Man With Glass With Water and Ice in His Hand

10 Best Ice Dispenser (Review)

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While the typical refrigerator comes with an ice maker/ freezing compartment, it’s an excellent idea to acquire a dedicated ice machine dispenser if your fridge cannot supply your daily ice needs. With an ice dispenser, you can make pounds of ice everyday way quickly and efficiently, and better yet, depending on your model, make ice in different sizes.

That said, on the surface, finding an ice machine dispenser can seem pretty straightforward. After all, you just need to walk into a retail store/ visit an online shop to find one and then purchase it, right? Now, while you might still end up with an excellent dispenser with this approach, there’re high chances of you acquiring an appliance that’ll end up disappointing you.

So, to eliminate guesswork when shopping for ice dispenser machines, this post offers useful information to guide you. There’re reviews of the ten best ice dispensers available, thus, narrowing down your options. Furthermore, there’s a detailed shopper’s guide to educate you on everything essential about ice dispensers.
BEST OVERALL
Manitowoc CNF-0201A-L Ice Maker and Water Dispenser

This is an ultimate choice nugget style ice dispenser. It produces clear perfect ice for Your coctails. Dispenser can produce up to 315 pounds in a 24 hours. It have great resign too, so it'll be looks great in your restaurant, home or hotel. 

Commercial Ice Dispensers: Essential Things to Know

There’re many things to know about commercial ice dispensers. However, below we focus on only the most essential things that you need to comprehend before making your purchase. So, let’s get started.

Before buying these appliances, pay attention to the following features:

  • Speed: The swifter the machine is at making ice, the better. Generally, the fastest of these appliances make ice in six minutes while the slow ones achieve the same in thirteen minutes or more.
  • Colder ice: You want a machine that makes colder ice to ensure that it stays solid for longer.
  • Lightweight: If you plan on carrying your appliance while on the road, then a lightweight product will prove handy.
  • Ice shape: Ice makers create ice shapes such as dice, crescent, nugget, bullet, and gourmet. So, settle on an item that can make the shape you want.
  • Storage capacity: Getting an appliance with adequate storage capacity based on your needs will keep you from having to remove the ice and store it elsewhere whenever ice is made.
Hand Holding Glass With Ice And Water

When it comes to classification, ice dispensers can either be:

  • Countertop: These are small and portable appliances that freeze water without the need to be connected to water inlets. Often, they do not have much storage space.
  • Undercounter: These are automatic appliances with way larger ice-making and storage capacities. They provide a constant supply of ice and need more time to create the same. A dedicated water line connects to these machines to ensure non-stop ice-making.

Comparison Table

Manitowoc CNF-0201A

* Best Overall
Manitowoc CNF-0201A-L Ice Maker and Water Dispenser
Technical Details

