There is nothing as good and refreshing as an icy cold drink on a hot summer day. Whether you’re an adult
craving chilled iced coffee or a kid who’s looking for a sweet fruity slush or a frozen juice mix, a frozen drink maker is an ideal way to fulfill these requirements during warm, summer time.
And why just the summers? Statistics show that an increasing number of people go for frozen drinks like iced coffees even in the cool, winter months!
So if you’re looking to invest in a new frozen drink maker to impress your friends and family by making those restaurant-quality margaritas right at home, we’re happy to help.
This product guide aims to offer all the information you could possibly want on these wonderful machines and even enlists top 9 devices that are on the top of their game when it comes to making the perfect frozen drinks.
Frozen drink makers are pretty popular these days among people who love ice-cold brews or who regularly host
small gatherings for their loved ones as they allow you to make everything from refreshing slushies to frosty margaritas in a quick and efficient manner.
However, if you’re still thinking that a frozen drink machine is an optional kitchen tool that you can do without, the below listed benefits of these machines will definitely make you think again.
Perfect for hosting parties
If you love to host parties at home and want your guests to have an ultimate dining experience, you ought to have a frozen drink maker in your kitchen. Whether it is a birthday party, weekend treat or any other special occasion, a steady supply of frozen drinks doubles the fun. Also, since you are making your own slushies, you can use sugar-free, natural juices or organic mixes that make the drinks super enjoyable and healthy too.
Restaurant quality drinks at home
If you’re looking to make restaurant-like frozen drinks right in the convenience and comfort of your kitchen, a frozen drink machine can be your best bet. Whether it is restaurant-style iced coffee, fruit slush, margarita or pina colada, with a good quality frozen drink machine, you can enjoy any of these drinks at home in the company of your loved ones.
Allows you to start a profitable business
A commercial frozen drink maker can also help you start your very own business as frozen drinks offer much greater margin as compared to fountain drinks. Also, since you’re serving your customers something that they cannot buy in stores or easily make at home, they’ll most likely be willing to pay a premium price for the same.
Frozen drink makers can broadly be classified into two main categories depending on the nature of use – commercial and home-use machines. Both of them are discussed in detail below:
Commercial Frozen Drink Makers
Commercial frozen drink machines are a great way to serve large-scale gatherings and are also ideal for professional use. These machines are built to be super sturdy to handle the rough commercial use and come with a powerful compressor. They often feature multiple tanks, each with a capacity of 3 to 4 gallons. Higher capacity ensures you have enough product during rush hours when the foot traffic and customer demand is high.
Home-use Frozen Drink Makers
As the name suggests, these machines are intended for home-use so that you can enjoy your favorite frozen drinks at any time of the day (or night) without having to leave your home. This type of frozen drink makers is pretty simple to use and maintain, and most of them come with the capacity of 30-40 ounces. They are mostly crafted out of high-quality food-grade plastic and promise mess-free, safe performance. They are easily portable so that you can carry them conveniently to your bar or poolside or backyard or wherever the party is!
Features of High Quality Frozen Drink Makers
Now that we have already discussed the multiple benefits and the types of frozen drink makers, let us also talk about the important features that a high quality frozen drink maker should come with.
Ideal size and capacity
Before buying a high quality frozen drink maker, you need to ask yourself how many people you are going to serve. If
you’re buying the machine for personal use or to host small parties, compact and portable home-use frozen drink makers would be ideal. But keep in mind that your frozen drink maker should be capable of keeping the drinks flowing throughout the party. If you are buying for commercial-use or a big social gathering, you have to opt for the large and sturdy slush machines with much more capacity (3-4 gallons).
Built-in cooling system
Some frozen drink makers come with a built-in cooling system while others use ice/salt to keep the product cool for longer periods of time. However, a high quality frozen drink maker should come with a built-in cooling system to keep things simple and convenient.
High durability
Needless to say, a top-notch frozen drink maker should be crafted out of best quality materials for lasting durability. All the materials used in its construction should be food-grade and free of harmful chemicals.
Stylish design
Since, this device is definitely going to be a part of your party scene, it is imperative that it does not just offer reliable performance, but also look fantastic while doing so. Thankfully, there are multiple options available in the market today that are stylishly designed to look ultra cool.
