solution, I am even firmer in my believe now that Breville is not a company that backs up or supports their products anymore. On top of that, the customer service when something goes wrong is atrocious.

Bad design, great machine – Really sad to see such a great machine having such low quality of plastic containet and grinder. Purchased a month back but machine/grinder gets stuck mid way and then we get half frozen icecreams wasted my $400, try some other brand Show details

Recommended for fun and also for lactose free ice cream – This machine lets me try weird and wonderful ice creams that you simply can't buy. It also lets me make lactose free ice creams for the family member who would normally need to take a tablet before eating dairy. Simply adapt a recipe by using lactose free milk and lactose free cream. I've bought a few books about making ice cream and have adapted… Read more

recipes from these. I've learned that (no matter which ice cream maker you use) they recommend letting your mix sit for a few hours in the fridge before churning, and also letting it freeze for a few hours after churning. I tend to cook up my mix (e.g a custard based mix) one afternoon and sit in the fridge, churn it next morning and freeze to eat it that night.

When I first bought it, I couldn't get the bucket to sit low properly - I learned to sort of hook it under the dips in the side and twist it down. Hard to explain but do it once and you'll be right forever.

In terms of recipes, the cookbook I've used most is "Hello, My Name is Ice Cream" (Dana Cree) because it has some "blank slate" recipes where you substitute your own stuff, but any cookbook is helpful. Our favourites are Danish Licorice (using licorice root herb from Green Valley Spices because I can't find extract), Salted Caramel and various berries to create a "sherbet". Oh, and I've used teas from T2 to infuse and flavour the base (e.g rose tea to make rose flavoured ice cream - just let the tea infuse in the warm base then strain).

And that's why I've given a five star review. The machine has given me a lot of fun for the money.

Ice cream my way – So I’ve used this twice in 2 days yes it’s a little noisy but you’re not going to use it at night. It’s a tolerable amount. I used the precool function and yes the space between the bowl and the paddle is lean however the result is worth it. I can make whatever flavour I want. Kids want bubble gum no worries. Banana done salted caramel sorted. It… Read more

doesn’t take very long to make perhaps an hour. Yes it’s not 100% frozen but same as the ice cream you bring home from the shops it’s a little soft but you can still taste test a bowl straight up. You want it your way you want to know what’s in it….. BUY IT MAKE YOUR OWN.

Easier Said Than Done – The Breville Smart Scoop has auto features. Seriously, if you want to make good ice-cream, use the manual setting and watch the process. Your ice-cream recipes should always be analgised. Show details

It works. It’s simple. It can produce all sorts of frozen mixtures and it (seems to be) robust – Caveat 1: I’ve only had it for 2 months so I can’t really comment on longevity but the other Breville items (espresso machine and waffle maker) in this range have been excellent. Caveat 2:It isn’t cheap, but then it is basically a tiny freezer with all the complexities of one. Caveat 3:As it stirs the mixture constantly while freezing it, it… Read more

can only produce something around “soft serve” density for immediate consumption. If you want harder then you need to decant and place in your freezer.

This was originally bought on impulse. Like the waffle maker, it was intended to value-add to the kitchen, not to pay for itself by replacing existing purchases. However we have found that it has displaced most of our ice cream purchases and now (unexpectedly) anticipate that it will have paid for itself over around 2 years (the espresso machine used with Aldi coffee beans paid for itself in 6 months).

The biggest surprise is that you don’t have to make “real” ice cream using eggs and par-cooking (although that does produce a delicious result). You can make a quick-and-easy “gelato” in around 20 minutes by simply mixing your favourite (mix of?) fruit juice(s) with a small amount of cream (or I now use full-cream milk powder). Or run the juice through a blender with some frozen fruit then add milk powder. Or part-way through the freezing process the maker will tell you to add anything you want – so add the fruit/chocolate etc now. Twenty minutes later and you have a delicious “gelato”.

My daughter has made “healthy” mixtures omitting the cream/milk powder and using various alternative “milks” (almond, rice, coconut etc). These lack the texture of gelato – more like a hard slushie - but presumably are healthier.

Breville Breaks – Yet another barely used and broken Breville product entering landfill. The internal paddle ceased working after few uses and now the unit pathetically cools down a lump of hardened mixture. Now the environment is left with a paper weight. Breville breaks. Too many negative experiences with this brand.

