EASYERA Nugget Ice Maker Review: compact nugget ice on tap for chew-ice addicts

I bought this EASYERA nugget ice maker mainly because I’m one of those people who chews ice all day and was tired of driving to gas stations or fast-food places for “good ice”. I’ve been using it daily on my kitchen counter for drinks and just bowls of ice to chew in front of the TV. So this is not a lab test, just real-world use in a small household that actually abuses the thing.

In practice, it does what it says: it makes nugget/pebble style ice, not hollow bullets. The texture is soft enough to chew without feeling like you’re going to crack a tooth, but it’s not slush either. It’s closer to Sonic-style ice than regular fridge cubes. If that’s what you’re chasing, you’re in the right zone. If you just want basic ice for the odd drink, this is probably overkill and more expensive than you need.

My setup: it sits next to a standard KitchenAid mixer, plugged into a normal 115V kitchen outlet. I fill it with filtered water from a pitcher because my tap is hard and I don’t want to kill it with scale. I run it mostly in the afternoon and evening, then empty or transfer the ice to the freezer at night. That seems to be how most people end up using it too, judging from reviews.

Overall, my first impression after a few days was: it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty solid for a compact nugget machine at this price. It’s not silent, the ice bin doesn’t keep ice frozen, and you have to refill water more often than you’d like. But if your main goal is having chewable ice quickly without a giant machine, it basically gets the job done.

On value, you have to be honest about what you’re paying for. Nugget ice makers are still pricier than standard bullet-ice machines. This EASYERA isn’t the cheapest thing on the shelf, but it’s also not in the same price bracket as the big-name nugget machines that cost a small fortune. For what it offers—compact size, decent build, true nugget ice, and self-cleaning—I’d call the price fair but not a steal.

Compared to a basic bullet ice maker, you’re paying extra mainly for ice texture and chewability. If you don’t care about that and just want cold cubes in your drink, you can save quite a bit by going with a regular ice maker or even just using trays and a bigger freezer bin. But if you’re like me and genuinely prefer pebble/nugget ice and use it daily, then the extra cost starts to make sense over time, especially if you were buying bags of ice or drinks just to get that texture.

Where it scores well on value is the size and portability. Some competing nugget machines take up a ton of counter space and are heavy. This one is small enough for an apartment, dorm, RV, or small office without dominating the whole area. That matters if space is tight. Power usage is similar to other small appliances; it’s not free to run, but it’s not some huge power hog either.

So, value-wise: if you’re a daily or heavy ice user who likes to chew ice or make lots of iced drinks, this can be a good buy, especially if you catch it on sale like some reviewers did on Prime Day. If you only occasionally use ice or you’re very sensitive to noise and long-term durability worries, your money might be better spent on a simpler ice solution or put aside for a higher-end built-in later. It’s good value for the right person, average value for everyone else.

From a design standpoint, I’d call it functional and compact, not pretty or premium. The black finish is decent and doesn’t scream “cheap plastic” from across the room, but once you touch it you know this is an appliance in the mid-range, not some high-end stainless beast. For a countertop that’s already busy, the small footprint is a real plus. It takes less space than my bread machine and about the same depth as a drip coffee maker.

The lid flips up from the top, which works fine under my cabinets, but if you have really low cabinets it’s something to check. The ice basket lifts out easily, and the scoop sits nearby. There’s a drain plug on the bottom for when you want to empty the tank fully, especially useful for cleaning or if you’re moving it to an RV or putting it away. I like that I don’t have to flip the whole unit over to drain it; you just slide it over the sink and pull the plug.

Noise-wise, this is where opinions will differ. When it’s just circulating water and running the compressor, it’s more of a low hum, similar to a small fridge or a desktop fan on low. But when the ice starts dropping into the basket, you hear it. It’s not deafening, but you notice it, especially in a quiet kitchen. Some users mention that after months it can get noisier; I’ve noticed a slight change in tone after a while, but nothing unbearable yet. If you’re very sensitive to noise, you might find it annoying during long runs.

