Best ice makers: 10 machines for chilled drinks at home

The Cooks Professional 2.2L is our first choice for a household that regularly runs out of ice. Quick production and relatively quiet operation suit regular use in the kitchen. Its larger water tank gives it a practical advantage over the smallest machines here: you can keep making rounds without reaching for the jug quite so often.

The manufacturer quotes up to 14kg over 24 hours, but that is continuous production, not the amount waiting in the basket. Start it before guests arrive and transfer finished batches to the freezer. Choose this over the smaller Cooks model if refill frequency matters more than saving a few centimetres of worktop.

The Caso IceChef Compact is another option for a smaller kitchen. The attraction is straightforward: a 28 × 22cm footprint, simple controls and a cleaning programme, without needing to connect anything to your plumbing. Caso quotes initial batches from six minutes and a maximum 12kg daily output.

A one-litre tank is a reasonable match for occasional glasses of iced coffee or soft drinks; it is less convenient when you want a succession of ice buckets. We would choose it for a small kitchen that values a tidy setup, then choose the larger Cooks or Baridi if the machine will work through an entire evening.

The Clear Ice Advanced is the upgrade to consider when the appearance of the ice matters as well as the supply. The choice of ice finish is particularly useful for cocktails served in clear glassware. Caso offers a choice of clear or frosted ice and quotes up to 8.8kg per day, with a 1.5L tank and a viewing window.

That makes this a different proposition from chasing the biggest production figure. For drinks served in clear glassware, the extra choice is useful; for simply filling a cooler, a less elaborate machine may do the job for less. The 48dB manufacturer noise rating also means you should expect an audible appliance, not silent refrigeration.

This is the Cooks Professional to choose when your kettle, toaster and coffee machine already occupy most of the kitchen. Its compact footprint is the main reason to choose it over a larger reservoir model. The manufacturer lists a 1.3L reservoir, two sizes of ice and production from six minutes, in a body measuring roughly 29 × 22 × 29cm.

We would buy it for one or two people who want ice regularly but cannot justify a bigger appliance living out permanently. A quoted 12kg per day does not remove the need to refill the water and empty the basket. For larger gatherings, the 2.2L model is the more sensible use of the extra counter space.

The Salter makes sense as a small, occasional-use machine for chilled drinks, rather than equipment for serving a crowd. Its 800ml tank and narrow body keep the commitment modest, while the manufacturer quotes eight cubes per cycle and an initial cycle of around eight and a half minutes.

We would choose it when it costs noticeably less than the larger machines here. If the prices are close, extra reservoir capacity is worth having. Think about where it will sit, too: it is a noticeably noisy appliance. A kitchen worktop away from the sofa is a better setting than an open-plan room where you watch television.

Daewoo combines the familiar small countertop format with a handle that makes storage and moving it more convenient. Noise is one of the compromises of its otherwise convenient format. The specification is otherwise practical: two ice sizes, full-basket and low-water alerts, and a self-cleaning cycle.

The advertised 12kg figure is daily production; the basket holds around 600g before it needs emptying. That distinction matters if you are comparing it with bags of supermarket ice. We would pick the Daewoo for flexible use around the home, then drain and dry it before storage. The handle does not make this an appliance to leave exposed outdoors.

The Baridi DH52 offers a practical route into regular countertop ice making. Its appeal is the 2.2L tank: a useful step up from the one-litre compact machines without installing a plumbed ice system. Baridi lists up to 12kg over 24 hours, two ice sizes and a cycle of approximately ten minutes.

Choose it if you prefer a larger reservoir and uncomplicated controls to extra modes. The full-basket sensor is helpful, but the machine still depends on somebody removing the ice to keep production moving. We would compare its current price directly with the Cooks Professional 2.2L; pay for the size and support you need rather than tiny differences in advertised cycle times.

Euhomy’s 12kg portable machine suits a kitchen where carrying and storing the appliance matter alongside its output. On the listed features it offers a sensible middle ground: a 1.2L tank, carry handle, two ice sizes and a cleaning cycle.

The manufacturer quotes nine cubes in six minutes and a 600g basket. We would consider it when it undercuts the similarly sized branded alternatives, especially if easy storage matters. Buy it for its compact package and convenient handling, while allowing for the regular refilling and basket emptying that small machines require.

The Wellent suits buyers who want a compact machine for a few drinks at a time. It produces an initial batch quickly, although melting ice can clump if left in the basket. Wellent lists eight bullets from six minutes, two sizes and a maximum output of 12kg in a day.

Its small body and carry handle make it easier to put away than a large home-bar machine. We would keep an eye on the basket and use the ice as it arrives, rather than leaving a full load until later. For a big gathering, making and freezing several batches beforehand is a better plan than expecting the compact basket to hold everything.

The Pro Breeze earns a place as an alternative for buyers who want a sizeable tank without moving to a large bar appliance. Its manufacturer specification includes a 2L reservoir, two sizes of bullet ice, a self-cleaning function and initial batches in six to nine minutes.

The larger reservoir is useful when you want several rounds of ice without constant trips to the tap. We would buy it on a competitive offer and a clear warranty, rather than treating its claimed 15kg daily output as proof it outperforms our top pick. Check the current seller and returns terms before ordering.