ZAFRO Nugget Ice Maker Review: cheap way to get chewable ice at home, with a few trade-offs

I’ve been using this ZAFRO nugget ice maker on my kitchen counter for a bit now, basically to replace my dead fridge ice maker and to get that chewable “pellet” ice you usually only get at some fast-food places. I didn’t go into this expecting a premium machine; I just wanted something that makes soft ice fast, doesn’t scream like a jet engine, and hopefully doesn’t die after a month. So this is coming from that angle: everyday home use, a few cycles a day, not a commercial setup.

In day-to-day use, the first thing that stands out is speed. It really does start dropping ice in around 7–10 minutes once it’s on and has water. For drinks in the evening or when friends come over, that’s handy. I’m not measuring the full 35.5 lbs per day claim, but it easily keeps up with a couple of people who drink a lot of iced tea and sodas. For a small household, capacity is more than enough.

It’s not perfect, though. You can feel that this is a budget nugget machine compared to bigger brands that cost double or triple. The build is decent but not premium, the noise is there (not crazy, but you’ll hear it), and long-term reliability is a question mark. One Amazon review mentioned theirs dying in under four months with a nasty mechanical sound, and honestly that doesn’t surprise me for this price range.

Overall, my feeling after using it is: it gets the job done for chewable ice at home without spending a ton, but you should go in knowing it’s more of a mid-range gadget than a long-term appliance investment. If you expect it to run 24/7 for years like a built-in fridge maker, you might be disappointed. If you just want good nugget ice for daily drinks and you’re okay with some quirks, it’s pretty solid.

Price-wise, this ZAFRO usually sits well below the big-name nugget ice makers, which can easily hit two or three times the cost. For that lower price, you’re still getting true soft nugget ice, relatively fast production, a self-cleaning function, and a stainless shell. That’s honestly a decent deal if your main goal is just to stop buying bags of ice or to get chewable ice without spending a fortune on a premium brand.

Where the value gets more nuanced is when you factor in longevity and support. If you get a "good" unit that runs a couple of years with basic maintenance, the value is strong: you’ve spread a moderate cost over a long time and probably saved a bunch on bagged ice or drinks out. If you get one of the unlucky units that dies in a few months and customer service is slow, the value drops hard. That’s the gamble with cheaper appliances, and this product is no exception.

Compared to not having an ice maker at all, or compared to a fridge maker that constantly jams, this feels like a solid upgrade in daily comfort. Compared to a high-end nugget machine from a big brand, you’re obviously giving up build quality, maybe some features, and likely long-term durability. So it really depends where you sit: if you just want to try nugget ice at home without dropping a huge chunk of cash, this is a good entry point. If you already know you’re obsessed with nugget ice and want a long-term workhorse, you might want to save up for something sturdier.

Overall, I’d call the value good but not risk-free. For casual home use, the price-to-performance ratio is hard to beat. Just be realistic: you’re paying a mid-range price for mid-range hardware, not buying a lifetime appliance. If you go in with that mindset, you’ll probably be pretty satisfied with what you get for the money.

The design is pretty basic: a stainless steel shell with black accents. It looks fine, not fancy, not ugly. On my counter next to a stainless kettle and a black coffee machine, it blends in well enough. It doesn’t scream "cheap plastic" from a distance, which I appreciate. Up close, you can tell the metal is thin and the fit and finish are average, but for the price I wasn’t expecting anything more.

What I liked is the handle. One reviewer mentioned exactly this: because it’s a bit bulky to keep out all the time, the handle makes it easy to pick up and move into a cabinet or onto a side table when you don’t need it. At around 21 pounds, it’s not feather-light, but it’s still manageable for most people. The footprint is kind of the main downside: if you have very limited counter depth, measure first. The 13" depth plus a bit of space behind for ventilation is something you have to plan for.

The control interface is minimal: basically an on/off button and indicator lights for ice status and water levels. I actually like that. There’s no confusing menu. You see when the ice basket is full and when the water is low. Some versions of these machines have two ice size options like one reviewer mentioned; if yours does, the button layout is still simple enough that you’ll figure it out in seconds.