One small annoyance: because the bin isn’t refrigerated, you can get some condensation around the opening area if the room is warm and humid. It’s not a flood, but I’ve had to wipe a little moisture from the counter now and then. Overall, the design choices make sense for a portable machine—light enough to move, small enough for an RV or small kitchen, but you trade off some insulation and quiet operation compared to a built-in ice maker.

Living with this machine every day is mostly easy, but there are a few things you need to accept. The first is water refills. The reservoir isn’t huge, so if you’re running it for several hours, you’ll be topping it up. For my use (a couple of hours in the afternoon/evening), I usually refill it once, sometimes twice on a very hot day. It’s not heavy, and filling from a filtered pitcher is simple, but if you hate any kind of manual refill, it will annoy you.

Noise is the second comfort point. When you’re cooking, talking, or have a TV on, it kind of fades into the background. But in a very quiet room, you’ll hear the compressor hum and the occasional clatter of ice dropping. One Amazon reviewer mentioned that after 8 months theirs started making a nasty noise. I haven’t hit that point yet, but I can see the possibility with scale buildup or parts loosening over time. Running the cleaning cycle regularly should help, but this is not a silent gadget you forget about.

On the positive side, using it is brainless. There are no modes to fiddle with; you press the button, the lights tell you if water is low or the bin is full, and that’s it. My family members who never read manuals figured it out in 30 seconds. The size also makes it less of a hassle to move around; I’ve carried it to the living room for a party and even loaded it into the car for a weekend away. At around 20 lbs, it’s not feather-light, but it’s manageable.

Day to day, the comfort factor comes down to this: if you really like nugget ice, the small inconveniences (noise, refills, emptying the bin) are tolerable. If you’re only mildly into ice, those same things might make you wonder why you spent the money. For an ice chewer like me, it’s a fair trade. For someone who just wants a couple of cubes for whiskey now and then, it’s probably more hassle than benefit.

Durability is the big question mark with most countertop ice makers, and this one is no exception. The build feels average but not flimsy. The plastics are decent, the lid hinge hasn’t shown any signs of weakness so far, and the drain plug seals properly without leaks. I move it around occasionally and it hasn’t cracked or loosened anywhere. So out of the box and for the first months, it feels solid enough for the price range.

Where I’m a bit cautious is the internal mechanics and noise over time. One Amazon reviewer mentioned that after about 8 months, their unit started making a horrible noise, to the point where they sometimes had to turn it off. That doesn’t surprise me—these small compressors and augers in nugget machines work pretty hard, and if mineral buildup or wear sets in, the sound will change. Regular cleaning and using softer/filtered water should help, but I wouldn’t expect this to last like a built-in fridge ice maker for 10 years.

From my use, after extended runs on hot days, the unit gets warm on the sides, which is normal. I haven’t had any overheating shutdowns or error lights, but I also make sure there’s space around it for ventilation. If you cram it into a tight corner with no airflow, you’re asking for trouble. The moving parts (the auger that forms the nuggets) are hidden, so you mostly judge by sound: if it starts grinding or squealing, that’s usually a sign it needs a good clean or something is wearing out.

Overall, I’d rate durability as “reasonable for the category”. Countertop nugget makers in general don’t have the best long-term reputation, especially the cheaper ones. This EASYERA model sits in that mid zone: not junk, but also not a lifetime appliance. If you’re okay with the idea that you may get a few good years out of it with proper care—and you really value nugget ice—then it’s acceptable. If you want something you buy once and never think about again for a decade, this probably isn’t it.

On performance, this thing is honestly pretty solid for home use, as long as your expectations are realistic. The brand claims first ice in about 5 minutes and up to 33 lbs per day. In my kitchen at normal room temperature, I usually see the first nuggets after 6–8 minutes, which is close enough. By the 20-minute mark, I’ve got enough ice for two large drinks filled to the top or a good-sized bowl just for chewing.