Brand Name

Manitowoc

Item Weight

184 Pounds

Product Dimensions

16-1/2" x 24" x 35" Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

315 Pound

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

DuraTech Exterior

Color

Silver/Black

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Technical Details

Brand Name

FD FLURIDA

Item Weight

85 Pounds

Product Dimensions

18-1/8” x 22-3/8” x 31-1/2” Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

11 Lb

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features​​​​

Ambient Temperature Water

Color

Silver/Black

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Technical Details

Brand Name

KUPPET

Item Weight

No Information

Product Dimensions

9.9 x 15.3 x14.3 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

36 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features​​​​

Large Productivity

Color

Red

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Technical Details

Brand Name

Scotsman

Item Weight

183.0 Pounds

Product Dimensions

16.2 x 24.4 x 35 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

260 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features​​​​

Great Performance

Color

Silver

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Technical Details

Brand Name

COSTWAY

Item Weight

40 Lbs

Product Dimensions

12 x 14 x 39 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

27 Lbs

Installation Type

Freestanding

Special Features​​​​

Water Cooler And Ice Maker

Color

White

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Technical Details

Brand Name

NutriChef

Item Weight

30.4 Pounds

Product Dimensions

14. 6'' X 12. 2'' X 13. 8'' Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

33 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features​​​​

2 Cube Sizes

Color

Silver

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Technical Details

Brand Name

Costway

Item Weight

21 Pounds

Product Dimensions

10 x 15.5 x 14 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

36 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features​​​​

Compact

Color

Red

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Technical Details

Brand Name

VBENLEM

Item Weight

47.2 Pounds

Product Dimensions

42 x 17 x 16 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

27 Lb

Installation Type

Freestanding

Special Features​​​​

Water Cooler And Ice Maker

Color

White

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Technical Details

Brand Name

Northair

Item Weight

37.5 Pounds

Product Dimensions

14.1 x 16.7 x 17.8 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

40 Pounds

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features​​​​

Water Cooler And Ice Maker

Color

Silver/Black

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Technical Details

Brand Name

VBENLEM

Item Weight

64 Pounds

Product Dimensions

26.8 x 23.2 x 20.9 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

110 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features​​​​

Advanced Convenience

Color

Silver/Black

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The Best Ice Makers You Can Acquire

With so many brands available commercially, finding the perfect dispenser amid the noise can be tricky. Luckily, this post narrows your choice-list to ten of the best cube dispensers in commercial circulation today. Each item is accompanied by an in-depth review to help you get a better idea of it. So, feel free to discover the perfect dispenser for you below.

Best Overall : Manitowoc CNF-0201A

Manitowoc CNF-0201A-L Ice Maker and Water Dispenser

Technical Details

Brand Name

Manitowoc

Item Weight

184 Pounds

Product Dimensions

16-1/2" x 24" x 35" Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

315 Pound

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

DuraTech Exterior

Color

Silver/Black

After thorough, independent research and testing, this dispenser emerged at the top. After all, when compared to the rest of the appliances on this list, it has unmatched ice-making speed, cutting-edge features, and way more superior design. With that said, let us jump to the specifics.

The Manitowoc dispenser is a countertop unit that makes three-hundred-and-fifteen pounds of sizable ice nuggets daily. Given this massive production, this dispenser is ideal for busy premises that need a constant supply of cubes. That said, for delivery, this dispenser has an innovative lever-activated mechanism that allows for an effortless outpouring of cubes.

Another notable thing about this dispenser is the bin storage, which can hold up to ten pounds of cubes. As such, while the ready cubes are being held in the container waiting for you to collect, you can make another batch of ice in the ice machine. Ultimately, you will have a continual supply of cubes to keep your operations/ activities going.

This machine also boasts of the new DuraTech front panel. As a user, this technology will prove handy as it makes cleaning quite straightforward. Besides that, this tech minimizes the probability of staining caused by hard water.

Excellent lighting is yet another great aspect of this cube dispenser. Unlike some non-lit models available in commercial circulation, this dispenser emits blue LED lighting that illuminates dark areas. This way, it enables easy use of the appliance when you have to locate it in a darker corner of your premises.

Standout features:

  • Stainless steel;
  • DuraTech exterior;
  • Countertop appliance;
  • Metallic color;
  • Six-inch long power cord.

Pros

  • Straightforward cleaning;
  • Blue lighting for illuminating dark areas;
  • Doesn’t stain from hard water easily;
  • Massive ice production capacity;
  • Great ice-dispensing mechanism.

Cons

  • Bit large.
Flurida Ice & Water Dispenser Counter top

Technical Details

Brand Name

FD FLURIDA

Item Weight

85 Pounds

Product Dimensions

18-1/8” x 22-3/8” x 31-1/2” Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

11 Lb

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

Ambient Temperature Water

Color

Silver/Black

If you are looking for a functional countertop ice dispenser that strikes you with great design, then this is the product to acquire. Upon buying this appliance, perhaps the first aspect to note is that it doubles up as an ice and room-temp water dispenser. As such, it allows you to pour the content you want, given your circumstance.

There’re other notable features of this ice-making appliance, so let’s round them up quickly. For one, this dispenser comes with an auto-defrost tech that makes the appliance easy to clean after frost accumulation. Besides that, it comes with a hinged door that swings right during the opening. Due to this functionality, this item can be put at a corner on your premises. Thus, you won’t have to worry about space when opening the appliance.

When it comes to cubes production, this dispenser does more than deliver. It can make up to eleven pounds of cubes daily, making it an ideal purchase if you need a lot of cubes on most days. Once the ice is made, you do not have to worry about where to put it before use. There’s a storage container on this appliance that can hold up to nine pounds of cubes while making another batch in the ice-making compartment. And not to forget, the cubes in the storage compartment is kept at the right temperature, thus preventing melting. 

