Frigidaire Sphere Ice Maker Review — EFIC236-GREY

Intro

The Frigidaire Artisanal Sphere Ice Maker (model EFIC236-GREY) is a countertop appliance that aims to bring cocktail‑bar style two‑inch ice spheres to the home. The listing advertises up to 84 spheres per day, a compact footprint that fits under cupboards, an automatic self‑cleaning function, and an included ice bin and scoop. That combination looks appealing for a small home bar or apartment kitchen — but owner feedback shows a clear split between users who say it works as advertised and many others who received units that never made ice or failed quickly.

What it is / first look

At face value this is a plug‑in countertop sphere ice maker marketed under the Frigidaire name and sold as a ready‑to‑use machine: no plumbing hookup required, just fill the reservoir and press the control panel. Key listing facts you should know up front:

• Model & maker: EFIC236-GREY; Manufacturer listed as CURTIS; Brand Name listed as Frigidaire.
• Production: The listing claims it makes up to 84 two‑inch diameter spheres per day, with the first spheres ready in about 30 minutes.
• Storage: Interior ice basket holds up to 10 spheres at a time; the listing also shows a numeric capacity of 44 pounds (the listing's "Capacity" field).
• Size: Item dimensions are 16.75" D x 11.75" W x 20.25" H — designed for countertop placement and stated to fit under cupboards.
• Power & refrigerant: Voltage is 120 volts and refrigerant is listed as R600a.
• Materials & finish: Material Type lists Metal, Plastic and the listing describes a matte exterior and a viewing window for the drawer access.
• Included: Icemaker, Ice Bin, Ice Scoop, and Drip Tray.

Appearance, colors and packaging

The title specifies "Grey" in the model name and product imagery is provided under filenames that match the model ASIN. The listing describes a sleek, matte exterior and a viewing window in the drawer-style access. Image filenames and the model name indicate the primary color is grey.

• Available color(s):
  • grey

That grey matte look is presented as the standard finish for this SKU. The listing highlights drawer access and a viewing window so you can check ice levels without opening the machine.

In daily use

The listing positions this machine for home use: quick sphere production, minimal setup (plug it in and fill the reservoir), a touch control panel, and an automatic self‑cleaning cycle. How that plays out depends heavily on whether the unit is functional out of the box — owner feedback shows a wide range of actual experiences.

Small apartments & countertops

For tight counters the dimensions (16.75" D x 11.75" W x 20.25" H) are reasonable: the listing says it fits under cupboards and is designed to be compact. The machine lists a 10‑sphere interior basket capacity, so you'll have a small ready supply on hand while the machine regenerates more ice. Owners who report the unit working describe it as straightforward to operate — fill the reservoir, use the touch panel, and remove spheres from the drawer.

One recurring owner note: the fill line inside the reservoir is reportedly hard to see, and a buyer suggested adding an LED or clearer indicator in future models so users don't overfill or underfill. That is a small operational nitpick but worth noting if you plan to use it in dim lighting or a late‑night bar setup.

Home bar & whiskey enthusiasts

The listing explicitly markets this toward whisky and cocktail drinkers: two‑inch spheres are intended to melt slowly and preserve aroma and flavor. The product description calls them "restaurant‑quality" and the listing highlights the slow‑melting advantage for spirits. Owners who like the machine say that when it works it does produce sizable, spherical ice suitable for whiskey glasses.

That promise comes with a significant caveat: several owners reported that spheres produced were cloudy, even when they used distilled water. Owner feedback therefore contains a split message — the listing claims gourmet, clear spheres, but buyers have reported cloudy results. If crystal‑clear spheres are your top priority, that discrepancy matters.

Entertaining & throughput

Listings claims up to 84 spheres per day, and the first spheres can be ready in roughly 30 minutes. For occasional entertaining — a few cocktails or gatherings — that production rate and the 10‑sphere holding basket could be adequate. For back‑to‑back or large parties the modest 10‑sphere immediate storage means you’ll need to wait for the machine to cycle to replenish stock, or rely on multiple batches.

Owners who were satisfied emphasize the machine's convenience and the novelty factor at gatherings. But many others report that their unit never produced any ice at all; several buyers tried replacements and still received non‑working units and then returned them. That pattern of DOA and intermittent operation significantly affects how dependable the machine is for hosting.

Materials & build quality

The listing lists Material Type as "Metal, Plastic," and describes a "matte exterior." Beyond that, the listing does not specify exact metals, plastics, or any food‑contact certifications. The included components listed in the product page are: icemaker, ice bin, ice scoop, and drip tray.

