Okay. You’re either one or the other. There really is no in between with this. We’ve all most likely had this at one time or another in our lives. If you’re one of the serious ones, you’ve planned trips around getting a cup with your favorite beverage. If I understand correctly, Sonic was one of the first places that really put nugget ice on the map. Chi Fil A has also entered the game along with countless other businesses. Personally, I’ll swing by our local Sheetz (not all stores carry!) to get an unsweetened tea, but often find myself munching on the ice throughout my car ride. For our family, we have an addiction.
During COVID, we took that addiction one step further when we decided to purchase a GE Profile Opal. It was glorious. The local Sheetz basically had all their fountain machines closed, so we were forced to cut out the nugget ice cold turkey. However, after some research we learned about the GE Profile and had to have one. This unit worked great, although a little loud, for about a year. We submitted a warranty claim back to GE, and they easily replaced it. We were even permitted to keep the side tank…they just needed the unit sent back. Upon receipt of the new one, we received another tank. Bonus. So, I now have dual tanks to hook up to my new machine. Fast forward about a year and a half later…Our unit was out of warranty and stopped making ice. It intermittently worked for about three month prior until it finally stopped for good. Not good.
We’re now out of nugget ice and our ice maker in the fridge (the guest ice) stopped working at the same time. Ugh. We needed something as soon as possible. After some research, my wife was quick to point out there were many new nugget ice makers on the market, besides the GE Opal 2.0. We were not completely sold on it anyway, so let's try something different.
Days had passed since the ice maker broke and a decision needed to be made. My wife picked out the Gevi Nugget Ice Maker she found on Amazon. The reviews were good and was less than a new GE Opal 2.0. As it was in our cart, we both thought it would be good to look at our local online auction site. You know, the ones that get all the Amazon returns. Surprisingly, there were several up for bid. The auction was ending in a day, so we figured we’d hold off on the Amazon purchase until we saw how high this one went. Honestly, I’d prefer to spend the extra money sometimes at Amazon knowing I can place a return if there was an issue. However, this was looking good. After fees and taxes, we won the Gevi Nugget Ice maker for $130. A big savings compared to the $400 we were prepared to pay.
REVIEW
Okay, so the review. Unpacking the device, it reminded me of the GE Opal with the plastic ice bay that slides out. There was no external tank, so I immediately thought we were going to rip through water on this knowing how much we use. With this negative thought in my head, I proceeded to run the clean process. However, it was much easier than the GE Opal. There was no longer a circle with hard to see lights that indicated progress. There was a clearly defined button that made everything more simple. The drain lines were almost identical in the back and easily drained the internal tank. Okay, maybe my opinion was starting to shift.
NOISE
Let's start making some ice. First thing I noticed was the noise. Did it sound like a refrigerated device? Yes it did. No louder than my water cooler does when it is on, but it certainly can be heard. However, it was quieter than the GE Opal. The GE almost made a grinding sound when making ice and it was constant. Friends that had the GE shared the same thoughts.
WATER FILL
The water reservoir was better than I thought. It held a decent amount of water, and it was nice being able to pour down the door. Definitely better than the GE Opal if not using the attached side reservoirs. Both machines use a similar removable “filter”, but I’m really unsure how well these work. Would they stop a chunk of dirt? Yes. However, I’m thinking the fine particulates are making their way in..
ICE MAKING
The spec sheet of the GEVI says it can make, “Max 30 Lbs ice in 24 hours with a 4.8Lbs ice basket”. I think this is pretty accurate. The basket was actually filled pretty quickly. The GE OPAL claims to make 38 lbs in 24 hours and has a 3 lb bucket. To me, these are pretty equal. Not sure who's using 38 pounds of ice in a day, so that is pretty moot in my eyes. I didn’t notice one making ice faster than the other. As far as the ice goes, they tasted the same. Both had the same texture and size. However, I must give an extra star to the GEVI. The door is much better. The basket is able to be pulled out and can rest on the open door, unlike the GE. Actually, the GE becomes more like a balancing act and finding the sweet spot challenge. If you pull too hard, it will come out. Not hard enough, you can’t scoop the ice out.
BONUS ROUND
Okay, I thought I was going to miss the side tanks of the GE Opal, but boy, was I mistaken. My wife was quick to say why she picked the GEVI, and I was confused. The GEVI has the ability to take a ¼” line in the back! Say what!?! That is the best option ever. I have yet to hook it up since our kitchen will be getting remodeled soon, but I’m definitely excited to not have to worry about filling it up anymore.
CONCLUSION
I was hesitant to purchase this through an auction site, but I’m overly pleased. Even if I didn’t get a deal, this is a decent ice maker. Yes, it isn’t a GE or other widely known name, but it makes nugget ice and is less expensive than many others. The ¼” water inlet is a deal breaker, and the ice maker maintains ice much longer than the GE. In my opinion, that is one reason it was always running. The ice was melting as quickly as It could be made. The added door on the GEVI adds an extra layer of insulation to keep the ice cool. Additionally, the GEVI also comes in different colors compared to the stainless GE. I’m really digging the white that we scored.
If you haven’t tried a countertop nugget ice maker, give it a try. As a prior user of the OG nugget ice maker, I can say you will not be disappointed if you give this GEVI a try.
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