The texture is the main reason to buy this instead of a cheaper bullet-ice machine. The nuggets are small, irregular little pellets that are soft enough to bite through without much force. They’re not as airy as some commercial restaurant nugget ice, but they’re definitely easier on your teeth than solid cubes. They also melt a bit slower than crushed ice, so your drink doesn’t turn into water instantly. For sodas, cocktails, or flavored water, it works well. I’ve also tried the trick of sprinkling powdered drink mix over a bowl of ice like one Amazon reviewer mentioned, and it’s basically a chunky snow cone. Simple but it works.

The 33 lbs per day number is more of a “maximum if you run it constantly” spec. In real life, I’d say it easily keeps up with a family of 2–4 for normal drinks, even on hot days, as long as you start it ahead of time and let it build a pile. If you’re hosting a big party and everyone wants nugget ice at once, you’ll probably need to pre-make a bunch and store it in the freezer, otherwise the bin will empty faster than it refills.

One thing to keep in mind: because the bin isn’t frozen, the bottom layer of ice starts to melt and can fuse a bit. If you leave it for a couple of hours, you might get a clump. I usually give the basket a quick shake when I grab ice, which breaks things up. It’s not a deal breaker, just part of how these countertop makers work. Compared to a standard bullet-ice machine I owned before, this EASYERA is slower to fill the bin completely, but the ice quality is better and more enjoyable to chew, so for me that trade-off is worth it.

Out of the box, you get the machine, a removable ice basket, a scoop, and some basic instructions. No fancy accessories, but nothing important missing either. The footprint is roughly 11.3 x 8.6 inches, so it’s more compact than most nugget ice makers I’ve seen, which are usually big chunky boxes. It’s about 12.6 inches tall, so it fits easily under upper cabinets in my kitchen with room to lift the lid.

The main thing to understand: this is an ice maker, not an ice freezer. The bin is just a cold area where the ice drops. If you leave the ice sitting there for hours, it slowly melts back into the reservoir. The brand even tells you to move the ice to your freezer if you want to store it, and they’re right. I ended up keeping a couple of zip bags in the freezer and dumping extra ice in there when the bin gets full.

Using it daily is pretty simple: fill the tank with water up to the line, press the power button, wait a few minutes, and you start seeing little nuggets drop into the basket. It really does start spitting out usable ice in about 5–10 minutes, and if you let it run, it builds up a decent pile for a few drinks in 20–30 minutes. For a family of 2–3 people who drink iced drinks regularly, the 33 lbs per day claim seems realistic enough if you run it for long stretches.

What I liked in practice is that there’s no complicated menu or Wi-Fi nonsense. It’s basically on/off with a cleaning function. Lights warn you when the bin is full or the water is low. That’s it. On the downside, because it’s so simple, there are no options to adjust nugget size or anything like that. You take the ice it makes or you don’t. For me that’s fine, but if you want lots of settings, this isn’t that type of machine.

If I boil it down to one question—does this machine actually give you that soft, chewable “good ice” at home?—my answer is yes, mostly. It’s not 100% identical to Sonic’s ice, but it’s close enough that I stopped buying bags of ice or planning my route home around drink stops. The nuggets are crunchy but still easy to chew, and they pick up flavor from drinks nicely without turning them into water immediately.

In terms of pure effectiveness, it ticks the main boxes:

• Makes nugget/pebble ice, not bullets or cubes
• Produces ice fairly quickly (first ice ~5–10 minutes)
• Can keep up with a small household’s daily use
• Has a self-cleaning cycle to keep scale and slime under control

The self-cleaning function is actually useful. You press and hold the button for about 5 seconds, it runs a 15-minute cleaning cycle circulating water, then you pull the bottom plug to drain. I run this with a bit of diluted vinegar or manufacturer-recommended cleaner every couple of weeks because my water, even filtered, has some minerals. It’s not magic—you still need to wipe and occasionally inspect the tank and ice area—but it makes maintenance less of a chore.

Where it’s less effective is long-term storage and continuous party use. Since the bin doesn’t freeze, you can’t expect it to hold perfect nuggets for hours without any melt. And if you’ve got a crowd constantly filling big cups, the machine will struggle to keep the bin full without some planning. For normal home use, though, it does what most people buying this are hoping for: gives you regular access to chewable nugget ice without a huge commercial unit.