So Far Some Real Concerns – While this machine makes great tasting ice cream and frozen yogurt I've had some big issues with the machine itself after only a few months of usage. The lid won't open when its time to add the mix-ins, so you have to take the whole cover off. That wasn't such a big deal but today it made a banging sound towards the end of blending process that… Read more

was actually quite disturbing. I paid $500 for this and got it directly from Breville. I frankly feel now like I got ripped off.

Not happy – This is my third breville Ice cream maker and the one I have now has only been used 4 times and is now not completing its cycle with the paddle grinding to a halt. Can’t believe I have to go through this process yet again .For the money you pay this is unbelievable. Show details

Buy something else – I'm on my 3rd one of these all replaced under warranty. i use it about once a month and it never works, each machine has had some different issue from replacing thermostats to timers and lots of other excuses. Show details

Leave it in the shop! – I bought this machine several weeks ago. I have tried to make quite a few batches of ice cream. Let me just firstly say.... I am an excellent cook and have followed the recipes properly. The machine makes a terrible grinding noise and does not make the ice cream any harder than the consistency of yogurt. Don’t waste your money on this machine. Show details

Clunking noise and machine unable to finish cycle – In only its second use after following the recipes strictly with the manual provided we have never been able to finish an ice cream cycle. As the ice cream gets thicker the machine makes a loud clunking/knocking sound. We have to stop the machine. At first I thought it may have been the choc chips we placed in it. But have since used it 3 more… Read more

times with no choc chips and trying different recipes and the clunking/knocking sounds are still happening towards the end of the cycle. So we really have never had ice cream as it cant reach the flashing squares to complete the cycle in fear of the machine blowing up. Shaun

Dial no longer working – It worked fine initially but now the dial is basically stuck on gelato and won’t dial up or down. And if you move to manual you can’t move back to auto unless you factory reset. Short 1 year warranty is worthless. Disappointed Show details

This ice cream maker is a piece of CRAP!!!! – I spend 7 months in Aruba per year and thought this would be the perfect thing. When they shipped it to Indiana, my wife told me it says: Do not turn upside down. Plus she said it won't fit in a suitcase so I decided to leave this at home in Indiana and but one in Aruba. The one I bought in Aruba was 3 times smaller than this one but there is no… Read more

compressor. You put the bowl in the freezer and the bowl is twice as big as this one. So in 20 minutes, you have great ice cream in Aruba. I told my Daughter last night we need to try this one out. Its got its own compressor so we should have ice cream in no time flat. WRONG!!! She said the temp keeps getting warmer and after 30 min its was still soup so she shut it down. Now I tried it today and its the same deal. I pre cool it but the led says 57 degrees. Now I read reviews and it says it could take 1 to 3 hours to get a qt and a half of ice cream. That is INSANE!! This piece of crap needs to get thrown off a bridge. I am very dissatisfied with this and will NEVER buy from this company again. I will take double the ice cream in 20 minutes. Just keep the bowl in the freezer. Thanks Breville. You just lost another customer!!!!! Aruba Bob arubabobsnorkeling.com

Freezer bowls work better in Brisbane – The machine can't cope with Brisbane summer weather, it just won't cool down enough; other freezer bowl machines work well in same conditions and faster. The churner isn't well designed for airation; again other machines have better shaped churners making light and fluffy icecream without a buildup on the edge of the bowl. It is very heavy. … Read more

The autodetect and keep chilled after finishing never worked very well, was easier and more reliable to just do manually and keep an eye on it.

Used 5-6 times put in cupboard for 3 months over winter and pulled it out and cooling wasn't working so got a refund.

Wouldn't repurchase as not worth it considering ice bowl machines perform better.

Awful – I've used domestic and commercial ice cream machines for 40 years. There's not much to making a good one; they are basically a freezer compressor and a mechanical churn. Breville in this case has decided to make a pretty version, all chrome and electronics. Unfortunately, the performance is woeful. After 3 hours - yes 3 hours - of churning,… Read more

the machine finally reached the maximum hardness setting and switched off. Unfortunately the mixture was still the consistency of pouring cream. Not "ice cream" consistency at all.

I don't remember ever buying such a poorly-performing appliance. My 30yo Simac 1600 does a much better job in less than a third of the time. The Breville is going back to the store first thing tomorrow.

