In the run-up to summer, and with outdoor dining’s return, foodservice venues’ thoughts will be increasingly turning towards icemakers for beverage cooling and displays. Dealers are a key component in offering specification advice for operators looking to invest in ice machines, but what do they themselves need to know about the right ice type for each site?
“They need to identify the quantity of ice required for the site’s busiest periods and ensure the machine they order has both sufficient manufacturing and storage capacity,” is the opinion of Maidaid Halcyon’s sales director Robert Wager.
“We recommend finding out what style of ice would best fit the site’s requirements. Icemakers are extremely important to the on-trade. Crystal clear ice gives a lasting first impression to any establishment, whether it’s served in its simplest form, through to its most complicated pebble/crushed form traditionally used in cocktails; it is imperative that the highest quality ice is served.”
Maidaid ice cubes are available in sizes ranging from 7 to 33g. Wager reported that pebble ice is now becoming very popular for many uses, and 1litre of water can produce 1kg of ice. Granular ice is traditionally used for cocktails and displays and flake ice is a solution for displays.
Wager underlined: “The quality of the ice produced will be dependent on the quality of the water supply. Ice machines by their very nature have to have good drainage arrangements, ice melts and the resultant water has to be discharged to drain.
“The requirement of the site will dictate the relevant ice required. Typically a frozen fish counter will require a different type of ice to a country pub. Selecting a suitable location and ensuring there is sufficient space available is vitally important.”
He advised dealers: “Make sure the environment does not exceed the air and water temperature limitations for the equipment, and that the necessary utilities are available including the correct voltage electrical supply. The last thing that is often forgotten is the space around the machine for service – 15cm minimum left, right, and rear for air-cooled models is recommended. Cellar installs will have a change in the ambient temperature throughout the seasons, resulting in a dramatic change to the machine’s performance.
“The capacity of an icemaker is dependent on the size of machine installed; a smaller machine will generally have a lower capacity. The production of the unit can be affected by the machine’s location.”
Crescent ice produced by Hoshizaki’s KM range is suitable for fast food outlets where large quantities of ice are required to fill the cup.
At Hoshizaki UK, national sales manager Roz Scourfield suggested: “In order to specify the best icemaking solution for a site, dealers should be aware that different types of ice will be required to enhance the drinks being served. For example, the crescent ice produced by our KM range is perfect for fast food outlets where you need large quantities of ice to fill the cup, but also has a low melting point so that it doesn’t dilute the drink. Our IM range can produce an extra-large cube which is perfect for high end cocktail bars where they might serve with a single shot of spirit to add a bit of ‘theatre’. Alternatively, our ball ice is ideal in a highball glass with an ever popular gin and tonic, whilst nugget ice is perfect to serve a mojito.
“It’s also important to remember that not all ice is equal. Hoshizaki ice cubes are extremely compact, dry, tasteless, consistently identical and slowly melting, allowing just the right amount of dilution – a combination of everything a bartender requires when it comes to aesthetics, taste and functionality of ice.”
Underlining that some ice shapes and how big the cubes or shapes are will limit how much ice is produced per cycle, Scourfield disclosed that the Hoshizaki ball ice machine will produce 15 balls of ice every 20 minutes, approximately 26kg of ice, but that the same machine with large cubes will produce 62kg of ice.
She pointed out: “The available area doesn’t necessarily dictate which types of ice can be specified, as icemaking machines can be the same size, but produce different types and quantities of ice. The main point to consider is what does the customer want to achieve within their drinks offering? We have various sizes of machines available that will offer different cube sizes as well as shapes including hearts and stars to offer something more unique.”
Welbilt brand Manitowoc also offers a range of different sized icemaker models to suit each situation. These machines provide different ice type solutions and daily capacity. Jonathan Smith, field marketing – ice and blended ice for Welbilt EMEA, said: “Each machine is designed around the type of ice it produces and then Manitowoc offers different sizes of machine to fit in various outlet locations and with different capacity options. The space available and operator’s needs will impact the type and size of machine that can be fitted e.g., modular or undercounter.”