Allows you to make different kinds of beverages
Before deciding which frozen drink maker to go for, you should also consider what kind of icy drinks you want to make. A high quality frozen drink maker should allow you to make slushies as well as other icy delights like iced coffee, tea slush, slushie smoothies, and other ice-cold brews.
Powerful, noiseless motor
Another feature to look for in a high quality frozen drink maker is a powerful motor that is capable of finely shaving the beverage ingredients into a smooth, frozen slush. It should also promise quiet operation.
Easy to clean and maintain
A good quality frozen drink maker is not just easy to operate, but simple to clean and maintain too. It should come with detachable parts that are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. You can look for detachable drip trays that help prevent messes by not allowing the beverage to overflow.
Value for money
Last, but definitely not the least, a high quality frozen drink maker should offer full value for your hard earned money. It should promise reliable performance by offering smooth, restaurant-quality, icy beverages right in the comfort of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I have a blender. Should I still go for a frozen drink maker?
There is definitely something extra special about frozen drink makers as they come with the capability to make the ice taste so unique, quite unlike normal blenders. They make the texture and taste of the frozen drink much more perfect – it is smooth, fluffy and soft – and this is a feat that blenders can rarely achieve.
How much water should be added to the drink mix for making frozen drinks in a slush machine?
Usually, drink mixes that can be used in a frozen drink maker will come with a recipe, but if that is not the case, you can go for equal parts mix and water.
Can I add soda to my frozen drink maker?
Yes, you can add soda to your machine. Most home-use frozen drink makers are used by people to make soft drink slushies like a Coca Cola slushie. However, it is advisable not to add alcohol to these machines.
Do I need to add ice to my frozen drink maker?
Commercial frozen drink makers do not require you to add ice as they are capable of freezing liquid to form tiny ice crystals that produce extra smooth drinks. But when it comes to home-use frozen drink machines, they usually don’t have the freezing ability, so you need to add ice to them.
Top 9 Best Frozen Drink Makers in 2022
With the wide variety of frozen drink makers available in the market today in multiple designs, sizes and with varying features, choosing the best one for your home or business can get a bit overwhelming. But don’t you worry! We are enlisting below top 9 frozen drink makers that are great at their job, along with all the relevant information regarding their capacity, size, design and important features that will help you make an informed decision.
If you want to enjoy that perfect frozen concoction without going through the hassle of heading to a bar or a
restaurant, just go for this beauty from Margaritaville. Its ultra sophisticated design, complete with the Jimmy Buffet signature, makes it a treat to watch as it allows smooth, frozen treats to flow.
Design
This cool and stylish frozen drink maker from Margaritaville comes with Jimmy Buffett’s signature of approval. It features attractive matte gray finish with eye-catching silver accents. The extra large ice hopper at the top of the machine is capable of holding enough ice to make up to three pitchers of icy treats. The clear, see-through, easy-pour jar lets you watch your slush as it gets blended to perfect consistency and also helps avoid messy drips.
Size and Capacity
The size of this frozen drink maker from Margaritaville makes it perfect for home-use as well as for hosting small parties. The overall dimensions of the machine are 11.6 x 16.3 x 22.1 inches, which makes it easily portable, and it can shave ice and blend up to 36 ounce of frozen drinks.
Performance
The Margaritaville DM1946 is capable of churning out lip-smacking iced coffee, along with a host of other delicious icy drinks with minimal fuss. With this machine, you can keep the guesswork aside and make restaurant-like frozen drinks right in the comfort of your kitchen. It comes with a powerful 450-watt motor that beautifully shaves ice and blends it with your favorite ingredients to give you ultimate icy treats. The controls are pretty easy to use, and it also comes with a drink selector – you can choose from one to three drinks of 12 ounce each. Also, this frozen drink maker does not fail to impress in terms of durability as it is crafted out of sturdy, top-grade plastic.
Highlights
Stylish design, cool looking machine
Durable plastic construction
Extra large ice hopper
Transparent, easy-pour jar to avoid messy drips
Powerful 450-watt motor for shaving ice and blending
Blends up to 36 ounce of frozen drinks
Easy to use controls
Drink selector features lets you choose from one to three drinks
Make your kitchen a fun place by adding this wonderful frozen drink maker to it. With its ability to produce
everything from margaritas and pina coladas to slushies and frozen juices, this machine is bound to be big hit at every party you host.