Overall, design-wise, I’d say it’s functional, not pretty. It feels like a small appliance you’ll tolerate on the counter rather than show off. If you care a lot about aesthetics, you’ll probably be more annoyed by the bulk than the look itself. For me, it’s acceptable: it looks modern enough, doesn’t feel flimsy, and has a practical handle that actually gets used.

The outer shell is advertised as stainless steel, and it is metal, not just painted plastic, which is good. It makes the unit feel a bit more solid and easier to wipe down. Fingerprints still show, but a quick wipe with a cloth fixes it. The top and some trim are plastic, and you can tell it’s not high-end plastic, but it’s not super flimsy either. For the price point, I’d call the materials acceptable but clearly budget.

Inside, the ice basket and scoop are both plastic. The basket is light and removable, which is handy when you want to dump a bunch of ice into a cooler or freezer bag. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to snap in normal use, but I wouldn’t lean on it or overstuff it. The scoop is basic but works; I didn’t feel the need to replace it with a better one. All the parts that touch water or ice feel smooth enough to clean easily, which is important because these machines get slimy or cloudy if you ignore them.

The compressor and internal parts obviously aren’t visible, but the weight (about 21 lbs) feels about right for a compact nugget maker. It doesn’t have that super dense, heavy feel of more expensive models, but it’s not hollow either. Given the one review about a bearing-like failure after a few months, I’d say the internal components are probably a bit on the light-duty side. That’s kind of expected in this price bracket, but it’s something to keep in mind if you plan to run it hard.

Overall, material quality is good enough for home use, but this is not a machine I’d put in a bar that runs non-stop. For a kitchen, office, or occasional party use, the stainless shell and plastic internals are fine. Just don’t expect commercial-grade robustness. If you treat it as a normal household appliance, the materials feel in line with what you pay.

Durability is the part I’m the most cautious about with this machine. On the positive side, some users are running it basically 24/7 since early in the year and say it’s still going strong, just with regular cleaning and using distilled water. That’s a good sign that, with proper care, it can handle continuous use for at least several months. In my own use, a few weeks in, no weird noises, no leaks, and no performance drop so far.

On the downside, there’s that one-star review where the unit started making a horrible internal sound in under four months, like a bearing or belt issue, and the buyer struggled to get a response from the company. That’s the kind of thing that makes me say: don’t rely on this as your only ice source if you absolutely need it. For a backup to a fridge maker, or for people who just like nugget ice, it’s fine. But if it fails, you may have some hassle getting support or a replacement, and at around $200 that stings.

Maintenance will probably decide how long it lasts. If you:

• Run the self-cleaning cycle regularly (at least monthly)
• Use filtered or distilled water instead of hard tap water
• Don’t block the vents and let it breathe
• Avoid moving it around while it’s running

…you’ll likely get better life out of it. One user even mentioned using descaling tablets monthly, which is probably overkill for some, but it shows these machines need attention, not "set and forget" treatment.

So I’d rate durability as average for a budget nugget ice maker. It’s not obviously fragile, but there’s enough evidence that some units will fail early that I wouldn’t call it reliable in the long-term appliance sense. If you’re okay with that risk in exchange for cheaper nugget ice, it’s acceptable. If you want something that will last many years without thinking about it, you may need to spend more on a higher-end brand.

On pure performance, it does what it promises pretty well. From a cold start, I’m getting the first batch of nugget ice in about 7–10 minutes, which lines up with the "7 mins ice making" claim. After that, it keeps spitting out ice at a steady pace. For two people who use a lot of ice in drinks throughout the day, it easily keeps up. I haven’t measured the full 35.5 lbs in 24 hours, but I also never managed to "outrun" it in normal use. For a small household, that capacity is more than enough.

Noise-wise, it’s not silent, but also not crazy loud. One of the reviewers said it sounds like a fan, and that’s about right. There’s a background hum and an occasional buzz when it kicks back on after the basket empties a bit. If you’re watching TV in the same room, you’ll hear it but it won’t drown anything out. I wouldn’t put it in a bedroom unless you’re a heavy sleeper, but for a kitchen or office it’s totally fine. They market it as "low noise"; I’d call it "normal appliance noise" rather than truly quiet.

