I Bought & Tested the Best-Selling Countertop Ice Makers. Here's Why Cubelle is #1:
Written by Sarah Jennings
The party limped along on gas-station ice, but the real damage came afterward. For three straight weeks, I scoured forums, watched teardown videos, and read hundreds of owner complaints about countertop ice makers, and every review seemed to contradict the last. I've tested more than 40 countertop kitchen appliances over seven years, yet I still couldn't tell which claims were real.
So I started buying. Silicone trays gave me cloudy cubes that tasted like my freezer. A bargain compressor unit I borrowed from a neighbor rattled so loudly I couldn't hear my own podcast, and a friend's nugget machine swallowed more than half her counter. None came close to the promise of fast, quiet, clean ice.
That's when I stopped guessing and designed a proper test: five much-discussed models, one kitchen, six weeks. A reader had emailed me about Cubelle, and I'll admit I was skeptical of a name I barely knew. It earned its spot on my bench, and then it kept winning.
Here's what I found.
My Test Results
We set all five machines up on the same kitchen counter and on my covered patio for six weeks, using the same filtered water throughout. Every unit ran at least ten timed first-batch cycles, plus a full 24-hour production run to check real daily output. I measured noise with a decibel app held three feet away, and I deliberately left each unit empty or overfilled to see how it reacted.
Our team scored every model on four criteria: Ice Production Speed, Ice Quality, Ease of Use, and Portability & Design. Speed covers first-batch timing and daily output, and quality covers cube shape and clumping. Ease of use covers sensors, alerts, and cleaning, while portability covers weight, footprint, and counter fit. Every score reflects how a machine performed side by side with the other four.
Speed stood out first. Across ten timed cycles, our top pick delivered its first nine bullet-shaped cubes in six to seven minutes, while the GE Profile needed around ten and the clear-ice Newair dragged past fifteen. Over a 24-hour run it produced just shy of its rated 26.5 lbs, so I never saw the basket empty during a gathering.
Noise was the next surprise. The compressor hummed at roughly 42 to 45 dB at three feet, softer than my refrigerator, and I stopped noticing it within a day. The infrared sensors also earned their keep: with the reservoir deliberately drained, ADD WATER flashed before any trouble, and a full bin triggered ICE FULL instead of an overflow. Power draw landed near 4 kWh a day, lighter than the nugget machines.
I looked hard for flaws, and the only real one is availability. I waited two weeks before I could even place my order, which cost me time but nothing else. The 1.3 lb basket suits small to medium households, so during big parties I simply emptied it into a cooler every hour, a ten-second job.
The Results:
Fast, quiet, self-cleaning, and truly portable, Cubelle is the countertop ice maker I now recommend to almost everyone who asks me.
Value
Since this machine took over my counter, I've stopped three habits: buying bagged ice, dashing out mid-party, and juggling freezer trays. That adds up to hours reclaimed every month, plus the mental load of wondering whether there's enough. Compared with pricier nugget units, the top pick gives up nothing that matters day to day, and compared with cheaper ones, it adds speed, quiet, and self-cleaning you'll feel daily.
Doing nothing has its own bill. A fridge ice maker that stalls, a weekly scramble for bags that sweat through the ride home, and trays that leave drinks lukewarm all drain time and patience. Worse, bargain countertop units that fail within a season make you buy twice.
Durability closes the case. Cubelle ships with a 12-month warranty that matches or beats most compact rivals I tested, and after six weeks of daily cycling I saw no leaks, rattles, or drop in output. It's a smart long-term decision that pays you back every time you pour a cold drink.
Ice on Demand, Anywhere You Need It
Picture a Saturday morning with iced coffee in hand, ice already waiting, and no store run. In my kitchen, the machine hums quietly while I cook, and I never have to ask whether there's enough. It's the small kind of peace of mind that makes entertaining feel effortless.
The benefits stretch beyond the kitchen. RV travelers, tailgaters, and office break rooms love how easily a 13.4 lb unit moves, home bartenders appreciate cubes that won't clump in the shaker, and parents of busy teams love having cold water ready after practice.
Customer Reviews
I coach my son's soccer team and host half the roster after every game, so I was hauling four bags of ice a week. Since getting this, I haven't bought a single bag in over a month. The kids actually fight over who gets to scoop.
We take it in our RV every trip. Light enough that I carry it with one hand, and the ice is ready before I finish unpacking. Wish I'd bought one years ago.
I work from home and live on iced coffee, but my apartment kitchen has maybe two feet of free counter. This sits right next to the coffee maker without crowding anything, and the cubes don't clump together in the glass like the ones from my old tray. The self-clean cycle takes one button press, so I run it on Sunday while I'm meal-prepping. Easily one of the best purchases I made this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most units deliver a first batch in 6 to 15 minutes. In my testing, our top pick averaged about six, the GE Profile around ten, and the clear-ice Newair well over fifteen.
If you entertain, first-batch time matters more than the daily capacity number.
Small to medium households do well with around 26 lbs per day, while frequent entertainers may want 40 lbs or more. The machine keeps producing while you scoop, so a small basket can still support a big party if you empty it into a cooler.
Efficient models use roughly 4 to 5 kWh per day.
No. They use a refillable reservoir, so all you need is a flat surface and an outlet. That's why they work in RVs, patios, offices, and home bars.
Sensors alert you when it's time to add water.
Noise ranges from about 45 dB for the quietest models to 55 dB or more. A unit at the low end blends into the background, while louder ones become distracting near living spaces or bedrooms.
Check the decibel rating before you buy.
Run a cleaning cycle every two to four weeks, and more often with hard water. On Cubelle, holding the Ice/Clean button for three seconds starts a 30-minute automatic cycle.
Filtered or bottled water also slows mineral buildup.
Bullet ice chills drinks fast and suits everyday beverages and iced coffee. Nugget ice is soft and chewable, and clear ice melts slowly for cocktails.
Bullet ice is also the quickest to produce and the most energy-efficient, which is why it performed best in my tests.
Demand has outpaced production runs, and readers regularly report sellouts within days of a restock. I waited two weeks before I could place my own order.
If Cubelle shows as available when you check, I'd order right away.
Yes, as long as you have power from a campground hookup, inverter, or generator. Lightweight models around 13 lbs with a carry handle travel best, and refillable reservoirs mean no plumbing.
Keep the unit level and leave a few inches of ventilation space.
Purchase and Delivery Process
Ordering takes about two minutes. Because it's sold exclusively online, there are no store markups and no waiting for a shelf restock.
Here's the catch: it sells out. I personally waited two weeks before I could place my order, because every listing I checked showed as sold out. Restocks tend to vanish within days.
Once your order is in, shipping is fast, and mine arrived well packed with the basket, scoop, and manual. If it's in stock when you click through, order right away and don't wait like I did.
Where Can I Buy the Cubelle?
Getting your own Cubelle with a 50% discount is simple. Just follow these steps: