BERLINZO
garry pilato
I like your product but I am following your directions the balls are clear but they are not coming out in full circles. I have been filling them up to top with warm water and let them freeze for 24 hours. So I don’t know why there not coming out right.
Aaron Ambute
I bought this about 2 months ago. It worked great for the first 3 or 4 batches. Then one of the slots stopped working, the water would drain into the space between the plastic mold and the styrofoam box. I could still use 3 of the slots and that worked for a couple weeks. Now all the slots are leaking into the box and I end up with half spheres. Not what I paid for or expected.
Customer
Beautiful Ice Maker
I absolutely love this ice maker! The design is beautiful and looks great in my kitchen. It makes nice, clear, beautiful ice that is perfect for drinks and entertaining. It’s also easy to use and clean. Very happy with my purchase and would definitely recommend it!
Adrian V.
So far so good.
Have only used it five times
One time I did not leave it in for 24 hours and they did crack when I opened it up
The other four times the balls came out as crystal clear as I’ve seen.
Better than my friends very large plug-in cube maker
Jonathan Parrish
Easy to use and got really clear ice balls on the first try. Going to become a go to for all my drinks at home. And the skull you see through the ice is part of the glass.
Chad
Never thought “Clear” ice would make a difference, but the first time I used one of the ice ball’s out of this mold, it probably lasted me 3 glasses of whiskey over a 2-2.5 hour period. Quality is great and the instructions say it takes about 24 hours for a solid ball to freeze, for me that’s just fine as I’m not a frequent drinker. Size is perfect for all my glasses.
AA1995
Works well. Nice clear ice. Easy to use. Remove from freezer and allow the entire unit to sit for about 4 minutes prior to removing the molds and the balls. Nice little storage bag.
Matthew Francis
This is the best clear ice sphere maker ever. So easy to use and perfect spheres.
John
Seems to work well. 24 hr plus a little bit… another couple and you’re ready to remove the balls. Don’t force anything…. Gentle persuasion. Everything should come apart easily. Be sure to melt out the ice from the bottom before refilling. I found filling the base then slowly inserting the molds is easiest. Do it in a sink. Quick flip the water off the top. Small lip around the shear must be aligned one the mold prior to inserting into the base.
7/26
I noticed this became available again for much closer price to what I initially purchased 1 1/2 yrs ago on prime days. So I bought it again. I was however deceived because it’s the 2 ball maker and not the 4 I originally got. The picture in the add clearly shows more than 2 balls…
Marcos
I’ve bought multiple molds before and this is probably the best one. The rubber molds are not as difficult to get out, more importantly the ice that comes out is perfectly round with minimal defects and it’s super clear. I am posting a picture of mine after 2 pours. Would definitely recommend.
Laura D.
Works amazingly well! Highly recommend. I only bought the 2 cube maker, thinking about the getting the 8 cube as better "value" per cube. It would save me from making cubes every day, but it's very simple to do and the much larger cube maker would take up quite a bit more space.
maluza
I was very skeptical after using silicon molds that this system would produce the results it claimed, so I only purchased the 2 ice ball mold. It also takes up a lot of room in the freezer.
However I am amazed at the ease of use and clarity of the ice balls it makes. Absolutely perfect!! 💯. An added bonus is the two ice blocks at the bottom of the mold which can be used for drinks, crushed, or to keep your beer cold 😉.
To address some of the other comments...I used water straight from the tap, no problems. To remove the large blocks of ice from the bottom of the mold I turned it upside down in the sink and ran hot water over it for a few minutes and the blocks fell right out.
I highly recommend this for anyone who wants crystal clear ice balls for their drinks 🥃 .
Kurt Schuessler
I purchased the Berlinzo 8-sphere clear ice maker, and after just three months, the plastic shell that holds the silicone molds cracked, rendering it unusable. Despite reaching out to Berlinzo twice, I received no response. Their website claims they will respond within 48 hours, but that's simply not true. I'm disappointed, especially since I also bought the 4-sphere ice maker as a gift. I've invested around $150 in their products, and it's disheartening that Berlinzo doesn't stand behind them. In contrast, my two "True Cubes" ice makers have been far superior. Save your money and opt for True Cubes instead.
Capt. Gizmo
YES…FINALLY!!! This is a very nice quality ice mold. I bought the balls because I think they’re much easier to split the mold afterwards. I was right. Piece of cake and the balls come out perfect!
The size is also perfect! Not too big as to take up a whole shelf.
I’m using RO, warm or boiled and cooled off, but they both yield about the same results. Very little bubbling.
