5 Best Ice Makers for Cocktails, Smoothies, and More

Spend anytime in online ice connoisseur forums, and you will be bombarded with one name: GE Opal. It’s so well known as The Best, that most people just say “Opal,” and everyone knows what they’re talking about.

But what makes it so good?

First, it’s the ice type. (Scroll to the bottom of this story for my full breakdown of ice types and their best uses.) This is nugget ice, widely regarded as the best type of ice. It’s light and chewable, and chewing it doesn’t harm your teeth as bad as harder ice types. Nugget ice packs really tight, so it’s great for getting a glass cold or super cold cocktails. I love it in a mint julep, tiki drink, or mojito, where you stack the cup tall with ice and pour the cocktail straight on top of it. As for getting glasses cold, nugget ice is also my preferred ice for chilling martini glasses, because you can pack it way down in there, let it melt a bit, and toss the ice.

For the practicality of this machine, we love the side water tank, which eliminates the need for a water hookup. The cleaning cycle is thorough, the display is nice, and the three-pound capacity on the drawer is generally enough for most uses. Plus, we really like the LED display.

Is all that enough to warrant the high price tag? Maybe not. But there’s no denying that this is the best countertop ice maker on the market.