Design
This is a pretty well-built, solid machine from Margarita Girl Store that features a simple, minimalistic design. The see-through chamber of this machine comes with a wide opening for convenient filling. The easy-flow spout efficiently dispenses frozen drinks with the perfect consistency. The control panel is easy to use and it even comes with a drip tray for mess-free operation.
Size and Capacity
This one is a high-capacity frozen drink maker that is capable of making a whopping 25 cups of delicious iced drinks in a single cycle. The total dimensions of this machine are 20″ high x 10″ wide x 12″ deep, which makes it a perfect addition to any party scene.
Performance
This frozen drink maker comes with a powerful 1/5-horsepower air-cooled compressor for protection against freeze-up and to produce smooth frozen beverages with the right consistency. It has been constructed out of heavy-duty stainless steel and plastic materials for lasting durability, and even comes with a 2-year parts warranty. Also, operating this machine is a breeze – you just need to press the right button to get this thing going.
Highlights
No-fuss, minimalistic design
Solid plastic and stainless steel construction
Powerful 1/5-horsepower air-cooled compressor
See-through chamber with wide opening
Features an easy-flow spout and drip tray
Can make 25 cups of frozen drinks in one single cycle
If you intend to turn your home into a mini tropical paradise at the next party you’re planning to host, you need to
lay your hands on this exceptionally fantastic frozen drink maker from Margaritaville. All you need to do is decide whether you want one, two or three drinks, and this machine will do the rest of the job by shaving the ice and blending it with the ingredients of your liking to give you refreshing frozen concoctions.
Design
The Margaritaville Key West frozen drink maker looks perfect for a party scene with its attractive matte gray plastic body with classy silver accents. The surprisingly large ice reservoir sitting on this machine’s top can hold ice enough for 2.5 pitchers of frozen delights so that you can keep the party going non-stop. Its user-friendly design makes it incredibly easy to operate – just flip a switch or rotate a knob and get ready to experience one of the most wonderful frozen concoctions you’ve ever tasted. The easy pour jar requires you to just open the hatch and pour drinks in a mess-free fashion.
Size and Capacity
The dimensions of this machine are 14 x 9 x 19 inches, which means you can conveniently move it from your kitchen to the party scene. It comes with a 36-ounce transparent blending jar and three drink settings that allow you to choose from one to three servings.
Performance
Making delicious maragritas, pina coladas and other restaurant-quality frozen drinks at home has never been so easy! The powerful 450-watt motor promises reliable performance and the premium blade of this machine shaves ice to perfection for drinks with just the right consistency. This frozen drink maker comes with three drink settings for you to choose from, and the four pre-programmed drink settings do the rest of the job. It also comes with automatic ‘shave and blend’ setting as well as shave only or blend only cycles so that you can make your icy delights according to your liking and preference. Also, this machine is pretty easy to care for as most of its parts are dishwasher-safe and can be cleaned conveniently.
Highlights
Attractive, classy design
Durable, plastic body
Powerful 450-watt motor and premium quality blade for ice shaving
Want to impress your friends and family by making spicy, fruity homemade frozen drinks at the next house party?
Probably the best way to do that is by bringing the Nostalgia MSB1AQ frozen drink maker home. Its classy looks, along with its ability to churn out smooth, fluffy frozen delights, make it a must-have in your kitchen if you truly wish to serve restaurant-quality frozen beverages to your guests.
Design
This is a gorgeous looking device that comes in charming aqua shade which makes it perfect for your kitchen countertop. You can add ice to this machine through the clear window at the top of the blending chamber. The clear bending chamber does not just look super attractive but also offers 360° view of the frozen concoction. It features an easy-flow spout – you just need to flip its lever-style handle to fill your cup, or if you’re in a hurry, you can pull the spigot up for quick fill-ups. This machine also comes with a carrying handle for convenient portability. For neat storage, its cord can be wrapped and stored underneath the base of the machine.
Size and Capacity
This amazing frozen drink maker is equipped with a large capacity 1-gallon double-wall blending jar that can keep your frozen drinks cold for a longer period of time. The machine measures 10 x 12 x 19.25 inches, which means you can move it around conveniently.
Performance
This machine comes with a powerful motor and a durable stainless steel blending cage that works efficiently to produce fine ice shavings to create frozen beverages with smooth and fluffy consistency. This makes it ideal for large parties or get-togethers at home. Whether it is the fruity slushies or the classy margaritas, this frozen drink maker can churn out the most delicious frozen treats in almost no time. It works noiselessly and is easy to clean as the blending chamber can be detached from the base.