And the ice bag and pirate stamp were a nice bonus!
Justin
I’ve been using the Berlino Ice Ball Maker for a few weeks now, and I’m impressed. It consistently produces large, solid ice spheres that elevate any pour—perfect for bourbon like this Woodford Reserve.
Pro Tip for Crystal-Clear Ice:
To get those satisfying, bubble-free ice balls, the trick is in the pour. Here’s what works best:
• Use a slow, steady stream of water directly from the sink.
• If you’ve got a filter on your faucet, even better. Some prefer filtered fridge water or bottled, but the key is avoiding bubbles while filling.
• If any bubbles sneak in, let the filled mold sit for a few minutes before pressing the mold in and freezing. This lets trapped gas off-gas naturally, which gives you a crystal-clear result.
In the photo, you can see the payoff—a beautifully clear sphere that melts slow and looks great in the glass.
Highly recommend the Berlino for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted drink.
Michael T.
I think its a little over priced for what it is (I got the one that makes 4). But it works!!! Granted I also have a water softener and carbon filter for the house, I'd imagine water quality plays a part in this as well.
It does take 24 hours for it to make the ice, but I only drink on weekends so all the negative reviews about it taking so long doesn't bother me. I just continually make ice over the week and put them in the storage bag provided.
Terry G.
So simple and so perfect
James Richardson
Perfect ice balls ever time!!
ChiTown's Finest
As a cocktail connoisseur, I needed to step up my ice game and this was exactly what I wanted. It's small and compact enough for the freezer, it's soo easy to fill, and the ice comes out CRYSTAL clear.
It says to fill and leave in the freezer overnight. I saw others that said 10 hrs... Potatoe/Potato; 10 hrs IS overnight IMO.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that it simultaneously makes 2 mega-sized ice cubes on the bottom half of the unit. Removing the ice balls is fairly easy. The plastic mold comes apart in the center. Removing the cubes is a WHOLE nother story. They're in there tight; so I just leave it out on the counter and by the time I need to freshen up the drinks, they've melted enough to loosen them up.
It also comes with a bag to store the ice. It's small given the size of the balls/cubes, but it's the thought that counts. I couldn't be happier and recommend for anyone looking to Up their ice game 😍
See my images and video for product demo.
DC
Very easy to use. Just put water up to the line, insert the mold and leave it for about 28 hours. You get crystal clear ice balls that literally pop right out. You also get two huge semi-clear rectangles. For the rectangles, I run warm water on the sides and they eventually fall out.
The ice keeps the drinks cold and strong. It lasts longer than the drink does. The hibiscus stamp is also awesome. Just press it into the ice and it easily leaves a lasting, engraved mark.
Elizabeth Rybalchenko
OMG! Honestly, this is the coolest ice maker I’ve ever had! Can’t wait to make some cocktails and share with friends. This is so much fun! Huge crystal-clear ice “balls” look really luxurious, buy it!
A
This makes it great sphere ice for drinks that will look amazing with any cocktail!
The product listed a reusable bag to store ice in this did not come with my product.
One thing to consider is the length of time it takes to make one single sphere if you have the single sphere tray. Typically 18 to 24 hours in order for it to freeze to be removed. so if you’re wanting more spheres, I would order the double or quad mold.
Overall great, looking mold and will continue to have a few on hand for when I’m ready for a cocktail!
Tina H.
This is by far the best ice ball maker. We made a video and it ended early but that was just going to be putting them in the included bag. It is easy and the ice is crystal clear. So much so, it almost looks like there isn't ice there.
Drewbaby
The ice from my freezer always seemed a little “off” in smell/taste, especially once it melted into a drink.
You can see how cloudy it is in the pictures.
I did a little research and apparently the particles can be calcium/magnesium depending on your water source, regardless of if you use a filter or not (like I have in my freezer).
The Berlinzo clear ice maker immediately removes those from the ice and leaves it at the bottom, which is more proof of how gross “regular ice” is in my opinion.
I was able to set up the Berlinzo maker in just a few seconds right out of the box after rinsing the parts out just in case.
You literally just fill it up, put the molds in and let it do it’s thing.
I did my first couple a little too fast, you definitely want it to sit for a little while… the cubes are super dense and last a LONG time. I had one last at least 1.5 hours in a glass of water.
When I did it right, they also didn’t crack while melting which adds to the appeal.
I would get this gift for anyone who likes cocktails or high end liquor of any kind… it doesn’t make the drink taste stale like regular ice does.
