5 of the Best Home Ice Makers to Buy in 2023

If you’re a cocktail enthusiast, you know that the right ice can make all the difference in the flavor and overall enjoyment of your drink. But if you’re still using regular old ice trays to make your ice cubes, you’re missing out. Investing in a dedicated ice maker specifically designed for cocktails can take your home bar to the next level.

But what is a cocktail ice maker? Why should you consider getting one for your home bar? Read on to learn more about the benefits of a dedicated home ice maker and as well as our picks for the best options on the market.

What is a Cocktail Ice Maker?

A home ice maker is a specialized appliance that is designed specifically to make ice cubes for cocktails (or any other drink for that matter.)

These ice makers are typically smaller than traditional ice makers and are capable of producing ice in a variety of shapes and sizes that are ideal for use in the drinks you make at home. Some ice makers are even capable of making beautiful clear ice spheres, which are large, round ice cubes that melt more slowly and are perfect for sipping cocktails like an old fashioned or whiskey sour.

Why You Should Consider an Ice Maker for Your Home Bar

To be clear, you don’t need a fancy ice maker to make great drinks. 

But at least for me, I don’t love the ice maker that came with our refrigerator/freezer combo.

We have a nice Fisher and Paykel fridge, but for as good as it looks? The ice maker kinda sucks.

It takes forever to make ice, and if you’re not tampering with it at least a couple of times a week, it can tend to freeze together into one big ice block.

So why should you get a dedicated ice maker for your home? Here’s why:

1. The right ice can make all the difference in the flavor of your cocktail. Different types of ice melt at different rates, and using the wrong type of ice can cause your drink to become watered down and lose its flavor. With a dedicated cocktail ice maker, you can make the perfect type of ice for your drink and enjoy a more flavorful and enjoyable cocktail experience. Just once, I’d like to be able to make a proper tiki drink with pebble ice at home!
2. It’s fast and easy. A cocktail ice maker is convenient and easy to use. Instead of having to fuss with ice trays and wait for your ice to freeze, a cocktail ice maker can produce ice quickly and easily. 
3. Never run out of ice. If you’re having people over, it’s amazing how quickly the ice can go. Especially if you’re stirring cocktails over ice, and then using fresh ice for the finished drink. Having a quality home ice maker will make this a problem of the past.

The 5 Ice Makers We Think You Should Consider for Your Home

There are a ton of ice makers out there right now, so how do you decide which one you should buy?

We’ve got you covered.

Regardless if you want ice cubes, ice nuggets, a built-in solution, or a budget-friendly option, these are our picks for the best cocktail ice makers for the home bartender.

Best Nugget Ice Maker for Home: GE Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker

The GE Opal Nugget Ice Maker is the Cadillac of ice makers for the home bartender.

Not only is it super reliable, but it makes that perfect “pebble” ice that you see in tiki cocktails or mint juleps, that are impossible to make with the standard ice out of your freezer.

This particular one comes with the side tank water reservoir, which means you can put it just about anywhere, keeping it super versatile.

Being GE, it’s also more reliable than some of the other lesser-known brands you might find on Amazon or Wayfair.

It’ll produce upwards of 24 pounds of ice a day, and it can hold 3 pounds at any given time. So you should be good to go regardless of how big your next cocktail party is.

Simply put, this is the ice maker we’d personally put in our home bar (if we had space for one!)

Not only is it the best nugget ice maker for your home, it gets our pick as the best overall ice maker for the home bartender. Looking for something a little more versatile that makes “regular” ice? Keep reading.

Editor's Choice: Best Ice Maker

GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker

$449.00

This is the Cadillac of ice makers for the home bartender. It makes beautiful pebble ice that you see in tiki cocktails or mint juleps, has a water reservoir making it easy to put anywhere, and is the most reliable we've seen. It's expensive, but worth it.

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11/22/2024 11:04 am GMT

Best Built-In Ice Maker: EdgeStar IB120SS

Ok, let’s say your fancy and you have space for a dedicated built-in ice maker (good for you!). Screw that countertop business, we’re talking real-deal ice makers here.

The EdgeStar IB120SS Built-in Ice Maker is designed to be built into your home bar (or kitchen, patio, man cave etc), so you can have a seamless and professional-looking setup. It’s capable of producing up to 12 pounds of ice per day and can store up to 6 pounds of ice at a time. 

