I also own the Opal 2.0 and wanted to toss in my thoughts on the device to go with Spike's: 1) Run a cleaning or descaling of it every so often (the manual wants every 2 weeks) frequency depends a lot on your water quality, how often you run the thing, and if you use the water filters, but it's much easier to keep bad flavors and growth out rather than getting rid of it later. I make sure to clean mine at least once monthly. 2) The Opal makes a good amount of noise, this is because pebble ice is made by first freezing ice then shaving it and compacting the shavings. this gives you the distinctive chewable and permeable ice. We keep ours at our bar which is in our basement away from primary living areas. Some people find the noise upsetting, but if you plan for it and expect it it's not that bad. 3) The ice bin isn't refrigerated but is insulated with a double wall, as ice melts the machine will make new ice. So yes the ice will be a bit wet, but it's not overly so as the water drains off through a valve in the bottom of the drawer, and if left to run all the time you'll almost always have enough ice for 2-3 drinks easily. 4) The app is sadly a bit crap and often doesn't connect to the machine well, happily you really don't usually need it unless you frequently turn the machine off to prevent noise and want to turn it on remotely when you know you have people coming over for drinks. 5) There are a few other brands of pebble/nugget ice makers out there for the consumer market that are cheaper than the Opal 2. However they are often reviewed as being louder, or otherwise just not as good. But you get what you pay for so if you want a cheaper option know that they exist. 6) Opal 2.0 is only available direct from GE or Williams-Sonoma. 7) Opal 2.0 fixes several issues people didn't like about the 1.0, so it's worth getting the 2 if you're buying your first, but may not be worth upgrading from the 1 depending. Main fixes are the drip tray now has a valve instead of being perforated so it drips less when open, better noise insulation, drawer keeps the ice colder so more sticks around, the app control, easier to clean, always comes with the side tank. 8) As Spike pointed out, it's a big machine that takes a lot of counter space. I strongly recommend measuring it out and planning where you're going to put it. 9) I LOVE this thing. I go through so much ice now it's stupid. I love that for crushed ice cocktails now I just use pebble ice, I no longer am pulling out the Lewis Bag and ice mallet and scaring the dog with the banging. Instead it's just a grab of the scoop and go for really consistent awesome ice. As I said, I love this machine and consider it the best purchase I made for the home bar (yes it beats out a mini fridge to hold vermouth, syrups, and such). I did swap out the ice drip tray for a small rubber bar mat, but other than that minor upgrade I couldn't recommend it more.
Doing God’s work out here, my friend! Thanks for doing the side by side on the opal va Sonic ice size as that has been my biggest concern looking into one!
Watching this video while drinking some water with Opal pebble ice. I will attest that having this machine has significantly increased my water consumption, which is probably a good thing considering all of the tiki drinks consumed...
I love your channel. Would you consider doing a show on different types of garnishes? You could show how to use different fruits, mint, pineapple leaves, paper umbrellas, etc. to make unique garnish. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the info Spike. I sometimes get the Sonic ice and it is awesome but it's a bit of a drive so usually I go with the bag and bat. I had no idea that Chic-Fil-A also sells ice. It's much closer to home. Machine looks great but I don't have the space. Great vid.
Thanks Spike! My kids got me one for Christmas. Like others I had been concerned about reliability so that I bought the extended warranty. I love it it’s not just for cocktails anymore keep up the good work. Trader Bill watching weekly in North Carolina. We will see Jenna Beth at the Inehule in Atlanta this coming weekend I remember her being one of the dancers when you were at the Hukilau several years ago. You killed the Molokai bar with a show, And of course the high tide party.
The reliability issues of previous iterations of the Opal are what prevented me from purchasing one because it wouldn't outlive the "breakeven" time frame. If I got 10 lbs of Sonic ice (I have a couple nearby) a week for $2.15/bag then this machine would have to last longer than 5 years to economically viable. Considering the first Opal came out in 2017, there isn't enough of a reliability history to justify purchasing one. Honestly, unless you're throwing lots of parties, you're better off with a Lewis bag.
Great video, Spike! Loved the intro movie. I've considered getting an Opal. My concern is having to stay on top of possible bacteria growth and calcium buildup.
I use a rolled up bar towel in front of mine to deal with the drip. a few little problems with it but totally worth it! this machine has bumped my cocktail making up to the next level. if it broke today I would order another one immediately. another fantastic video Spike! thanks for all that you do!
