ConsFirst / Ice cream makers / Compare
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker vs Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes what we report. Learn more
The short answer
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker ranks higher (#1 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on texture, speed & batch size. Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker wins on ease of use & prep, cleaning & noise.
The biggest complaint about the Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker is hard to clean built-in bowl; for the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker it's loud whine, slower than the ice-21. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker | Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in ice cream makers | #1 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | Compressor | Freezer bowl |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 6% | 5% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Texture | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Speed & batch size | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Ease of use & prep | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Cleaning & noise | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Durability | 4.5 | — |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–300 · $$$ over $300. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker
- Hard to clean built-in bowl
The bowl isn't removable, so you sponge it out repeatedly (Serious Eats, Wirecutter). Serious Eats also found oil on the paddle shaft. About 42 of 144 Amazon cleaning mentions are negative.
- Expensive, with a short warranty
About $800 with a one-year warranty that Wirecutter calls wimpy; repairs mean buying parts and fixing it yourself or finding a repairperson. Amazon owners disagree on whether it's worth it.
- Very heavy and bulky; some motor noise
About 40 pounds and 12 x 18 x 12 inches (Wirecutter, Serious Eats). Some Amazon owners report rattling or grinding motor sounds.
Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker
- Loud whine, slower than the ICE-21
Serious Eats' unit made a loud, wheezing whine that grew louder as it churned. Wirecutter found it louder and slower than the ICE-21.
Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter - Icy buildup and less-smooth sorbet
Serious Eats saw icy buildup on the bowl walls that took effort to scrape, and a lid that wouldn't fully lock. Wirecutter found its treats icier than its picks, and Food & Wine's sorbet was less smooth than from machines with sorbet settings.
- Pre-freezing and a real limit below 2 quarts
The bowl must be frozen ahead (6 to 22 hours per Serious Eats' spec box). Food & Wine says to stay below the 1.5-quart line for base plus mix-ins to avoid overflow.
Source: Serious Eats, Food & Wine
Who should pick which
Pick the Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker if
Serious hobbyists who want the best texture
Gelato-style, dense ice cream
Leaving a machine out on the counter
Skip it if: You'll store it in a cabinet (about 40 lb); You want a removable, easy-wash bowl; You make ice cream only occasionally
Pick the Cuisinart Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker if
Bigger batches without paying for a compressor
Simple on/off operation
Small kitchens
Skip it if: Noise bothers you; You want the smoothest sorbet; You can't plan a day ahead
We don't list prices — they change daily. Paid links.