J
Jason hill
December 17, 2024
This is a great purchase
As a cocktail enthusiast, I was excited to try out this ice ball maker, and I'm pleased to say it didn't disappoint. This simple yet effective device has quickly become an essential tool in my home bar setup.The ice ball maker is incredibly easy to use. Just fill it with water, close the mold, and pop it in the freezer. In a few hours, you have perfectly formed ice spheres ready to enhance your favorite drinks.What sets this ice ball maker apart is the quality of the ice it produces. The spheres are crystal clear and perfectly round, adding a touch of sophistication to any glass. Not only do they look impressive, but they also serve a practical purpose. The large surface area of the sphere melts more slowly than traditional ice cubes, keeping your drink cooler for longer without diluting it as quickly.The mold is made of durable, food-grade silicone that's both flexible and sturdy. This makes it easy to remove the ice balls once they're frozen, and ensures the mold will last for many uses.One minor drawback is that it only makes a limited number of ice balls at a time, so you'll need to plan ahead if you're entertaining a crowd. However, for personal use or small gatherings, it's perfect.In terms of maintenance, the ice ball maker is dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze.Overall, this ice ball maker is a fantastic addition to any home bar. It's easy to use, produces high-quality results, and adds a touch of elegance to your drinks. Whether you're a cocktail connoisseur or just someone who appreciates a well-presented beverage, this ice ball maker is definitely worth considering.
✔ Verified Purchase
C
Colonel Panic
March 29, 2023
Tinana & Berlinzo Ice Sphere Makers Review
The Tinana and Berlinzo are essentially the same ice maker with two different labels. But there are some differences between the two, and to my mind, they do not favor the nearly twice as expensive Berlinzo:1. Physically, they are 98% identical. The only physical difference between these is that the Berlinzo is sheathed in a hard plastic outer casing with a satin black finish and some small, but nice, graphics. Between the two, this gives the Berlinzo a more “formal” and “classy” appearance. Seriously, it looks nice. If that matters to you, while it sits in your freezer, then it’s your ice maker of choice. Or, perhaps you want to give one of these as a gift; the Berlinzo does look nicer. [FWIW, their exterior shipping boxes are both nice, but to my mind, the Tinana is nicer in its simplicity.] Other than the Berlinzo’s outer shell, they are identical, and their parts are interchangeable. However, I think this outer shell contributes to difference #2.2. Per their instructions, the Tinana should be allowed to freeze for 30 hours, while the Berlinzo requires 40-48. If you’re on any kind of clock, that’s significant. Other than the thin satin plastic shell on the Berlinzo, I can think of no reason why the two devices should have such significantly different freezing times. Interestingly, the Berlinzo instructions specifically state that you should not freeze it for more than 50 hours, else there is a risk of cracking the shell. That strikes me as a disadvantage, or at least a risk of disadvantage. I found the freezing times for both devices accurate.3. The Berlinzo comes with a nice plastic bag in which to store your spheres. Unfortunately, it’s not really big enough to hold more than one batch at a time. Ziplock is your friend here.4. In all other respects, the two devices produce identical, almost entirely clear ice spheres when you follow the instructed times for freezing. And if you don’t, they also perform similarly. Pulling either device out of the freezer six hours ahead of time will reveal a not-fully-frozen base, and partially formed (about 75%) spheres. Also, if you decide to use warm or even hot water to slow the freezing process further, you’ll need to adjust your freezing time accordingly. I do, and have found an additional six hours (for a total of 36) in the Tinana works well, while the Berlinzo requires its full 48.5. The spheres from both devices also benefit from tempering. Without tempering, they didn’t always crack, but they did sometimes. And with tempering, none of the spheres cracked when room temperature whiskey was poured on them. Most people recommend five minutes for tempering, and that makes sense if the spheres are kept in an ice bucket or bowl. I found that when placed in individual glasses, 2-3 minutes seemed sufficient to avoid cracking. YMMV.I have attached pics showing the spheres side-by-side. They are indistinguishable. I also did a 90-minute melting test, with images taken at 00:00, 00:30, 01:00, and 01:30, with a sphere from each maker in a glass containing 2 ounces of water. Granted, water and booze are not the same thing, and holding a glass will speed the ice melting process. But all I wanted to do was compare how a sphere from each maker would perform in the same environment. Short answer: they melted identically. And that’s no surprise since they are almost identical in their construction, and entirely identical in their method. For me, the performance of both the Berlinzo and the Tinana are 5 stars, with the Berlinzo docked one star for value and the additional 10-18 hours of freezing time.With respect to some of the less positive reviews:1. Yes, it’s difficult to remove the rubber molds from the freezing box. It gets easier after first use, but they’re tight for a reason. I’m older, and my finger strength isn’t what it used to be, but I managed to get everything apart.2. It’s not difficult to fill the container or to get the molds topped up. A gooseneck kettle is handy for topping off.3. There is occasionally a little bit of excess ice around the seams (see pics), but it comes off easily.4. Depending on your water minerality, you may find you get better results by boiling the water first, filtering it with a real filter (Brita doesn’t cut it), etc. Distilled or RO/DI water doesn’t always produce more clarity. The people who make the OnTheRocks version of this (I use their box for cubes) have some videos with recommendations for “fine-tuning” your ice. We have off-the-charts hard water in our house, and a whole house softener that reduces, but does not eliminate, the hardness. The tap water produced quite acceptable ice spheres.5. With respect to water “wastage,” don’t rinse that ice block down the drain. Let it thaw and use it to water plants or pets or whatever. It’s perfectly clean water. It’s only waste if you waste it. Don’t throw it away!
✔ Verified Purchase
T
Tech Reader
November 27, 2025
Easy clear ice spheres--no silly boiling water, distilled, etc
Finally, clear ice! I used room temperature water from the Brita, which gives me cloudy spheres in normal molds. This one is simple to use. Beware, it does take quite a while to freeze, since it's quite a bit of water.I would love if they would figure out how to make it easier to get all the ice below the mold out of the mold--if the bottom half were a little flexible or something, you could just flex it out. But if what you care about are clear ice spheres, this is the product!!
✔ Verified Purchase