Update: I had selected to postpone this review to give Breville a chance to resolve the issue. But after reading the other replies by Breville to issues with this machine I don't see the point. It's simply an expensive dud.

Simply the best with no fuss! – After a brief unsuccessful experience with a Cuisinart ICE-21 ice-cream churn I upgraded to the Breville BC1600 ice cream maker. Wow is all I can say – this makes ice-cream and sorbets as I expected. Simply using cream, milk, sugar and flavourings with no other additives makes old fashioned ice-cream. I’ve now used this several times a week… Read more

for 5 months and it hasn’t missed a beat. Vanilla, coffee and licorice ice-creams are our favourites, along with berry sorbets.

My basic ice-cream recipe – slowly beat together 300ml cream, 180ml whole milk, 1/2 cup castor sugar, pinch salt plus

1. a tablespoon (or 1.5 tbsp) real vanilla syrup, OR

2. a tablespoon (or 1.5 tbsp) licorice molasses – add 2 tbsp chopped licorice at add-ins prompt for extra texture OR

3. a tablespoon (or 1.5 tbsp) strong freeze dried coffee with 15% ground coffee

Pour carefully into the churn and let the Breville do the rest. Makes about 1 ll. Best enjoyed after freezing for a couple of hours.

As simple as 1..2..3.. Ice Cream – After a long research on various ice cream products in the market place (although not too many choice), I finally settled with the Breville Smart Scoop BCI600 which I bought from David Jones (during a sale). First day in its operation "Mango Ice Cream", I can't believe the texture, creaminess and the flavor it held together. Much much better than… Read more

any ice cream's I've ever had. This one has the compressor within which helps keeping the temperature and saves you the hassle of freezing the mix prior. The process takes between 45-60 mins excluding the making of the mix itself, but its completely worth it once you hear the chime of the end process. I will recommend to anyone who is looking to buy an ice cream maker for this summer or later. Although there is an alternative of Cuisinart, I believe the Breville Smart Scoop BCI600 is no less comparatively.

Many issues and poor customer service – Followed the recipes, they didn't work for me, always icy ice creams and just wasted so much ingredients. Instead asked my chef friend how to make ice cream, he told me I have to cook the cream and then put it in the ice cream maker. Ice cream turned out amazing. 1stly, they sent me a scratched machine, looking like it was a reject one. So had… Read more

to wait along time for them to replace it. Then had issues with my Ice cream machine, they told me they'll call back to redirect to the right people. Called another 2 times the next week. Eventually redirected me to breville representatives, that would fix it. I couldn't be bothered. I just prayed each time that it won't stuff up, which worked or I left the machine for a couple of days and it'll be ok.

Problem: I put the mix in, would stop after 5 mins saying that its ice cream when it's not finish at all.

Makes great ice cream until the tiny gasket gets misplaced – Somehow misplaced the tiny gasket the goes around the driveshaft and now if there is any overflow ice cream gets down into the motor slowly gunking it up. Of course I tried to find a replacement but that was futile. Will be looking at other machines in the future as it seems they don't make or throw in replacement parts that are impossible to find.  Show details

stopped working after the 3rd time of use - great when it actually worked though! – I bought this to eliminate excess sugar and dairy in our ice cream due to health and allergy issues. It was so awesome the first two times i used it but the 3rd time it said it was ready about 30secs after i poured the mixture in. I tried a further 2 times thinking i did something wrong but even after a walk through call with Breville it wouldnt… Read more

work again. Was really disappointed considering the cost. Took it back to The Good Guys for a full refund and found out it was a common issue with this product.

Worked Once – I was very excited about my purchase until it failed on the second batch. It just shows as completed about 20 seconds after it starts. I called Breville support and it seems that the only option I have is to mail it back to where i purchased it for a replacement or refund (should take 3-4 weeks) to take it to a local repairer (over 4 weeks). I… Read more

think the person at Breville Support was having a bad day as the experience was not positive. I visited the local repaired who advised that this is not the first case of this issue.

Perhaps others are having more luck with this ice cream maker. Perhaps I should have purchased this from a local retailer to ensure a faster return in the case of failure. But for me, this was a poor experience.

Note: I have about 10 other Breville kitchen appliances and never has a problem with these.

