My COSTWAY Countertop Ice Maker Review: A Summer Party Must-Have

Our refrigerator ice maker quit at exactly the wrong time. This countertop machine is getting us through the summer ice emergency, and the timer may have earned it a permanent spot in my party-prep routine.

Of course our refrigerator ice maker decided to fail during the best part of summer, when every drink seems to need a mountain of ice. The replacement part was backordered for months, and the thought of buying bag after bag of ice for parties, iced coffee, and everyday drinks was not especially appealing.

I had never owned a countertop ice maker before, so I honestly expected this to be a temporary fix. I ordered the COSTWAY countertop ice cube maker with the external water tank, set it up, and watched it start turning out batch after batch of square ice. I could not have been happier.

What surprised me most was not just that it worked quickly. It was how well it fit the way I already host. I love doing everything I can ahead of time, and this is one of the few countertop models I found with a true reservation timer. I can fill it, schedule it to start before I need it, and have ice production underway without adding one more last-minute job to my list.

My Quick Verdict

COSTWAY Ice Maker Specifications

These are the manufacturer-listed specifications for the exact Amazon model I purchased. Product listings can change, so I would verify them once more before publishing.

Why I Chose This Countertop Ice Maker

There are a lot of countertop ice makers that look almost identical online. Most promise quick ice, a compact footprint, and easy operation. The reservation timer is what separated this one for me.

Among the models I considered, this was one of the few that let me schedule the machine to start later. That matters more than it sounds. When I am having people over, I want the bar area, food, serving pieces, and drinks ready before the doorbell starts ringing. I do not want to remember to turn on the ice maker in the middle of everything else.

I also liked the removable external water tank. It sits on top of the machine and feeds the internal reservoir, so I am not constantly opening the lid and pouring in small amounts of water. You can still fill the internal tank manually, but the external tank is the easier option for a party.

The Timer Is the Feature That Sold Me

I am a make-ahead person. If I can prep it, chill it, portion it, or set it up early, I will. That is why the 24-hour reservation feature is easily my favorite part of this machine.

I can set the ice maker to begin before a brunch, backyard get-together, cocktail party, or family dinner. It does not mean the entire party's ice magically appears and stays frozen forever. You still need to empty finished batches into a freezer container if you want to build a large reserve. What it does mean is that the machine can get started without me hovering over it or remembering one more thing at the last minute.

That small bit of automation is exactly the kind of thing that makes entertaining easier. By the time I am slicing garnishes or putting out appetizers, the ice is already underway.

It Makes Ice Quickly and Keeps Making It

The listing rates the machine for 16 square cubes per cycle, with each cycle taking roughly 6 to 13 minutes depending on the thickness setting and conditions. It is also rated for up to 34 pounds of ice in a day.

I am not weighing every batch in my kitchen, but the practical result is what matters: it starts producing quickly and continues cycling as long as it has water and space in the basket. For a normal home party, that gives you enough time to build a reserve if you start before guests arrive.

The ice is much more useful for cocktails and party drinks than the tiny, hollow bullet ice many portable machines make. These are square cubes, and you can adjust the thickness depending on whether you want faster chilling or a denser cube that melts more slowly.

What the Ice Is Actually Like

The cubes are clear square-style cubes, and they look great in a glass. They are especially nice for whiskey drinks, cocktails on the rocks, iced coffee, lemonade, and the big pitchers of drinks I tend to serve when people come over.

One thing to know is that the cubes often release as a connected sheet. You can see that in my photos. It is not a big problem at all, but you may need to tap the sheet with the included scoop to separate the cubes. I would rather mention that now than have someone expect sixteen perfectly separated little cubes to tumble out every time.

The External Water Tank Is More Useful Than I Expected

The top tank is not just a design extra. It means the machine can draw from a larger supply of water without me repeatedly lifting the lid and refilling the internal reservoir.

For parties, that is a real advantage. I can fill the removable tank, let the machine work, and check it when I am already in the kitchen. The machine also gives add-water and ice-full alerts, so it is simple to see when it needs attention.

The tradeoff is height. The machine itself has a fairly narrow footprint, but the tank sits on top, so measure the space beneath your upper cabinets before ordering. The protein bag in my photo is there only to give you a better sense of the overall size.

Noise, Cleaning, and Everyday Use

No countertop ice maker is completely silent. You can hear water circulating, the compressor running, and the ice dropping into the basket. This one has been reasonable in my kitchen and is not loud enough to interfere with conversation. The manufacturer lists it at 42 dB or less.