This is yet another solid and highly functional frozen drink maker from Margaritaville that thoroughly impresses in
terms of looks and performance. This powerful machine can produce 72 ounces of frozen drinks per cycle and comes with three independent blending stations.
Design
This heavy-duty frozen drink maker boasts of solid construction and elegant looks. It is crafted out of premium quality bamboo wood and features brushed aluminum finishes and stainless steel accents for that classy appeal. The three independent blending jars ensure no matter how large your party is, you never run out of frozen drinks. This machine’s ice chute which rotates from one pitcher to the other is sure to leave your guests awe-struck as it creates amazing icy drinks one after the other.
Size and Capacity
The huge ice reservoir of this machine can hold ice to create 144 ounces of frozen drinks. The three 24-ounce blending jars ensure you get 72-ounce of icy deliciousness per cycle. The overall size of this frozen drink maker is 20 x 20.1 x 20.1 inches.
Performance
Fruit slushes, iced coffees, margaritas, mojitos, pina coladas, daiquiris or any other frozen delights – this machine can make them all, that too with restaurant-like perfection. All you need to do is fill its extra large ice reservoir with ice, put the required ingredients into the three blending jars and then just push the right buttons. This mean machine comes with six automated drink settings that allow you to create 6+ different drink types. Equipped with a super powerful 700-watt motor, this frozen drink maker exhibits impressive shaving and blending power, and is perfect for serving large gatherings. Each of three blending stations comes with ‘Shave Only’ and ‘Blend Only’ settings so that you can get thicken or thin your drink according to your liking.
If you’re fond of hosting parties where your guests can’t have enough of those sweet fruity slushies, this slush maker
from Nostalgia is for you. It is built sturdily, looks fantastic and does a brilliant job of producing consistently smooth slushies with minimal effort on your part.
Design
This frozen drink maker features a minimalistic design, but is attractive enough to grab quite a few eyeballs at the next party you’re planning to host. Featuring a clear chamber that provides 360° view of the piled up slushie, this machine boasts of sturdy, top-grade plastic construction. The transparent lid of this machine comes with two separate openings to allow you to add ice, salt and your favorite slushy mix as and when required. It is equipped with an easy-flow spout that quickly fills your cups with icy chilled beverages. On one side of the machine lies a three-way control switch that allows you to choose between three settings – freeze, off and dispense. The cord of this machine can be wrapped and stored neatly under the base of this device.
Size and Capacity
The overall dimensions of this machine are 19.5 x 10 x 9.5 inches, which means it is compact enough to carry around from room to room. You can easily use this frozen drink maker for parties at home as it is capable of holding up to 32 ounces of refreshing slushies.
Performance
This fantastic machine from Nostalgia can be a great way to serve yummy slushies and other sweet delights to your guests. You just need some crushed ice and salt (preferably rock salt) to freeze your preferred sugar-based beverages and then watch patiently as this machine’s dasher and non-stick canister work in unison to create smooth and fluffy frozen delights. It comes with a detachable cup rest and drip tray to ensure minimal messes during the party. It is also quite easy to maintain as you can detach the tank from the base for hassle-free cleaning.
Anyone who says it is impossible to create restaurant-quality frozen drinks at home probably never had the chance to
use the Nostalgia Taco Tuesday frozen drink maker. This top-quality machine can make the most amazing margaritas, daiquiris, mojitos, slushies, smoothies and other frozen concoctions in the most effortless manner as it comes with two different ice shaving settings.
Design
The design of this frozen drink maker is simple and straightforward which makes it quite easy to assemble. It comes in three attractive colors and would look pretty cool sitting on your kitchen countertop. The ice shaving chamber sits at the top of the machine and comes with a transparent lid. Below it sits the selector knob that allows you to choose the texture of the ice for your frozen drink. The see-through glass pitcher lets you watch as your favorite frozen beverage gets blended to perfection. For neat storage, you can wrap the cord and store it underneath the device.
Size and Capacity
This is a pretty lightweight and compact frozen drink maker that measures 12.75 x 10.25 x 8.75 inches and is therefore easily portable. The pitcher capacity of this machine is 40-ounce.