He continued: “In an ideal situation, an operator would have specific ice machines for each area of their business, but operationally, if they need one machine to cover different beverage offerings then Manitowoc will match the best ice solution to their needs. As an example, a large pub could be using ice for cocktails, spirits and soft drinks and may only want one ice machine. They may even be limited in space and need the ice machine to be located under counter; in this instance, Manitowoc would recommend the diced cube. The diced cube is a middle-sized cube that can be used across a range of different beverages and is more flexible – an all-rounder cube that looks good in premium spirits and can also be blended in cocktails.”
In terms of which ice is suited to each application, Smith detailed: “Cubes are usually good for bars serving spirits, nuggets are great for cocktails and drinks that need softer ice to blend, and flaked ice is mainly used for food presentation. As well as the different types of ice, dealers also need to be aware of the individual needs of the operator; the space they have available, how the icemaker will be used, where it will be located, the volume required etc. As dealers know, it’s important to fully understand the needs of their client before specifying equipment.”
The Manitowoc NEO ice cuber can be used for under counter solutions.
The Manitowoc NEO ice cuber can be used for undercounter solutions, while for a larger capacity, the Indigo NXT series can be deployed in a bigger area and offers the LuminIce II virus and bacteria inhibitor.
FEM supplies the Manitowoc range of icemakers to the UK market. Commercial director Mark Hogan agreed: “The variation in ice shapes and sizes is an important consideration when recommending an ice machine, as certain styles of ice are best suited for specific purposes.
“When specifying any new icemaking equipment it pays for dealers to compare the benefits and cost-savings offered by the various makes and models into which manufacturers have incorporated the latest energy-saving innovations and features. It is also important to consider that different ice types are important for different drinks. As drink trends change, so do ice trends.”
He reported: “Demand for nugget and flake ice makers has grown significantly over the last few years, thanks to the increase in popularity of smoothies and cocktails. Meanwhile the trend towards gin-based drinks has also placed increasing importance on larger ice cubes with a slow melt rate. Larger style gourmet ice cubes have an octagonal shape, and offer maximum cooling with a nearly 100% ice to water ratio, thus avoiding dilution. Gourmet cubes can be produced by the compact Manitowoc Ice Sotto undercounter icemakers.”
Hogan further pointed out: “Alongside considering what drinks an operator needs the ice for, and thus what type of ice is needed, it is also important to consider ice production during peak operating hours – and how this can vary throughout the year. For example, within the Sotto range, there are various sizes available in terms of how much ice is produced within a 24-hour period. The smallest in the undercounter range will give 22kg of ice whereas the larger would give 76kg.
“Likewise, Manitowoc’s flake ice machines are available in a variety of sizes with the largest producing up to 175kg of ice within a 24-hour period.”
Foster’s icemakers feature a spray system which produces crystal clear ice cubes.
Elsewhere, Foster and Gamko’s regional business manager Kelly Gothard believes: “The shape and size of ice also dictates how long the ice lasts and how much water gets into the drinks served, so it’s important to understand how these factors impact its effectiveness.
“Traditional ice cubes from a tray tend to water down drinks faster because more cubes mean more surface area and a quicker melt rate.
“It therefore follows that the size and shape of ice makes a difference. The most common shape for drinks ice is still the cube, and standard cubes work well in almost every cocktail, but it’s important to make sure they’re a consistent size so they melt consistently too.”
Of the manufacturer’s own products, she detailed: “Foster’s icemakers feature a spray system which produces crystal clear ice cubes in a patented shape that last longer in cold drinks.
“You may have seen an increasing use of larger ice cubes in recent years. These are great for spirit-forward cocktails such as Manhattans and martinis because the dilution rate is slower – perfect for serving bourbon or whiskey.
