Best Ice Cream Makers with built-in Compressor

Li-ling Ooi Home & Kitchen, Ice Cream Makers, Kitchen, Summer Essentials 0

So what gives you, best-flavoured, chilled desserts in minimal time with almost zero effort? The compressor based ice-cream maker of course.

Just a few short years ago, the market for the compressor based ice-cream maker was almost entirely limited to the professional and semi-professional. You really had to be serious about your gelato to consider getting one of these, as it would be a serious investment.

These days though, the compressor based ice-cream maker is becoming a more common feature on the counter top of many artisan home-chefs. After all, there is little that is more satisfying than home-made ice-cream all whipped up in under an hour.

Listed below is a run down on some of what we think are the best compressor based ice-cream makers. Once you have invested in one of these ice cream maker, be sure to look at some of my recommended recipe books at the bottom of the article to make the most of it.

Table of Contents

Top 8 Best Ice Cream Maker with Built-in Compressor

Now for a closer look at each of the eight best ice cream makers.

1. KUMIO 1 Quart Automatic Ice Cream Maker

A great starter ice cream maker with built-in 100W compressor, the KUMIO 1 Quart even support up to 3 modes to make ice cream, yogurt, mix and refrigeration mode. It will make tasty ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, gelato and other cold desserts with auto-keep cool for 1 hour. It is easy to use with simple button control and LCD display to control the timer. While the instruction indicates that it need 60 minutes for the ice cream to be ready, typically preparation time is around 30 – 40 minutes. When the job is done, the compressor will come on again after 10 minutes to keep the ice cream cool for up to an hour. At this point, you can turn it off if you wish.

Capacity: 1 litre (approx 1 Quart) around 3-4 servings
Typical Preparation Time: 30 – 40 minutes
Power Consumption: 100W
Other features: Easy controls, removable accessories, timer, LCD display
Dimensions and Weight: 13.9” x 10.2” x 8.9″, 18.2 lbs

If you are looking for KUMIO machines with bigger capacity, the 1.5 Quart and 2 Quart options are also available.

2. KUMIO 1.5 Quart Ice Cream Maker ICE-1535Y

The unit is not much bigger than the 1 Quart model above but looks sleeker in black and stainless steel finish. In fact, the body is actually made from 304 stainless steel. As with its smaller sibling, the 1.5 Quart bowl is removable and so is the mixing blade, see through lid and motor. Again, 4 modes are on offer here; ice cream, yogurt, cooling only and mixing accessible via a friendly button control panel and LCD display. The default time is 60 minutes but typical recipes only take 30 – 40 minutes in the machine.

As with all machines, anything you can do to help the process along like operating it in a cool room, pre-cool the ingredient in the fridge for 15 minutes and use cold heavy cream or cold whole milk and fine granulated sugar sugar.

Capacity 1.5 Quart
Typical Preparation Time: 30 – 40 minutes
Power Consumption: 150watt
Other Features: Timer, removable accessories, LCD display
Dimensions and Weight: 14.96 x 10.63 x 9.53 inches, 9.5kg

3. Whynter ICM-201SB Upright Ice Cream Maker

For an even bigger capacity at 2.1 Quart without taking more desk space, Whynter ICM-201SB is your answer. With a small foot print at 12.5-inch x 10.75-inch, it takes up a bit more surface area on the countertop than the 1.5Quart above and a whole lot less space compared to a horizontal unit with similar capacity. Given its bigger capacity, it does take a little longer to churn out a decent batch but still just under an hour depending on the surrounding temperature.

Capacity: 2 litres (2.1 Quarts)
Typical Preparation Time: 40 – 60 minutes
Power Consumption: 180W
Other features: removable bowl, audible timer,
Dimensions and Weight: 12.5” W x 10.75” D x 14.25” H, 25lbs

4. Whynter ICM-200LS Stainless Steel Ice Cream Maker 2.1-Quart

Also from Whynter is this more conventional horizontal unit, the ICM-200LS. It has the same 2.1 Quart capacity While it takes up a lot more counter top area, it is also a lot more stable with lower centre of gravity and easier to reach control panel and LCD display. As with all ice cream makers here, it will make delicious ice cream, gelato, fresh yogurt, milk shake and other cold dessert. The unit is also available in Champagne Gold finish.

Capacity: 2.1-Quart (2 litres)
Preparation Time: 40 – 60 minutes
Power Consumption: 180 watt
Other Features: Removable bowl and churn blade for easy storage and effortless cleaning. Reliable built-in audible timer. Motor protection function that shuts off to prevent damage if the mixture freezes solid. LCD Control panel and soft touch button.
Dimensions and Weight: 16.75” W x 11.25” D x 10.25” H, 25lbs

Whynter ICM-200LS

5. Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker

Made in Italy, the Musso Lussino brand makes professional and industrial level machines. This 1.5 quart unit is small enough for the counter top at home. The mini ice cream maker will produce professional result ice cream every time. With an old-school mechanical timer and rocker switches, it even oozes that retro charm. Use the buttons to control the motor and refrigeration, use the knob to set the timer and in just under 30 minutes you can enjoy your ice cream, silky sorbet, Italian style gelato, frozen yogurts and frozen drinks whatever your recipe.

Capacity: 1.5 Quart
Preparation Time: 30 – 40 minutes
Power Consumption: 100Watt
Other Features: Fully automatic: pour ingredients into bowl, press two buttons. Timer controls operation for different frozen confections. Housing, bowl, paddle made of stainless steel for easy cleaning.
Dimensions and Weight: 27 (H) x 45 (D) x 30 (D) cm Net weight (kg) 18 kg (12 inches wide, 11 inches high, and 18 inches deep, 38lbs)

6. Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker

The Breville BC1600XL has been around for a long time and is still going strong. For a 1.5Quart ice cream maker, it is not exactly cheap costing twice an equivalent capacity ice cream machine with compressor. But, at this price, you get a gorgeous design complete with massive digital display and controls, hardness settings with sensor, child lock and even up to 3 hours keep chill after churning. When your dessert is ready, it will even sound an alert beep or choose one of three musical tunes to play.

Capacity: 1.5-Quart
Preparation Time: 23-45 minutes depending on recipe
Power Consumption: 148 Watt to 288Watt
Other Features: Fully automatic or manual operation. Pre-cool setting for optimal operating temperature. 12 hardness settings for sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato and ice cream. Keep cool settings for up to 3 hours.
Dimensions and Weight: 15.75 x 11 x 11 inches, 30 lbs

7. Cuisinart Professional Gelato and Ice Cream Maker

Also known as the ICE-100, here is another unit that has been around for a long time, probably just as old as the Breville above but no less impressive. The ICE-100 has a decent 1.5 quart capacity. The controls are pretty straight forward. You can set the timer to count down from up to 60 minutes. However, batches are usually ready in under 40 minutes. When it reaches zero, it automatically turns to keep cool mode for up to 10 minutes so your ice cream stay frozen. The unit comes with two specialist mixing paddles, one for ice cream and the other for gelato. The former incorporates more air into the mix for lighter ice cream texture while the latter, less air for denser yet silky and soft gelato.

This fully automatic ice cream maker lets you select your recipe, add the ingredients and simply press start to create your delicious ice cream, rich gelato, refreshing sorbet or frozen yoghurt
Capacity: 1.5 litres
Typical Preparation Time: from 40 minutes depending on recipe, keeps cool for up to 10 minutes after mixing
Power Consumption: NA
Other features: Removable paddles, lid and bowl.
Dimensions and Weight: 19.4 x 14.6 x 12.7 inches

8. Buffalo Ice Cream Maker

A Buffalo Ice Cream Maker is as professional as it gets. This is again a medium 1.5 litre unit with a built-in compressor. It will mix, freeze and fluff your favourite icy dessert including ice cream, sorbet or frozen yoghurt without a pre-freezing the bowl. A standard batch can be ready in as little as 20 to 30 minutes. There is even an LED display that shows the temperature.

Elegant stainless steel design, similar to the Baumatic Professional Ice Cream Maker featured below. LED temperature display.
Capacity: 1.5 litres
Typical Preparation Time: 20-30 minutes or more depending on recipe, keeps cool for up to 10 minutes after mixing
Power Consumption: 150Watt
Other features: Removable bowl for ease of cleaning, spatula included
Dimensions and Weight: 245(H)x 402(W)x 281(D)mm, 12.2 kg

Sage by Heston Blumenthal Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker

Looks familiar? That’s because this is the Breville BC1600XL, except it is rebranded as Sage for sale across the pond in the UK.

With 12 hardness settings from sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato to ice cream.
Capacity: up to 1 litre
Typical Preparation Time: 20-60 minutes depending on recipe with keep cool function holds dessert in the chosen hardness for up to 3 hours testing the hardness every 3 minutes.
Power Consumption: 200 Watt
Other features: 12 hardness settings or use pre-set automatic programs, plays ice cream van tune when ready.