Owner feedback highlights a range of build experiences. A portion of buyers describe the machine as "great" and "easy to use," while a much larger portion of critical reviews describe units that arrived damaged or in packaging that appeared previously opened. One buyer wrote that their box arrived in a shipping carton because the product box was damaged and previously opened. Several buyers reported receiving replacement units that also failed to make ice.

Given the available listing data and owner input, the visible build features are:

• Drawer access with a viewing window (per listing copy).
• Matte finish exterior described by the listing.
• Included accessories: ice bin, scoop, drip tray.

What the listing does not provide: specific construction alloys or plastic types, ingress protection ratings, or third‑party material safety certifications. If those details are important to you, the listing recommends checking the manufacturer documentation or current listing for updates.

Safety considerations

Safety for countertop refrigeration devices touches on electrical, refrigerant, mechanical, and user‑interaction factors. Here are the safety‑relevant facts and patterns to know, strictly drawn from the listing and owner reports.

• Electrical: The listing specifies 120 volts. The product copy describes plug‑in convenience and no water hookup required. Follow manufacturer instructions and test the unit on a proper 120V circuit with the correct clearances.
• Refrigerant: The listing names R600a as the refrigerant. The listing does not provide additional refrigerant handling guidance; consult the manufacturer documentation for service or disposal instructions.
• Operational reliability & service: Many owners report units that never made ice or worked intermittently. A recurrent pattern in owner feedback is difficulty getting effective customer support: buyers say Frigidaire directed them to a third‑party (Curtis/other) and that third‑party support was unavailable or unhelpful. That lack of accessible support raises practical safety concerns around repair, troubleshooting, and replacement if the unit fails.
• Packaging & quality control: Several owners reported damaged or previously opened product boxes on arrival, and at least one owner claims receiving a resold or defective unit. Those signals point to inconsistent quality control or shipping issues that can affect reliability and safety.

What the listing doesn’t specify: warranty length, third‑party safety/certification marks, or service centers. The listing also does not supply specific food‑contact material claims beyond the general "Metal, Plastic" label — verify current manufacturer documentation if food‑contact material information is important to you.

Who this is for / who should skip

Use cases where this machine could make sense (based on the listing and owner feedback):

• Home cocktail enthusiasts who want two‑inch spheres for slow‑melting ice and the novelty of sphere production — the listing explicitly targets "whiskey enthusiasts."
• Small kitchens and apartments where plug‑in countertop appliances are preferred and under‑cabinet clearance matches the stated dimensions.
• Buyers who want an included bin, scoop, and drip tray and appreciate a matte finish and drawer view window the listing promotes.

Who should likely skip this model:

• Anyone who needs rock‑solid reliability and prompt, local service. Multiple buyers report DOA units and ineffective service channels, and several returned the product after failed troubleshooting and replacements.
• Large‑party hosts who need continuous, high‑throughput ice without pauses. The unit holds 10 spheres at a time and, while the listing claims up to 84 spheres/day, immediate availability is capped by the small internal basket.
• Buyers demanding consistently crystal‑clear spheres — owners reported cloudy results even when following suggestions like using distilled water.

Verdict

The Frigidaire Artisanal Sphere Ice Maker EFIC236‑GREY is an attractive idea: two‑inch restaurant‑style spheres, compact countertop footprint, plug‑and‑play convenience, and an advertised 84 spheres per day. When the unit works, owners report it's easy to use and produces large spheres suitable for cocktails.

However, a significant and repeated pattern in owner feedback is units that never produced ice or worked intermittently. Multiple buyers returned units and reported unsatisfactory customer support, with Frigidaire branding but a manufacturer listed as CURTIS and buyers told they must contact a third party for service. Those reports tilt the practical recommendation: if you are comfortable with the risk of receiving a defective unit and the potential hassle of returns, this may be a gamble worth taking for the novelty. If you need a reliable machine with robust support, this SKU carries too much negative owner signal for a confident buy.

Check before you buy (short checklist)

• Confirm the exact model number (EFIC236‑GREY) and the seller's return policy so you can test the unit immediately on arrival.
• Ask the seller/manufacturer for warranty details and verified service channels; owner reports show difficulty obtaining support through the branded channel.
• Plan to test the first cycle right away: the listing says the first spheres can be ready in about 30 minutes — verify operation and inspect sphere clarity.
• Check the product on arrival for damaged or previously opened packaging; some buyers received boxes that appeared used or damaged.
• If refrigerant handling or servicing matters to you, request manufacturer instructions given the listing states R600a as the refrigerant.

Overall recommendation: promising in concept and potentially fun for casual home use, but the consistent owner reports of non‑working units and poor service mean this is a higher‑risk purchase than the listing suggests. Proceed only with a clear returns plan and an expectation of potential troubleshooting.