Where I’m less confident is long-term performance. There’s that 1-star review where the unit started making a horrible internal noise after less than four months, like a bearing or belt issue. Mine hasn’t done that so far, but these compact nugget machines in general are known to be a bit fragile if run 24/7 or not cleaned properly. If you’re planning to run it constantly like a built-in fridge maker, you’re taking a bit of a gamble. If you use it daily but not nonstop and keep up with cleaning, I’d expect better odds, but it’s still not a tank.

In short: performance for making ice is pretty solid for the price. It’s fast, consistent, and the auto-stop when full works like it should. Just don’t treat it like a commercial machine and expect it to shrug off heavy abuse for years. It’s more of a "use it regularly, maintain it, and hope it holds up a few years" kind of device.

Out of the box, you get the ice maker itself, a removable ice basket, and a plastic scoop. No fancy extras. The manual is basic but enough to get going in a couple of minutes. You pour water into the tank, hit the power button, and that’s basically it. There’s also a self-cleaning mode you trigger by holding the power button for about 5 seconds, which is clearly explained and actually useful if you’re lazy like me about regular maintenance.

Size-wise, the product page says 12.99"D x 11.81"W x 9.06"H, which is on the smaller side for nugget machines. In practice, it still takes a noticeable chunk of counter space. One reviewer called it an eyesore on the counter, and I kind of get that. It’s not gigantic, but it’s not disappearing either. If you have a small kitchen, you may end up doing what I do: pull it out when needed, then stash it in a cabinet using the handle.

Day to day, the workflow is pretty simple: fill water, wait 7–10 minutes, grab ice with the scoop, and when the basket fills up, it stops automatically. As the ice melts, it drains back into the reservoir and the machine starts again. So you don’t really "waste" water or melted ice, which is nice. One user mentioned they run theirs 24/7, and I can see that being realistic if you always want ice ready, but personally I just run it in bursts when I know I’ll need it.

In short, from a practical perspective, it’s a straightforward appliance. No Wi‑Fi, no app, no weird modes. Just nugget ice with one button and a cleaning function. If you want something simple that you don’t have to "learn", it hits that brief. If you like lots of settings and smart features, this isn’t it, but honestly for an ice machine I don’t think that’s a big loss.

Effectiveness here means: does it really make the kind of nugget ice people are chasing, and is it good for everyday drinks? In my experience, yes. The ice it makes is soft, chewable, and slightly crunchy, not rock-hard cubes like a standard tray or fridge maker. That matches what a couple of reviewers said: it’s not too hard and crunchy, and the ice is nice to chew. If you’re specifically after that "Sonic-style" nugget feel, this gets you in that direction without being perfect, but it’s close enough for home use.

One thing to know: the nuggets come out a bit soft and wet at first. If you leave them in the basket, they slowly melt and clump a bit, then the water goes back into the reservoir. If you want harder ice, you can do what one reviewer does: scoop the fresh ice into a zip-top bag and toss it in the freezer. After an hour or two, it firms up nicely but still keeps that nugget texture. That’s a small extra step, but it works well if you want to pre-stock ice for a party.

Water quality matters a lot with these machines. One user said they only use distilled water and the ice tastes very clean and crisp. I tried both tap and filtered water. With tap water, the taste was acceptable but sometimes you get that slight mineral or chlorine note depending on your city. With filtered or distilled, it’s noticeably cleaner. I’d honestly recommend at least filtered water, especially if your tap water is hard. It also helps reduce scale buildup inside.

For actual usage scenarios: it’s great for sodas, iced coffee, cocktails, and especially for people who like to chew ice. My partner is an ice chewer and prefers this over regular cubes by a mile. So in terms of "does it do the job it claims?", I’d say yes. The only real catch is that the ice is soft and melts a bit faster than solid cubes, so if you’re making big pitchers that sit out for hours, you might want to either chill the drink first or use a mix of this ice and some harder cubes.