Great breakdown and comparison. I've used regular grocery store ice, Lewis bag, freezer machine crush... so many options. Space is an issue with a dedicated ice machine, so I prefer to get back from CFA or Sonic (or just crush my own if I run out), but this was a side-by-side I don't usually see from people. And the vintage crushing tools were awesome. That was the coolest thing to see. Especially since you weren't afraid to use them. Not museum pieces, but real functioning items! Cheers!
As an owner of one of these units I am VERY happy with the unit after about 8 months. There are a couple of things to consider though: If you are looking to buy one make sure you get version 2.0 like Spike shows. There may be some older versions available which look similar but are not reliable. There are also two styles of model 2.0, one with the side reservoir and one without. The unit without means you need to remove the ice tray completely to add water to the reservoir. Not a big deal but adding water to the side reservoir looks easier and also to check the water level. They are pretty noisy when running. I moved mine to the utility room because I have an open concept kitchen/living area and it was very annoying when watching TV with my Mai Tai in hand. Make sure you do the cleaning with bleach periodically. It does not take a lot of effort and it may save you some gastric distress down the road.
Ice IS key! Thanks for this video, man... so many don't realize that the ice makes or breaks a drink. Even my gal was like, "huh, its just ice, just drink it!!" I was like, no babe, that's chemistry and thermodynamics coming together in the right mix :) These days, I haven't been making tiki cocktails at home hardly at all, but that will change hopefully soon, so I'll have to find a Sonic around here... there are none within Indianapolis, but I think there are some still on the outskirts. BTW I have that Dazey crusher!!! Mine has a red bottom though, and is beat up, but it works. I too never mounted it on a wall, but it still made a fair amount of cocktails.
I enjoyed this video. I tend to go with sonic ice. I’m not seen any comments about yours stainless steel ice bucket yet. Maybe you have addressed this question, but could you tell us about that cool mid century ice bucket thanks!
I can understand that preference for rock sizes ice, but for me the cocktail doesn't get diluted enough then, and you only have these tiny amounts of cocktail to drink in the end. So I go for almost slushy ice clobbered to death in my lewis bag.
A question that might get me killed by Tiki-enthusiasts ;-), but nevertheless: We all agree that for keeping a drink cold, with as little further dilution as possible (once you have your cocktail in your glass), bigger ice cubes are much better. Now, wouldn't it be fine to simply use ice cubes for mixing the cocktail, and to include a calculated amount of water into the mix, to make up for the smaller amount of dilution while mixing? I understand that the outcome would look different, and maybe strange to some. But I don't see any technical issues with using cubes that way. Or am I wrong?
As some one with a regular ice maker, this depends completely on the type of water you use. If you use nice filtered water like the kind you can fill up yourself at a grocery store then yes. Out of the tap it will be cloudy.
I believe clear ice is more reliant on directional freezing. There are some great videos about making clear ice. And no, this doesn't make clear ice. They're frosty little pebbles.
I’m a big fan of clear ice also. But clear ice is hard ice. I broke a tooth years ago chomping clear ice. Clear ice is advantageous with drinks that are clear to translucent - something tiki drinks are not. The deal with Sonic ice is it’s very uniform, dry AND you can chomp it if that’s your thing. It is soft.
Spike , is there a tiki cocktail that traditinally utilized soft ice ? I know it's wet but probably my favorite ice to munch on and enjoyable for soft drinks . Thanks
![Secret Societies in Tiki Bars [Mai Kai Big Bamboo]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PEGj0353z7U/mqdefault.jpg)
I also own the Opal 2.0 and wanted to toss in my thoughts on the device to go with Spike's:
1) Run a cleaning or descaling of it every so often (the manual wants every 2 weeks) frequency depends a lot on your water quality, how often you run the thing, and if you use the water filters, but it's much easier to keep bad flavors and growth out rather than getting rid of it later. I make sure to clean mine at least once monthly.
2) The Opal makes a good amount of noise, this is because pebble ice is made by first freezing ice then shaving it and compacting the shavings. this gives you the distinctive chewable and permeable ice. We keep ours at our bar which is in our basement away from primary living areas. Some people find the noise upsetting, but if you plan for it and expect it it's not that bad.
3) The ice bin isn't refrigerated but is insulated with a double wall, as ice melts the machine will make new ice. So yes the ice will be a bit wet, but it's not overly so as the water drains off through a valve in the bottom of the drawer, and if left to run all the time you'll almost always have enough ice for 2-3 drinks easily.
4) The app is sadly a bit crap and often doesn't connect to the machine well, happily you really don't usually need it unless you frequently turn the machine off to prevent noise and want to turn it on remotely when you know you have people coming over for drinks.
