There is a particular panic to a warm party drink with no ice, and it usually arrives at the exact moment the freezer turns out to hold two trays and a bag of peas. The FRIGIDAIRE EFIC189 is a Countertop Ice Maker built to end that panic. It produces up to 26 pounds of bullet-shaped ice per day in batches of about nine cubes, needs no plumbing line, and drops a fresh load roughly every seven to nine minutes once it is running. This is the record of a month with the EFIC189 sitting on a kitchen counter, feeding a steady stream of drinks and a few genuinely busy party evenings.
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Design and Build
The EFIC189 is a compact cube in brushed silver that fits neatly beside a coffee maker or a pitcher station. The top opens to reveal the ice basket, and the front carries a small control panel with a simple display and buttons for power and for choosing between large and small ice. The water reservoir sits behind a panel at the top, and everything that needs cleaning lifts out or slides free.
Build quality is respectable for the price. The casing is solid metal with a clean finish, the basket holds a good amount of ice, and the viewing window in the lid lets you check production without opening the unit and losing the cold. A scoop comes included, and the whole machine is light enough to move to a patio, a camper, or a party table without much effort.
Key Features
The production rate is the headline. The EFIC189 is rated for 26 pounds of ice per day, which in practice means a fresh batch of about nine bullet-shaped cubes every seven to nine minutes, with the first batch arriving soon after start-up. There is no plumbing and no installation, because you fill the reservoir by hand and let the machine do the rest.
The small and large ice settings add real utility. Small ice chills drinks quickly and suits mixed drinks, while large ice is slower to melt and keeps a glass of water cold longer, which makes the EFIC189 more flexible than a single-size machine. The unit also includes a self-cleaning function that runs cleaner through the internal lines, and the reservoir and basket lift out for easy washing, so maintenance stays simple.
Real-World Performance
The first batch of ice arrived in about seven minutes, and from then on the machine cycled steadily while I kept the reservoir topped up. The bullet-shaped cubes dropped cleanly into the basket, and the small and large settings produced visibly different cubes, which mattered more than I expected when I moved from iced coffee to an evening of cocktails.
On a normal weekday the EFIC189 ran for an hour in the morning to fill the basket for the day's drinks, and it kept pace easily. On a party night the machine ran for several hours continuously, producing ice as fast as guests used it, and the only chore was refilling the reservoir between rounds. The noise level is noticeable but not obnoxious, a steady hum plus the clatter of cubes dropping, which fits the role of a kitchen appliance rather than a bedroom gadget.
The honest limits are the capacity and the melting rate. Countertop ice makers keep ice frozen only while they are running, so the basket will not hold cubes overnight like a freezer, and the machine needs to keep cycling to preserve its stock. For party duty and daily drinks it is excellent, but it is not a substitute for a freezer's long-term storage. Anyone who expects to fill a cooler the night before should plan to run the unit close to the event instead of banking ice days ahead.
The small and large ice setting made a bigger difference than I expected in daily use. The small cubes chilled an iced coffee in seconds and packed neatly into a cocktail shaker, while the large cubes held their shape through a long glass of water and melted slowly enough to keep the drink cold without watering it down. Because the setting is a simple button press on the front panel, switching between them mid-afternoon took no thought. The built-in scoop and the viewing window meant no one had to open the lid to check on a batch, and guests could help themselves without a lesson in operating the machine. For a countertop appliance that lives in the open, that ease of use is what turns it from a novelty into a fixture. You can check the current price for the FRIGIDAIRE EFIC189 on Amazon if you want to see where it lands today.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Produces up to 26 pounds of ice per day with no plumbing
- First batch in about seven minutes, steady cycling after that
- Small and large ice settings for different drinks
- Compact metal build that moves easily for parties
- Removable reservoir and basket with a self-clean cycle
Cons:
- Ice melts if the machine is off for a long stretch
- Running noise and cube clatter are audible
- Requires regular reservoir refills during heavy use
How It Compares
Countertop ice makers divide into compact bullet models like the EFIC189 and larger commercial-style units, with under-counter built-ins as a third option. I compared the Frigidaire against a bigger 40-pound countertop unit and the classic method of freezer trays to see where each fits.
| Feature | FRIGIDAIRE EFIC189 | Large 40-lb Unit | Freezer Trays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily output | 26 pounds | 40 pounds | One or two trays |
| First batch | About 7 minutes | About 6 to 10 minutes | Hours |
| Plumbing | None | Usually none | None |
| Ice settings | Small and large | Multiple | Fixed size |
| Footprint | Compact | Large | In freezer |
| Storage | Only while running | Only while running | Stores frozen |
| Best for | Daily drinks and parties | High-volume events | Everyday small needs |
Against a larger 40-pound unit, the EFIC189 wins on footprint and price while losing on volume, and for most households 26 pounds per day is more than enough. Against freezer trays, it wins on speed and convenience by a wide margin, since you are never waiting hours or babysitting a tray. For the home bar or kitchen counter, the EFIC189 is the practical middle.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the EFIC189 if your freezer ice disappears faster than it freezes, if you host gatherings and hate running out of cubes, or if you want a no-plumbing machine that can move to a patio or camper. It is also a good fit for anyone who prefers fresh bullet ice over the cloudy cubes that freezer trays produce, and for offices or workshops where a cold drink is a welcome break.
Skip it if you need ice stored frozen for days at a time, if you run a high-volume event business, or if you have no space to spare on a countertop. For everyone in the first group, this is a fast, dependable ice maker. The FRIGIDAIRE EFIC189 listing on Amazon shows the current price and availability.
How We Test
I ran the EFIC189 for a month, including a full day of continuous operation for a party and several mornings of normal use. I timed the first batch, measured how quickly the machine cycled at both ice sizes, tracked output against the 26-pound rating, and monitored noise and how fast the basket filled and melted when the unit was off.
I refilled the reservoir repeatedly during heavy use to test ease of access, and I ran the self-clean cycle and removed the reservoir and basket to confirm the maintenance routine. I did not test the machine for commercial use or run it unattended overnight in a way the manual discourages. For a second opinion on countertop ice makers, Tom's Guide's roundup of countertop ice makers is a useful reference. The EFIC189 page on Amazon lists the current price and delivery details.
FRIGIDAIRE EFIC189 Ice Maker: Questions People Ask
How much ice does the EFIC189 make per day?
Up to 26 pounds per day, produced in batches of about nine bullet-shaped cubes per cycle, which is plenty for a family or a weekend gathering.
How long does the first batch of ice take?
Roughly seven minutes for the first cycle when the unit starts from a cold reservoir, with subsequent batches arriving faster because the water stays chilled.
Does the ice maker need a plumbing line?
No. You pour water into the reservoir by hand, so the unit can sit on any countertop near an outlet, which makes it easy to move for parties or camping.
Is the ice maker easy to clean?
Yes. The water reservoir and ice basket lift out for washing, and a self-clean cycle runs cleaner through the internal lines when the machine needs a refresh.
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