The self-cleaning cycle is another feature I appreciate. The machine runs a 20-minute cleaning program, and the bottom drain makes it easier to empty afterward. I would still follow the manual for routine cleaning and use fresh water, but the built-in cycle makes regular upkeep much less annoying.

The controls are simple once you know what each button does. You can adjust the ice thickness, set the reservation time, start the cleaning cycle, and see when the basket is full or the water is low.

How I Would Use It for a Summer Party

1. The day before, make sure the machine is clean, empty, and ready to go.
2. Fill the external water tank and set the reservation timer so production begins well before guests arrive.
3. As batches finish, transfer the ice to a freezer bag, covered container, or ice bin in the freezer. The basket is temporary storage, not a freezer.
4. Keep the machine running while you finish food and drink prep, then start the party with a reserve already made.
5. During the party, use the fresh batches at the bar or continue moving them to a chilled container as needed.

Put It to Work With These Party Drinks

This machine is a natural fit for drinks that need plenty of fresh ice. Try it with my Orange Crush Cocktail, Large Batch Margarita Pitchers, or Piña Colada on the Rocks. It would also be useful anywhere you are setting up a self-serve drink station or cocktail bar.

What Other Buyers Mentioned

The reviews I read were largely consistent with my experience. Buyers repeatedly praised the easy setup, quick ice production, external water tank, ice quality, and self-cleaning feature.

The minor complaints were also fair. A few people noted that you can hear the water circulating, and that the cubes may drop together and need to be broken apart with the scoop. Neither issue would stop me from recommending it, but both are worth knowing before you buy.

A Few Things I Would Improve

• I would prefer the cubes to separate individually instead of releasing in a sheet.
• The water-circulation sound is noticeable, even though the overall machine is reasonably quiet.
• The external tank is convenient, but it makes overhead cabinet clearance more important.
• The ice basket does not keep ice frozen. Finished ice should be transferred if you are storing it for later.

Who This Ice Maker Is Best For

• Party hosts who want a steady supply of square ice without running to the store.
• Anyone whose refrigerator ice maker is broken, unreliable, or too slow.
• People who prep ahead and will actually use the 24-hour reservation timer.
• Home bars, iced coffee drinkers, and families that use a lot of ice in summer.
• Someone who wants adjustable square cubes rather than nugget or bullet ice.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone specifically looking for soft, chewable nugget ice.
• Someone who needs a machine that stores finished ice like a freezer.
• A kitchen with very limited counter space or low upper cabinets

The Smaller, Cheaper Alternative I Considered

The other machine that made my final list was the Igloo Portable Ice Maker. I did not buy or personally test it, so this is not a hands-on recommendation. It was the less expensive option when I compared them, however, and its much smaller footprint may make it the better choice for a small kitchen, apartment, RV, office, or occasional get-together. Amazon prices change, so check the current listing.

The Igloo is rated for up to 26 pounds of ice per day from a 1-quart reservoir. It makes small or large bullet-style cubes, has an LED control panel and self-cleaning cycle, and measures about 7.3 inches wide, 10.79 inches deep, and 11.89 inches high.

My take: the Igloo makes sense if you want the smallest practical machine at the lowest price. I still chose the COSTWAY because I wanted the higher output, larger water supply, square cubes, and especially the timer. For summer parties, those features were worth paying a little more for.

Is the COSTWAY Countertop Ice Maker Worth It?

For me, absolutely. I bought it because our refrigerator ice maker failed and the replacement part was months away. I expected a temporary appliance that would get us through the summer. Instead, I found something I will probably continue using for parties even after the refrigerator is fixed.

It is quick, easy to operate, reasonably quiet, and much more party-friendly than buying bags of ice at the last minute. The external tank is convenient, the square cubes look good in drinks, and the timer fits perfectly with the way I like to prep ahead.

There are always things that could be improved, but for a reasonably priced countertop ice maker, I do not think you can do much better than this COSTWAY model. It solved a real problem immediately, and it has made summer drinks and entertaining much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Sometimes the best party purchase is not something decorative or fancy. It is the thing that quietly removes a problem before guests arrive. That is exactly what this ice maker has done for me.

It showed up during a refrigerator repair headache and immediately made summer drinks easier. The fact that I can schedule it ahead is the part that turns it from a basic appliance into a genuinely useful hosting tool. I am very happy with it, and I would recommend it to anyone who entertains often or simply never seems to have enough ice.