5) There are a few other brands of pebble/nugget ice makers out there for the consumer market that are cheaper than the Opal 2. However they are often reviewed as being louder, or otherwise just not as good. But you get what you pay for so if you want a cheaper option know that they exist.
6) Opal 2.0 is only available direct from GE or Williams-Sonoma.
7) Opal 2.0 fixes several issues people didn't like about the 1.0, so it's worth getting the 2 if you're buying your first, but may not be worth upgrading from the 1 depending. Main fixes are the drip tray now has a valve instead of being perforated so it drips less when open, better noise insulation, drawer keeps the ice colder so more sticks around, the app control, easier to clean, always comes with the side tank.
8) As Spike pointed out, it's a big machine that takes a lot of counter space. I strongly recommend measuring it out and planning where you're going to put it.
9) I LOVE this thing. I go through so much ice now it's stupid. I love that for crushed ice cocktails now I just use pebble ice, I no longer am pulling out the Lewis Bag and ice mallet and scaring the dog with the banging. Instead it's just a grab of the scoop and go for really consistent awesome ice.
As I said, I love this machine and consider it the best purchase I made for the home bar (yes it beats out a mini fridge to hold vermouth, syrups, and such). I did swap out the ice drip tray for a small rubber bar mat, but other than that minor upgrade I couldn't recommend it more.
Now THAT is a cohesive review. Thanks for your input!!
I love my GE Opal Ice Machine! Best purchase I've ever made for my cocktail journey!
Fantastic! From Murderqueen opening to the end…more Spike!
Thanks for the Chick-fil-a heads up. I have been bummed that I don’t have a Sonic near me but I have one of those! 👍
Spike the artwork on your glass/mug is beautiful.
Great episode with one of the best intros! Thanks spike!
Thanks, buddy. And thanks again for the ice maker!! 🙏🏼
Another great and informative video, really cool to see the vintage methods of creating crushed ice!
Thanks, dude!
Doing God’s work out here, my friend! Thanks for doing the side by side on the opal va Sonic ice size as that has been my biggest concern looking into one!
Thanks for watching!!
Watching this video while drinking some water with Opal pebble ice. I will attest that having this machine has significantly increased my water consumption, which is probably a good thing considering all of the tiki drinks consumed...
I love your channel. Would you consider doing a show on different types of garnishes? You could show how to use different fruits, mint, pineapple leaves, paper umbrellas, etc. to make unique garnish. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the info Spike. I sometimes get the Sonic ice and it is awesome but it's a bit of a drive so usually I go with the bag and bat. I had no idea that Chic-Fil-A also sells ice. It's much closer to home. Machine looks great but I don't have the space. Great vid.
Thanks Spike! My kids got me one for Christmas. Like others I had been concerned about reliability so that I bought the extended warranty. I love it it’s not just for cocktails anymore keep up the good work. Trader Bill watching weekly in North Carolina. We will see Jenna Beth at the Inehule in Atlanta this coming weekend I remember her being one of the dancers when you were at the Hukilau several years ago. You killed the Molokai bar with a show, And of course the high tide party.
Thanks so much!! We love Jenna Beth!
I’m sold!!!
The reliability issues of previous iterations of the Opal are what prevented me from purchasing one because it wouldn't outlive the "breakeven" time frame.
If I got 10 lbs of Sonic ice (I have a couple nearby) a week for $2.15/bag then this machine would have to last longer than 5 years to economically viable. Considering the first Opal came out in 2017, there isn't enough of a reliability history to justify purchasing one.
Honestly, unless you're throwing lots of parties, you're better off with a Lewis bag.
Or if you can afford it and don't care about the cost... then it's also for you.
Great video, Spike! Loved the intro movie. I've considered getting an Opal. My concern is having to stay on top of possible bacteria growth and calcium buildup.
I use a rolled up bar towel in front of mine to deal with the drip. a few little problems with it but totally worth it! this machine has bumped my cocktail making up to the next level. if it broke today I would order another one immediately. another fantastic video Spike! thanks for all that you do!
I got a silicone dish drying mat for my opal. Works perfect for catching the drips from opening the tray.
Great breakdown and comparison. I've used regular grocery store ice, Lewis bag, freezer machine crush... so many options. Space is an issue with a dedicated ice machine, so I prefer to get back from CFA or Sonic (or just crush my own if I run out), but this was a side-by-side I don't usually see from people. And the vintage crushing tools were awesome. That was the coolest thing to see. Especially since you weren't afraid to use them. Not museum pieces, but real functioning items! Cheers!