My only negative is that the cubes are relatively big and don’t fit into some of my glasses.
I’ve already gotten tons of compliments and it even has helped my kid drink more water because of the novelty of it… so maybe this can be a gift for more than just cocktail enthusiasts… maybe weddings or corporate gifts also.
I have only had it for a few weeks and have already built up a nice sized supply of clear ice. I’m happy I bought Berlinzo, I checked some other cheaper makers out, and the reviews were spotty… Berlinzo is the real deal, I haven’t had a bad cube yet and the maker itself looks awesome.
Good job Berlinzo!
Colonel Panic
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!
tic-tac
I have purchased at least 4 of these, 2 and 4-ball molds, for myself and for gifts. Guests are impressed and they want one!
The 2-ball mold takes about as much space in the freezer as the 4-ball. A lot of dead space in the bottom of the 2-ball. There shouldn’t be so much of a price difference.
A few things the manufacturer should have told us. First, pure water doesn’t freeze clearly. If you have RO water at home, don’t use it for this purpose. Regular tap water produces the best results. Water temperature doesn’t matter. Second, if you take a ball straight out of the bag in the freezer and use it immediately, it will crack. Let it rest for a few minutes before using it. Add the drink to the glass with the ice, don’t drop the ball in the drink. Again, I think they should do away with the 2-ball mold or redesign it to be much smaller. Enjoy!
Michael-Ian
So, this thing is crazy frickin cool. It's absolutely clear spheres, everytime. I even use tap water from the sink. Its absolutely takes 24hrs to make the ice which is a real shame, but if that's what it takes to make these PERFECT CLEAR ICE SPHERES, then I'll deal with it. The ice lasts about 4 refilled
glasses before it goes away, and that's with room temperature drinks. So, it's pretty cool. I would recommend getting 2 of these bad boys for optimal utilization because I don't know about anyone out there, but I drink a lot of liquids. But if you just want to use these ice spheres for casual drinking with 1 or 2 glasses a day, just the 2 ice spheres will do you just fine. This is a 10/10, refer to my photos because it's pretty rad
Bonnie Ross
It was difficult to push the silicone in, impossible for me to remove after freezing. I am not a weak person, I actually strained my index finger trying to remove the ice. I even ran it underwater to try to loosen it. It is now sitting in my sitting thawing before it goes into my recycling bin. Very sore and very disappointing, a waste of my money
William W. Hopper
The invention of the automatic ice maker is a godsend in my book. Though it gets boring when you have the same old ice maker machine ice for when you want an ice-cold drink in a nice glass.
And then, in steps the Berlinzo Clear Ice Ball Maker Mold, and you have fancy-dancy ice balls for your fancy drinks.
While it is not automatic, you have to fill this mold and its holder with water, then place it in the freezer for up to 24 hours, indeed it works. My first Ice Ball was terrific, now my second one was not so great, but that was my fault, as I did not dump the ice that formed in the base of the holder out and start fresh with all water. Not sure why, but I see in other comments on the page that it needs to breathe.
It was an easy process, to clean the mold and holder when I took it out of the box, filled the holder with water, inserted the mold into the holder, and placed it in my freezer. Just make sure you have room in your freezer for the holder, it is a tad bulky. The next day I took it out, opened it up and there was a perfect ice ball. I have read some comments that the ice did not come out clear, for me it did, using only Washington DC City tap water. I wonder if I use fancy bottled water if the ice will be even better.
The only downside I see is it makes one ice ball at a time, and it takes 24 hours. Fine if you want to drink alone or are thinking far enough ahead that you take several days to make several ice balls for drinks with friends. Though I see on their site they have a two-ice ball mold set up as well. For now, I will continue to make one ice ball a day and put the ice ball in my freezer ice storage bucket. I took several out that I made day after day, and they were all just fine.
I am pleased with the ease of use, the quality of materials, and the finished product that the mold makes. This is a great housewarming gift, or general gift, for a friend who likes to make nice drinks. You don’t have to drink alcohol to have a nice-looking drink with ice in it, it will be great for an Arnold Palmer-style drink. I think kids will get a kick out of these ice balls in their drinks too, it will make them feel so grown up. I am looking forward to making a bunch of ice balls and having them stacked up in a glass ice container for a future event.
I think you will enjoy this product as much as I have, and am going to this fancy-dancy drink season!
Michael Sedano
Great product, it was easy to use. After 24 hours, it created perfect ice cubes for cocktails or any drink neat. Didn't melt and kept the flavor great. Also, was very easy to do and clean. Can't go wrong with your next drink.