Performance
This amazing frozen drink maker comes with two different shave settings (snow and slush) to allow you to choose between coarse or fine-textured ice so that you can get all creative and make that perfect frozen concoction. As its tough precision-cut stainless steel blades shave the ice, the mixing paddle keeps stirring the frozen beverage so that you get the perfect consistency. For optimum results, you should fill the shaving cage of this machine with standard size ice cubes.
Highlights
Simple, straightforward design
Easy to assemble
Precision-cut stainless steel blades for ice shaving
Two shave settings – snow and slush
40-ounce see-through pitcher
Lightweight and compact design for easy portability
This high quality frozen drink maker also comes from Nostalgia and is a great way to enjoy chilled icy beverages right
in the comfort of your home. It is sturdily constructed from top quality materials and does a great job of shaving ice and creating perfectly consistent frozen delights.
Design
This efficient frozen drink maker comes in a simple, no-fuss design which makes it incredibly easy to operate. With an all-plastic body in vibrant retro red color, an ice chamber with a transparent lid and a see-through pitcher, this machine looks ready to be proudly displayed at all kinds of parties at home. Towards the top front of the machine lies a knob that allows you to choose the texture of the ice you need for making your frozen beverage. And it lets you neatly store the cord on the base of the unit.
Size and Capacity
The overall size of this machine is 10.3 x 8.62 x 12.75 inches, which means it is compact enough to be transported to the party scene without any hassle. Its pitcher is large enough to hold 40 ounce of your favorite frozen drinks.
Performance
This Nostalgia frozen drink maker comes with two shave settings – you can use the snow setting for getting ice that is a bit coarse in texture for your margaritas or you can opt for the slush setting for fine textured ice to make smoothies and slushies. The tough stainless steel blades of this machine perfectly shave the ice to help you create delicious frozen beverages. The mixing paddle expertly stirs the iced drink while the ice is getting shaved. For best results, it is recommended to use standard ice cubes. Also, operating as well as cleaning this machine is super simple.
Highlights
Simple design, attractive looks
Two shave settings – slush and snow
Tough stainless steel blades for perfect ice shaving
Transparent pitcher holds 40-ounce of frozen drink
Last on our list of top quality frozen drink makers is this wonderful device from Classic Cuisine that seriously
impresses in terms of looks as well as functionality. It can help you create fantastic frozen beverages that can put even the most skilled bartenders to shame. Right from slushies and iced coffees to margaritas and mojitos, this frozen drink maker helps you create restaurant-worthy drinks in a simple, hassle-free manner.
Design
The design of this machine is pretty basic for ease of use. It features a tough plastic body with an ice crusher on the top and a knob to let you control the texture of the ice shavings towards the front. The transparent pitcher allows you to watch as the stirring paddle effortlessly blends crushed ice to make your favorite frozen concoctions. The convenient cord storage design at the base of the device further adds to its appeal. The vibrant red color ensures that this device gets the attention it deserves at your next house party.
Size and Capacity
This is an easily portable frozen drink machine that measures 12 x 7 x 8.5 inches. You can easily place it in your kitchen cabinet and can even carry it along while traveling. Its pitcher can hold up to 32 ounce of frozen drinks.
Performance
Whether you wish to make sweet slushies or snow cones for a birthday party for your kiddos or are looking to impress your friends with restaurant-style margaritas and daiquiris – this frozen drink maker can be a perfect choice. Operating this machine is a snap – you just need to add ice to its ice chamber and select one of the two shave settings (coarse or fine). To further simplify the process to creating refreshing frozen delights, the pitcher comes with a handy measurement guide printed right on top of it. Cleaning this frozen drink maker is also not much of a hassle as all four of its removable parts are dishwasher safe. Also, this machine comes with a great safety feature – it will not operate unless the lid is in place.
Highlights
Basic, straightforward design
Durable plastic body
Convenient cord storage design
32-ounce transparent pitcher with printed measurement guide
Lightweight and compact for easy portability
Two ice shaving settings
Easy to operate and clean
Safety feature: does not operate without the lid in place
Conclusion
So you see, whether you’re planning to make a refreshing cup of slushie for yourself or a gallon for everyone at the party, a frozen drink maker can be your ideal companion. You can choose from the above listed top quality frozen drink makers that are not just extra stylish to look at, but also offer amazing performance by creating smooth and fluffy icy delights that ensure you earn the title of the best host/hostess in town!