As mentioned before, this product boasts of excellent design. It’s silver at the top (freezer) and black on the lower side (ice-and-water dispenser compartment.) At the base, there’re rubber footings that give this item an allowance off the ground while also ensuring the appliance is firm on the surface. This product makes crescent-shaped ice cubes.

Standout features:

  • Silver & black;
  • Right-swinging door;
  • Auto-defrost tech;
  • Ice-and-water dispenser.

Pros

  • Compact;
  • Ice & room temp water dispenser;
  • Twelve-month warranty all over the US;
  •  Excellent exterior.

Cons

  • No chilled water, room-temp only.
KUPPET 2 in 1 Countertop Ice Maker

Technical Details

Brand Name

KUPPET

Item Weight

No Information

Product Dimensions

9.9 x 15.3 x14.3 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

36 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

Large Productivity

Color

Red

This stylish dispenser is a must-buy if you need massive amounts of cubes every day. With it, you can make a whopping thirty-six pounds of cubes daily to meet and even exceed your requirements. But before you can find out about that, the speed at which this machine makes cubes is sure to impress. On any day, this appliance can make cubes in only six minutes, and thirteen minutes at the longest. And if nothing else, this product doubles up as a chilled water source.

Standout features:

  • Ice & water dispenser;
  • Timer;
  • Touch LCD window;
  • Ice cube pushing spring.

Pros

  • Swift ice-making;
  • Quick heat dissipation;
  • Quiet;
  • Massive ice production.

Cons

  • No flap for dispenser hole.
Scotsman HID312A-1 Meridian Nugget

Technical Details

Brand Name

Scotsman

Item Weight

183.0 Pounds

Product Dimensions

16.2 x 24.4 x 35 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

260 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

Great Performance

Color

Silver

If you are after an appliance that performs like no other, then you better acquire this one. With it, you can make two-hundred and sixty pounds of ice daily without much hassle. So, given this massive capacity, this makes an excellent choice for a commercial ice dispenser. That said, you might now be wondering where you will store such an enormous amount of ice every day, but there’s no need to worry. This appliance has a storage container with a twelve-pound capacity, thus making it ideal for storing significant amounts of cubes.

Standout features:

  • Big sink and dispensing space;
  • Contoured edges;
  • LED lighting;
  • USB drive.

Pros

  • Easy maintenance;
  • Easy cleaning;
  • Air-filtering functionality;
  • Stainless steel exterior.

Cons

  • Quite heavy.
Costway 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser

Technical Details

Brand Name

COSTWAY

Item Weight

40 Lbs

Product Dimensions

12 x 14 x 39 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

27 Lbs

Installation Type

Freestanding

Special Features

Water Cooler And Ice Maker

Color

White

This water dispenser has an integrated cubes maker that creates ice anywhere between six and fourteen minutes. It is an ideal purchase if you do not need massive amounts of ice at a go, given that this appliance creates nine pieces of ice per cycle. You can have peace of mind with this item in your house, especially if you have young children since there’s a child-lock feature. Best of all, this product can produce hot, cold, and room temperature water while making twenty-seven pounds of cubes daily.

Standout features:

  • Hot, cold, & room-temp water dispenser;
  • Classy make;
  • LED lights for indicating the status;
  • Child control.

Pros

  • Hot, cold, and room temp water;
  • Swift ice-making;
  • Safe;
  • Functional control panel.

Cons

  • Not for massive ice production.
Countertop Ice Maker Machine Dispenser

Technical Details

Brand Name

NutriChef

Item Weight

30.4 Pounds

Product Dimensions

14. 6'' X 12. 2'' X 13. 8'' Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

33 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

2 Cube Sizes

Color

Silver

This ice dispenser machine manufactured and sold by NutriChef is one of the top choices for kitchen ice dispensers. It has a 1.8 liters capacity, which makes it quite efficient for home, office, and small parties. You can use it as both a water and ice dispenser.

NutriChef ice dispenser makes cubes in two different sizes, large or small cubes. In a day, this machine can make up to thirty-three pounds of frozen water. So, it can also come in handy as a commercial ice maker dispenser in small to medium establishments such as bars.

There are four labeled buttons on the dispenser, one for switching it on or off, two for ice-making cubes (small and large), and the last one for water. Below these buttons are the dispensing areas, one for ice and the other for water.