Love it! – Purchased last October and used weekly ever since. No problems at all, love the recipes that I can put my own twist on. I don't eat sugar so being able to make my own ice cream with alternatives is fantastic, now taking orders from family members. My only concern was the pre-cool was taking a long time but realised I just needed to be more patient.  Show details

Solid machine, does the job – We decided to invest in one of the smart scoop machines, it is a pretty solid machine. We have used it quite a few times now over the last year and it certainly does work well. It has been good being able to make all sorts of different flavours and mixes. The recipes in the guide are a good basis, and work well. The machine is a bit noisy is prob the only main downside.  Show details

Knocking noise – Used the ice cream maker less than 10 times and the last time it made a strange knocking noise. I removed the basket - no change. I selected pre-cool - no noise. The ice cream maker still works but it does not sound right. Any suggestions how to address this issue?  Show details

Mmmmmmmm Just The Best – Bought the Breville Smart Scoop a couple of days ago and so far have made Lemon Sorbet and Vanilla ice cream. Wow. Just a fantastic machine. So easy to use and clean. Recipes and user manual are simply explained. Wasn't sure what quality we would get but were very surprised at just how good it is. Can't wait to make more using different ingredients. I would highly recommend this machine to anyone who loves Ice Cream, Gelato and Sorbet.  Show details

Dial not working – Only used 4 times now dial not working not happy ..very expensive for breaking already with no real use poor quality for large cost . I was excited to make my own healthy ice cream and frozen youghurt only made 4 ice creams cannot change dial to make youghurt . I see many others have a dial problem to  Show details

Worked great for a while – I bought this ice cream maker just before Xmas. The ice cream was fantastic for the first few goes. Now it seems to keep stopping after a few minutes and claim it's ready. We can't get it to go for longer than a few minutes at a time, so the texture is never right. I have no idea why it worked so well for a short while, then suddenly went funny. I normally am a great fan of Breville products, but this one is very disappointing.  Show details

Very Disappointed – Even after reading the many negative reviews of this product we purchased the Ice Cream maker from JB Hi-Fi yesterday with much excitement. We were really looking forward to the upgrade from the manual unit we've had for a while. We expected that the negative thread of comments were because customers with negative experiences are more likely to… Read more

leave comments.

Even after two hours of churning, the unit had not lowered below room temperature. The Pre-Cool feature did nothing (make some noises for 15 minutes or so then beeped and said it was ready at 30C).

Calling Breville was a waste of time, the support agent knew nothing of this unit and wanted to walk through the manual (we knew more about it than they did).

It's clear there is a widespread problem with this unit that has not been addressed as there are other people on this thread with the same issue. Its also clear that the after sales support is not adequate. I do not recommend purchasing this product or any other Breville product.

My friends love me – I've been using this machine fairly regularly for the past three years and it's been great. My auto dial has not broken and it's still functioning normally. In fact, I have never used the manual timer, I just set it to the hardness I want and let the machine do the rest. A particular hit with my friends is Nutella gelato. They all ask me how I get… Read more ·  1

the great consistency.

One issue I have had is when I try to churn a new ice cream base directly (or even up to an hour or so) after the previous one. The machine seems to get confused and will keep on churning the second one indefinitely until you manually turn it off. It seems to need at least two hours or so to completely return to room temperature and somehow reset itself.

Other than that, I love this machine and would definitely recommend it for serious ice cream makers/lovers.

Great but spare part – I have used the Breville Smart Scoop BC 1600 for about 12 months but have stopped now because I cannot find a spare part that is needed for the operation of the Smart Scoop. Its my fault for replacing the bowl on the spindle in a clumsy manner, I or one of us in the family has damaged the seal or neoprene cast 'o' ring which seals the shaft from… Read more

the bucket at the base of the shaft its not circular in x section but wedge shaped in x section.

When I ring to buy the part no one knows what I am talking about.

Not bad but a couple of concerns – I have had my icecream machine now for a few months, it makes beautiful salty caramel and also honey icecream, lovely and creamy smooth. I have made the strawberry icecream 3 times now and each time it has fatty buttery lumps throughout, I cant understand this as I follow the recipe exactly! I also am concerned that it gets very noisy towards the… Read more

end of the churns and slows right down to the point where it looks like its going to sieze up. I hope this is normal for this machine.