As an owner of one of these units I am VERY happy with the unit after about 8 months. There are a couple of things to consider though:
If you are looking to buy one make sure you get version 2.0 like Spike shows. There may be some older versions available which look similar but are not reliable.
There are also two styles of model 2.0, one with the side reservoir and one without. The unit without means you need to remove the ice tray completely to add water to the reservoir. Not a big deal but adding water to the side reservoir looks easier and also to check the water level.
They are pretty noisy when running. I moved mine to the utility room because I have an open concept kitchen/living area and it was very annoying when watching TV with my Mai Tai in hand.
Make sure you do the cleaning with bleach periodically. It does not take a lot of effort and it may save you some gastric distress down the road.
Great video spike
Thanks so much!
@@BreezewayCocktailHour can't wait to see some new cocktail videos! I look forward to them every week!
Artsy Ender to start?! I see what you did there.😉
Haha... alternating weeks with the format. The 'Enders' were only being seen by like 60% off my viewers. 😪😵💫
That is some serious ice making machine!
Ice IS key! Thanks for this video, man... so many don't realize that the ice makes or breaks a drink. Even my gal was like, "huh, its just ice, just drink it!!" I was like, no babe, that's chemistry and thermodynamics coming together in the right mix :)
These days, I haven't been making tiki cocktails at home hardly at all, but that will change hopefully soon, so I'll have to find a Sonic around here... there are none within Indianapolis, but I think there are some still on the outskirts.
BTW I have that Dazey crusher!!! Mine has a red bottom though, and is beat up, but it works. I too never mounted it on a wall, but it still made a fair amount of cocktails.
So many people won't understand, but so many people will. The quest for authentic tiki drinks will result in a PHD in proper ice to use.
I got one a while back. Now it goes to Tiki Oasis with me every year
This is on Costco right now for 550
I enjoyed this video. I tend to go with sonic ice. I’m not seen any comments about yours stainless steel ice bucket yet. Maybe you have addressed this question, but could you tell us about that cool mid century ice bucket thanks!
Nice review. Thankfully there is a Sonic just down the road from me, so I'll hold of on purchasing that bad boy for now😊
Damn Spike, the beard is looking good.
Yeah, Sonic ice is great.
I can understand that preference for rock sizes ice, but for me the cocktail doesn't get diluted enough then, and you only have these tiny amounts of cocktail to drink in the end.
So I go for almost slushy ice clobbered to death in my lewis bag.
is it okay to go to the motel ice machine near my house, with a backpack and a garbage bag inside?
Yes. 😂
A question that might get me killed by Tiki-enthusiasts ;-), but nevertheless:
We all agree that for keeping a drink cold, with as little further dilution as possible (once you have your cocktail in your glass), bigger ice cubes are much better.
Now, wouldn't it be fine to simply use ice cubes for mixing the cocktail, and to include a calculated amount of water into the mix, to make up for the smaller amount of dilution while mixing?
I understand that the outcome would look different, and maybe strange to some. But I don't see any technical issues with using cubes that way. Or am I wrong?
Does it make clear ice? I’m a big fan of clear ice. Thanks for the review!
As some one with a regular ice maker, this depends completely on the type of water you use. If you use nice filtered water like the kind you can fill up yourself at a grocery store then yes. Out of the tap it will be cloudy.
I believe clear ice is more reliant on directional freezing. There are some great videos about making clear ice. And no, this doesn't make clear ice. They're frosty little pebbles.
Ok great. Thanks :)
I’m a big fan of clear ice also. But clear ice is hard ice. I broke a tooth years ago chomping clear ice. Clear ice is advantageous with drinks that are clear to translucent - something tiki drinks are not. The deal with Sonic ice is it’s very uniform, dry AND you can chomp it if that’s your thing. It is soft.
Spike , is there a tiki cocktail that traditinally utilized soft ice ?
I know it's wet but probably my favorite ice to munch on and enjoyable for soft drinks . Thanks
2 years on, how's the ice maker holding up?
What do you think about the bullet ice machine?
Oh! I haven't seen that one yet!
Lol. That electric crusher looks like those Imperial droids that would run around the Death Star or Destroyers like rats. 2 funny
Hahaha... it totally does
I can't wait till I have an extra $500 for that ice machine. I know its worth the $$$.
What is the fastest land animal?
Oh man... she used her hands. 😞 JUST KIDDING!