To start making ice with this dispenser, connect it to power and then add water (you can connect it to a direct water supply pipe as well.) Press either the small or large button, depending on the size of the cubes you’d like to make. Ice-making takes about nine minutes. At the top of the machine, you’ll see a screen that tells you when the cubes are being made.

Standout features

  • Makes two cube sizes, small and big;
  • Dispenses water and ice;
  • Holds up to 1.8 liters;
  • Daily output of thirty-three pounds of ice.

Pros

  • Makes ice in minutes;
  • Has a viewing window that shows you of what’s going on in the machine;
  • Has a drip tray to collect spillage;
  • Portable.

Cons

  • Doesn’t store ice for long periods.
COSTWAY 2 in 1 Countertop Ice Maker

Technical Details

Brand Name

Costway

Item Weight

21 Pounds

Product Dimensions

10 x 15.5 x 14 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

36 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

Compact

Color

Red

This two-in-one kitchen and commercial countertop ice dispenser has one of the best designs around. It is made and sold by COSTWAY, a well-known home and kitchen appliances manufacturer. It comes in a dark, classic red, which can add to your home, office, or business décor. This dispenser is created for countertop placement. It’s quite compact (10 by 15 ½ by 14 inches) and weighs about twenty-one pounds. That means you can carry it to your office or party without needing an extra set of hands.

Once the dispenser is powered and loaded with water, it can make cubes in about six minutes. One round of ice-making gives your nine cubes. The cubes come in a unique bullet-shaped design, which can either be large or small. You can make frozen cubes using a beverage of your choice, e.g., juice. You can expect to get around twenty-six pounds of ice every day. Apart from that, you can use the machine to dispense cold water. This dispenser comes with a timer that allows you to dictate when it starts and stops automatically.

Standout features:

  • Weighs twenty-one pounds;
  • Can be used for cooling water and making ice;
  • Stores up to 1.3 pounds;
  • Holds two liters.

Pros

  • Compact & lightweight;
  • Makes nine cubes at a go;
  • Takes six to twelve minutes to make ice;
  • Has a delay timer button for setting start or stop time.

Cons

  • Can only store about 1.3 pounds of ice at a time.
VBENLEM 2 in 1Water Cooler Dispenser

Technical Details

Brand Name

VBENLEM

Item Weight

47.2 Pounds

Product Dimensions

42 x 17 x 16 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

27 Lb

Installation Type

Freestanding

Special Features

Water Cooler And Ice Maker

Color

White

This machine is made as a dispenser for hot and cold water. However, it also comes with a hidden icemaker below the dispensing taps. It’s a freestanding dispenser that you can place anywhere in the room. It’s sold in the color white, which goes well with most home or office décors.

Vbenlem a high capacity machine ideal for use as an industrial ice dispenser, i.e., in offices, bars and restaurants, and other kinds of establishments.  But it can also be used at home. It can heat five liters or chill four liters of water in an hour. If you want to make ice, you can get up to nine cubes in about seven minutes. The total output capacity for this dispenser is twenty-seven pounds per day.

This 38-inch high dispenser loads water at the top from a barrel, which makes it easy to monitor levels. It also features a control panel with indicators and buttons for hot and cold and ice maker.

Standout features:

  • Hot & cold water and ice machine dispenser in one;
  • Freestanding design in color white;
  • Daily ice-making capacity of 27 pounds;
  • Comes with an ice scoop.

Pros

  • Heats or chills large amounts of water in little time;
  • Freestanding design with a child lock;
  • Ergonomic handle for easy movement;
  • Quick nine cubes cycle.

Cons

  • Ice is removed by scooping and not dispensing.
Northair 2 in 1 Ice Maker With Water Dispenser

Technical Details

Brand Name

Northair

Item Weight

37.5 Pounds

Product Dimensions

14.1 x 16.7 x 17.8 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

40 Pounds

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

Water Cooler And Ice Maker

Color

Silver/Black

If you want a mini-sized, high capacity dispenser that you can place on a countertop, this equipment from Northair might be the one. This piece of appliance makes a maximum of forty pounds of frozen crystals in twenty-four hours, allowing you to enjoy twelve bullet-shaped cubes every eight to ten minutes.