You’re not going to get the fancy pebble ice of some of the other options here, but if you’re just looking for solid clear ice for mixing or simple drinks, this is a great option.

Best Built-In Ice Maker

EdgeStar Built in Ice Maker

Want a more professional-looking ice maker than your standard countertop unit? This stainless steel ice maker from EdgeStar is perfect for a home bar, kitchen, or backyard patio.

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Most Versatile Home Ice Maker: Freezimer Countertop Ice Maker

I love this option for two reasons:

1. It has the ability to produce two different styles of bullet ice. It comes in both small or large varieties, so depending on what type of drinks you plan to make or what your personal preference is, you’ve got some options here.
2. It’s self-cleaning. It can be a pain in the butt to clean appliances, so to have this feature built-in at this price point is awesome.

And I suppose the 3rd reason to buy this is for the price. At around $160, you can’t go too far wrong. Sure you’ve probably never heard of “Freezimer” but it’s gotten good reviews across the board for reliability and performance.

Most Versatile Ice Maker

Freezimer Countertop Ice Maker

What we love about the Freezimer is that it can make ice in two different sizes. It's bullet style in large or small, which makes it super versatile. It also won't break the bank at around $160.

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Best Ice Maker With Dispenser: KBICE 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker

Ok, so you’re too lazy to use the scoop are you? You need a proper dispenser for your ice maker?

The KBICE 2.0 has you covered.

If we’re getting really bougie, I’d probably go for the Opal 2.0 with the dispenser, but at a retail price of $699? Well, that’s a lot of money.

At $499, that’s not to say the KBICE is cheap, it’s not.

But it has a capacity of 32 pounds a day, is self-cleaning, and has a fancy design.

If you’re specifically buying an ice maker for cocktails, I personally wouldn’t go with the dispenser design. It just takes more time to dispense, rather than just being able to scoop the exact amount you need.

But if you’re using it for more general-purpose ice needs, like for water or soft drinks – this has a very professional feel.

Best Self Dispensing Ice Maker

KBICE 2.0 Self Dispensing Countertop Nugget Ice Maker Self Dispensing

$299.99

It's not cheap, but if you want a professional-looking, self-dispensing ice maker - this KBICE option is the one to look at.

Buy on Amazon Also Consider GE Opal 2.0

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11/22/2024 12:58 pm GMT

Best Budget Ice Maker: Silonn Countertop Ice Maker

This option doesn’t make clear ice. It doesn’t have the biggest capacity. It can’t do nugget ice. And if you’re telling me you’ve heard of the brand “Silonn” you’re lying.

But considering it’s just over $100, comes in a variety of colors, and like the Freezimer can also do two sizes of ice? Seems like a hell of a value to us.

This is definitely one worth considering if you’re just dabbling in the countertop ice maker market, and want to see if it’s an appliance you’ll use before dropping hundreds on a more expensive option.

Best Budget Ice Maker

Silonn Countertop Ice Maker

$100.13

It's not as fancy as some of the other options, and it doesn't have clear ice, but it comes in a variety of colors and is just barely over a crisp Benjamin. A great option for bartenders on a budget.

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11/22/2024 01:34 pm GMT

Final Thoughts on the Best Ice Makers for Your Home (Bar)

When it comes down to it, the best ice maker really comes down to what you need it for.

Does your fridge ice maker suck and you’re looking for a fancy self-dispensing replacement? 

Are you a cocktail aficionado who wants to be able to use the proper ice for all of your cocktails?

Are you building out a legit home bar or man cave and need a sturdy built-in solution? 

Are you (ice) ballin’ on a budget, or do you have a little money to spend on your icy new toy?

All of these are questions to ask yourself. But regardless of what you’re looking for, one of the ice makers we mentioned above should get the job done, and help you make your drinks better than they’ve ever been.

Other Helpful Cocktail Posts to Check Out

• Best Cocktail Gifts – Looking for the perfect gift for the cocktail lover in your life? We got you.
• Best Cocktail Books – Have all the fancy bar stuff, but don’t actually know how to make a drink? Here are my favorite cocktail books.
• 10+ Best Bar Tools – Building out a home bar? You’ll need these.  All of them.