It’s rare that an ice maker feels truly unique. I’ve tested a lot of models lately, and most of them make ice. That’s not a knock, it’s just reality. There’s not often a lot of room to stand out with products like this.

That’s why the Klaris Clear Ice Maker grabbed my attention so quickly. Compared to standard nugget or bullet countertop ice makers that quickly churn out pounds of ice per day, the Klaris moves at a slower pace to create ice cubes that need to be experienced. Not only are the ice cubes huge at 2x2x2 inches, but they’re also crystal clear (to the point I had to actually feel around to make sure they were there).

To make sure I fully understood the Klaris ice maker and its features, I tested it a few different times. The first presented a few challenges on my end (more on that later), but the rest of the tests proved much more successful .

Using the ice maker is pretty intuitive. Following the instructions, I filled the ice cube trays with water to the fill line, pushed the inserts down gently, and used the end of a whisk to tap the bottom of each section so there weren't any air bubbles trapped under the inserts or along the sides of the silicon tray. Then, I put the tray into the freeze chamber and either started it right away or set the delay timer.

These ice cubes take between 8 and 12 hours to fully freeze. I tried a few different timing strategies over a few different days, so I knew I would be home (and awake) to remove the ice.

The delayed start timer allows you to delay ice making for 2, 4, or 8 hours. At first, I was confused about why this would matter, but when I started testing, I realized that my schedule wouldn’t allow me to either enjoy the ice or quickly put it in the freezer when it was finished.

In my first test, the day got away from me as sometimes happens, and I started the machine later than I had intended. The cycle finished overnight, and while the Klaris does have a hold setting that will keep the ice frozen for about 6 hours, the cycle finished soon after I went to bed. I thought the ice had melted when I got up, so I started another cycle.

I tested two more times to see what timing strategy worked. The first time, I started the ice maker around 10 p.m. with a four-hour delay timer, so the ice cubes were ready around noon. The second time, I started it around 5 a.m. when I woke up, and the ice was ready around 5 p.m. Both timing strategies worked perfectly. The ice was done in about 12 hours. Klaris sells storage containers separately or as part of a bundle, so after I removed the ice, I put the cubes in a container for later use.

Not only are these ice cubes huge, they’re crystal clear. Like, actually see through. The Klaris uses directional freezing technology, a method that freezes ice from the bottom up, pushing impurities to the surface to be drained at the end of the cycle and creating dense, slower melting ice cubes. The inserts that come with the ice maker are the secret, so don’t throw them away!

In one test, I didn’t get all of the air bubbles, and the ice ended up having a few bubbles trapped in the cubes. On the third test, I made sure there were zero air bubbles, and the ice was perfectly clear. Large air bubbles can affect the clarity of the ice as well as the freeze time, so this isn’t just an aesthetic consideration.

When the machine is finished running and the ice is ready, there will be some liquid on top. When you open the lid, it actually looks like nothing happened because the ice is so clear. I put my finger in the tray to check and felt the ice before I could actually see it.

I carefully removed the tray (if it’s frozen to the bottom of the freeze chamber, wait a few minutes for it to thaw), poured the liquid off, peeled the cubes from the tray, and removed the inserts. Voila. Crystal clear ice cubes.

Because the ice is large and dense, it melts slowly and won’t dilute drinks as fast as standard ice cubes or nugget ice. The aesthetics are also a bonus, and it instantly makes at-home drinks look like spendy craft cocktails, even if you’re just sipping sparkling water.

I mentioned earlier that my first test didn’t go amazingly. Yes, there was an issue with timing, but at one point I was convinced I broke this ice machine.

The mixer froze into the ice cubes. In trying to dislodge the fan from the ice, I pulled the lid up too hard, and the fan came off of its peg on the lid. Thankfully, when the ice melted enough to remove the mixer, I popped the fan back on its peg and haven’t had any troubles since. I started a new cycle, and I think the ice continued to freeze until it reached the mixer—I essentially double-froze the batch.

The guide to running the Klaris ice maker on the website says that there might be a bit of resistance, as the ice-sensing probe may be slightly embedded in one of the cubes. It recommends waiting 10 minutes before lifting the lid again. This wasn’t an issue during my other tests.

The Klaris ice maker is one of those products that you don’t think you need until you have one—for me at least. I’ve always wanted one of those giant water dispensers that you see at coffee shops or spas, and now that I have this ice maker, I’m looking for one in earnest. My husband and I don’t drink alcohol, but these ice cubes elevate any drink and have inspired me to tackle a few mocktail recipes.

This is one of the smaller countertop ice makers I’ve tested, so it doesn’t take up much space. It’s the perfect size for putting on a bar or just tucking into a corner when you’re not using it. Aesthetically, it also looks beautiful and well-crafted.

If you entertain, enjoy making craft cocktails, or, like me, just want a huge ice cube for a big water dispenser, then this is the way to go. My kids delight in putting the huge ice cubes in their cups. And my husband loves that they melt slowly, so they can go into his tea when we’re hanging out on the deck.

The $549 price is more than what you’d pay for a standard countertop ice maker, but this is one of those products that enhances otherwise run-of-the-mill moments—whether it’s pouring sparkling water over it and heading to the deck to read, impressing guests with a delightfully unexpected touch, or using it as an excuse to finally get the big water dispenser.

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