The ice, when produced, is stored in a basket. This basket can hold up to four pounds. To start making your frozen cubes, you can either load a water barrel at the top on the dispenser or pour the water manually on the tray. Next, you can use the control panel at the top of the dispenser to select the size of the crystals you want (small, medium, or large). The other two buttons are for water dispensing and powering on/off. The dispensing tap for cold water is placed on the side.

Standout features:

  • 40-pound daily ice production;
  • Makes bullet-shaped cubes in three sizes;
  • Two water loading options;
  • Indicator lights to show when production is complete or when to put in water.

Pros

  • Produces twelve cubes in every cycle;
  • Stores up to four pounds of ice at a time;
  • Recycles melted ice that remains in the tray.

Cons

  • Needs cleaning a few times to get good tasting ice.
VBENLEM Commercial Ice Maker with Dispenser

Technical Details

Brand Name

VBENLEM

Item Weight

64 Pounds

Product Dimensions

26.8 x 23.2 x 20.9 Inches

Capacity(24 hrs)

110 Lbs

Installation Type

Countertop

Special Features

Advanced Convenience

Color

Silver/Black

This modern-looking dispenser can make one-hundred-and-ten pounds of cubes daily and has a storage capacity of fourteen pounds. It is quite easy to operate, thanks to a distinct control area that allows for all operations, case in point, ice, defrost, reservation, and so forth. Besides enabling operations, this panel will allow you to track any issues within your appliance. Unlike the other models on this list, this dispenser can create both small and big clear ice cubes, thereby providing you with two options.

Standout features:

  • Auto ice maker;
  • Modern control panel;
  • Real-time performance tracker;
  • Retractable faucet;

Pros

  • Straightforward use;
  • Real-time alerts;
  • Suitable for an array of settings;
  • Crystal clear ice cubes.

Cons

  • Expensive.

Most Asked Questions About Ice Dispensing Machines

Do you have questions about ice dispensers? Here, you will find answers to questions that are most frequently asked by customers. Check them out:

What Size of Dispenser Should I Buy?

The size of your dispenser will depend on how much ice you want to make and where you want your machine to sit (on the countertop, under the counter, or stand freely). Also, look at how much space you have. There are a variety of sizes based on your preference.

Which Type of Compressor Should I Look Out For?

There are three types of compressors used in ice machines based on their cooling mechanism, and these are air-cooled, water-cooled, and remotely-cooled compressors. The air-cooled compressor is the cheapest while the remotely cooled is the most expensive.

For home use purposes, a simple air-cooled compressor is fine as long as you place your dispenser somewhere it can breathe. It’s cheap to run, easy to install, and environmentally friendly. If you need your dispenser to fit in a tight spot, a water-cooled compressor is better. Remotely-cooled compressors are relatively higher priced as you will probably need to buy the dispenser and compressor separately. However, they are considered to be the best.

three ice cubes on white background

What Control System Should I Select?

You want to pick a dispenser with the easiest control system. The best dispenser should have different switches for ice and water, and different dispensing points as well. It should also allow you to dictate the size of the ice you want to make. And of course, a button to quickly power it on and off.

Additional Features That Are Important in An Ice Dispenser

There are some things you’ve probably not thought of checking when shopping for an ice dispenser, and one of them is a drain. Some machines come with a drain that is very useful when you need to remove excess or leftover water from your dispenser. Another vital feature to check is the vents. Different manufacturers place air vents in different locations. The location of the ventilation spaces is crucial because it will dictate where you can place your dispenser.

Final Words & Recommendations

Now you know the best ice machines to buy, whether you need a commercial ice dispenser only or one that you can use at home, as well. The Manitowoc CNF-0201A-L is our top pick because of its massive output capacity, sleek stainless-steel design, and two-in-one functionality. But you can explore nine other great options reviewed here as well. Do you have experience with ice dispensers? What’s your top choice? Share your opinion with us below.

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 Image Credits - Amazon.com, Photo Stocks.

About the Author Yvonne Ferguson

Yvonne Ferguson is a culinary enthusiast and dedicated cooking tech reviewer. She’s constantly looking for the most up-to-date products and information to share with IceMakersHub readers. Yvonne enjoys making family-friendly recipes while sharing tips on choosing handy appliances for a healthy life.

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