“On the other hand, some drinks benefit from the addition of crushed ice – especially tiki drinks such as a Mai Tai – because it will thin out the syrups and juices. Crushed ice can be made in two ways. Ice can be put into a bag and crushed manually with a mallet or rolling pin, but the less labour-intensive way is to use a machine such as a Foster ice flaker, which has a high output and integral storage bin.”
She added: “The relative hardness of the water can affect the efficiency of an icemaker because of limescale build-up. If the water in the area is particularly hard then use of an ion-clean device is recommended.”
Over at Hubbard Systems, which supplies the Scotsman range of icemakers to the UK, David Rees, group marketing manager of Hubbard parent company HTG Trading, asserted: “The different ice types require specific freezing methods, therefore an ice machine can only produce one type of ice to ensure it is as high quality as possible. For operators requiring multiple ice types, two different ice machines can be attached to the same, partitioned, storage bin to create a flexible modular ice production solution.
“Businesses with limited space and lower ice requirements might only require one machine making premium ice cubes which can be turned into crushed ice, for example by using the Scotsman Crushman 360. Larger sites with different levels of demand should consider separate ice machines to meet their different needs. A hotel or restaurant may need a large capacity supercube machine for drinks, plus a smaller flake ice machine to meet the kitchen’s need for food production and display. Individual ice machines can be sited close to where they’re needed, reducing handling and transportation and helping to ensure good ice hygiene.”
He further explained how different ice types form at different speeds: “Gourmet supercubes are formed by spraying water upwards into a frozen mould, which helps it to freeze into a solid and pure form but takes longer than other systems. For example, dice ice has a cupped shape with a hollow centre and is faster to produce than supercube ice, so you would need a larger machine to produce the same quantity of supercube ice as dice ice in a 24 hour period. Flaked and nugget ice is produced very quickly, allowing relatively small machines to create a large volume of ice.
“For a direct comparison of two self-contained ice machines with a similar footprint, the EC127 supercuber produces 72kg every 24 hours while the NU300 produces 142kg of nugget ice in the same time.”
Nevertheless, Rees warned: “The biggest restriction on installation is access to utilities. Electrical connections and fresh water supply is usually not a problem, but waste water disposal often presents issues. For these situations, Scotsman’s EC range of self-contained ice machines are fitted with a progressive water discharge system which automatically pumps water away, allowing them to be located up to 15metres away from, and even below the height of, the nearest drain.”
Carpigiani has recently incorporated Ice-O-Matic icemakers into its portfolio.
Ice cream machine manufacturer Carpigiani is a new name in the icemaker sphere, having recently taken over the Ice-O-Matic brand from Classeq. Ice-O-Matic brand director Adam Lenton followed the marque to its new home.
He analysed: “The capacity and the ice type required is rarely an issue as Ice-O-Matic have a full range of ice machines including nugget, flake, cube, half cube, grande and gourmet. Each one of these product ranges has machines capable of producing enough ice to meet the demands of the venue. However, it is important that venues consider the volume of ice they will need during their peak days and times of the year – this way they can choose an icemaker and select the right sized ice storage bin to ensure they always have enough ice to meet the demand of their customers.”
Lenton revealed: “Ice-O-Matic’s range of Elevation modular icemakers features a unique dual exhaust designed to discharge hot air from both the side and top of the unit. This increases the amount of areas in which an Ice-O-Matic machine can be installed and also reduces the potential for an obstructed exhaust. Areas of the backbar which may not have been considered suitable for a standard ice machine previously, can now be utilised to install an Elevation modular icemaker.”
He further outlined: “The available space will ultimately dictate the size of the machine, but this shouldn’t be the determining factor on the style of ice offered. The style should ideally be dictated by the usage of the ice. The other factor that needs to be considered if space front of house is an issue, is whether there is an option for the machine to be placed back of house in a specific ice machine area.
“Other factors surrounding installation should include checking the voltage and amperage characteristics of the electrical outlet where the icemaker will be located, whether there are utilities and a floor drain within 1 metre of the machine and if there is a water source shut off.”