A Guide to Choosing the Right Ice Machine for Your Business

Whether you're running a restaurant, café, hotel, or bar, an ice machine is essential to keeping your business running smoothly. From chilling drinks to food storage and presentation, ice plays a vital role in hospitality, food service, and beyond. With so many brands, types, and styles of ice makers, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll break down the different types of ice machines, the kinds of ice they produce, and the best fit for various business needs. We’ll also dive into the standout features of leading brands like Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic, Brema and Polar, so you can make a more informed choice. 

Types of Ice Makers

Modular Ice Makers: These are ideal for high-volume operations, like large restaurants, hotels, and event venues. Modular units produce large quantities of ice and are paired with a separate storage bin. They’re typically installed on top of the ice storage bin or dispenser and can produce up to 1000 kilograms of ice per day. This is an excellent option for businesses such as hospitals and large hospitality venues that need a lot of ice on hand throughout the day. 

Undercounter Ice Makers: Undercounter machines are compact units that fit conveniently under counters, making them a great choice for bars, cafés, and small restaurants. These units typically produce between 50-150 kilograms of ice per day, making them well-suited for establishments with moderate ice needs.

Countertop Ice Makers: These are smaller units that often double as ice dispensers, making them popular in healthcare, self-service stations, and offices. They typically produce nugget or cubelet ice, which is easy to chew and safe for patient care settings. 

Ice Dispenser Machines: Ice dispensers are ideal for self-serve stations where customers can dispense their own ice. You’ll often find these in hotel corridors, office break rooms, and fast-food restaurants. These machines are typically paired with water dispensers for added convenience. 

Combination Ice and Water Machines: Combination units provide both ice and water, making them ideal for businesses looking to save space. They’re especially useful for offices, cafeterias, and healthcare facilities.

Types of Ice and Their Uses

Each type of ice has unique characteristics suited to specific applications:

Cube Ice: Ideal for cocktails, soft drinks, and water, cube ice is dense, slow-melting, and versatile. Standard cube ice is great for drinks, while smaller cubes work well for blending. 

Nugget Ice: Nugget ice is chewable and absorbs flavours, making it popular in healthcare, cafes, and soda fountains. It cools quickly and is soft on teeth, making it a customer favourite. 

Flake Ice: Used mainly in seafood displays and healthcare, flake ice moulds around items for better cooling and is ideal for food presentation and preservation.

Gourmet Ice: Also known as "top-hat" or "crescent" ice, gourmet ice melts slowly and has a clear, elegant appearance, making it perfect for high-end cocktails and whiskey on the rocks.

Cubelet Ice: Cubelet ice is a cross between cube and nugget ice and works well in a wide range of applications, from fountain drinks to mixed drinks. 

Ice Machine Brands and Their Benefits 

Hoshizaki: Known for durability and reliability, Hoshizaki ice machines are a favourite in commercial kitchens. Hoshizaki machines are energy-efficient, easy to clean, and produce high-quality ice in cube, crescent, and flake forms. They also feature stainless steel exteriors and are ideal for high-demand environments. 

Scotsman: Scotsman is known for its advanced technology and eco-friendly design. With unique features like the "Prodigy Plus" which reduces water and energy consumption, Scotsman machines are popular among businesses with a high focus on sustainability. Their machines offer various ice shapes, including cube, flake, and nugget, to meet versatile needs. 

Ice-O-Matic: With an emphasis on simplicity and durability, Ice-O-Matic machines are reliable and low-maintenance. They use an antimicrobial system to protect ice and equipment from bacteria buildup. Offering cubed and flake ice, Ice-O-Matic is ideal for high-traffic restaurants, cafes, and catering businesses.

Brema: Brema is known for its unique "soft nugget" ice, which is popular in healthcare and hospitality industries. Brema machines are energy-efficient and compact, making them an excellent choice for limited spaces. Their ice is easily chewable, making it ideal for patient care, soft drinks, and more. 

Polar: Polar ice machines offer a balance of performance and affordability, and are available in various configurations, including undercounter and modular models. These machines are ideal for small to medium-sized businesses looking for quality ice on a budget. Polar machines provide cube and flake ice options, making them versatile across applications.  

How Much Ice Does Your Venue Need?

Choosing the right size ice machine is critical for maintaining efficient operations without over- or underestimating your needs. Ice demand can vary greatly depending on the type of venue and the peak times of usage. As a general guideline, calculating the required kilograms of ice per customer or patient is a helpful starting point to ensure an adequate supply.

For restaurants and cafes, the recommended amount of ice per person ranges from 0.5 to 1 kilogram per day. In fast-paced bars, where ice is used frequently for cocktails and soft drinks, you might need closer to 1.5 to 2 kilograms per customer. Hotels typically require 1 kilogram per room per day to meet guest needs for in-room and common area ice. For healthcare facilities, around 0.5 kilograms per patient daily is standard, especially if you are providing chewable nugget ice for hydration and comfort.

Factors to Consider in Sizing

Consider peak periods as well as average daily usage when determining the best machine size. If your business sees high demand during lunch or dinner hours, or if you have a weekend rush, opt for a machine that can produce enough ice to meet these peaks. Modular machines with larger storage bins are often ideal for such cases, as they can accumulate ice during slower periods, ensuring a steady supply when you need it most.

Choosing the Right Ice Machine for Your Business

Selecting the right ice machine depends on your business's specific needs: 

High-Volume Bars & Restaurants: Modular ice makers from Hoshizaki or Scotsman can provide the quantity and reliability required for high-demand settings.

Quick-Service Restaurants & Cafes: Undercounter or countertop ice makers from Ice-O-Matic are a good fit due to their ease of access and versatility in ice types. 

Hotels & Self-Service Areas: For hotel corridors or cafeterias, combination units or ice dispensers from brands like Polar or Scotsman will cater to guest needs efficiently. 

Healthcare & Patient-Care Facilities: Brema’s nugget ice machines are ideal due to their easy-to-chew texture, while countertop dispensers are popular in hospitals and care facilities.

Ready to Find the Right Ice Machine? 

Choosing the right ice machine can transform your business's efficiency, customer satisfaction, and even energy savings. At Fletchers Supplies, we’re here to help you find the best ice machine tailored to your needs. Contact us today for expert advice and a free quote on the right ice solution for your business!

  Contact us