Frigidaire Portable Ice Maker EFIC189 vs CROWNFUL Ice Maker

Overall Verdict

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The Frigidaire EFIC189 and the Crownful are two very modern-looking countertop ice makers. Both maximize transparency with their lid design, and both avoid low quality generic parts. The larger Frigidaire is more rounded whereas the Crownful has a compact box-shaped design. The Crownful pays more attention to small design features, however, neither machine has the best design for a control panel. Performance wise, the Frigidaire produced consistently good quality ice whereas the Crownful’s quality varied. Understandably, the Frigidaire is a larger capacity machine and the bullet size is much larger. The Crownful, nonetheless, is our best recommendation for a compact machine.

Pros & Cons

Performance
Production capacity
Internal visibility
Firm ice basket
Good insulation
Easy to clean exterior

Compactness
High visibility
Ice scoop
Ice basket

Ice basket fit
Drainage plug

Control panel
Varying ice quality

Key Specs

Dimensions LxWxH

9.5 x 14.1 x 12.9 inches

$102.91

Weight

16.9 lbs (7.7 kg)

L11.2 x W9 x H11 inches

Ice bullet sizes

Small and Large

13 lbs (6 kg)

Indicators

Add Water, Ice Full, Power, S / L

Small / Large

Water reservoir

2.3 qt

6 icons

Average capacity / Basket

19.6 oz

1.3 qt (1.2 L)

Where to Buy

*You help support HealthyKitchen101's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring

8.0

5.6

Ice Capacity Test

7.7

5.9

The Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker on a countertop with a full basket of ice and a timer showing 1 hr 48 min. In the background is a shelf with various kitchen appliances.

Top down view of the Frigidaire EFIC189 ice maker to the left with one load of ice removed and placed into a black colored baking tray on the right. Badly formed ice is seen separated into a bowl on a scale showing 15 grams.

A jug filled with ice bullets in a jug being weighed on a scale showing 330 grams. To the right is a portable ice making machine with a smartphone propped up against the side.

A temperature probe inserted into a jug of water showing a reading of 12℃.

Chilled water being poured into a portable ice maker machine.

Average Time Basket

103 min

87 min

Average Weight Basket

19.6 oz (555 g)

10 oz (284 g)

Average Waste Basket

0.6 oz (10 g)

0.5 oz (14 g)

Capacity Hr

11.4 oz (323 g)

6.9 oz (196 g)

Capacity24 Hrs

17.1 lbs (7.76 kg)

10.4 lbs (4.7 kg)

Ice Quality Test

8.5

5.1

The Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker to the left and a bowl on a scale with one round of nine ice bullets measuring 63 grams.

A portable ice maker with a bowl of freshly made ice on a scale showing 39 grams in total. — An average to good round of ice making.

A portable ice maker with a bowl of freshly made ice on a scale showing 17 grams in total.

To the right of a portable ice maker is a small bowl with broken ice weighing 19 g. To the right is a baking tray of unbroken ice.

Average Weight Bullet

0.2 oz (6.2 g)

1.14 oz (4.01 g)

Design

Overall Design Scoring

8.3

7.8

In The Box

The Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker to the left with its box in the background to the right. In between is the included ice basket, ice scoop, and user manual.

A top view of a countertop ice maker with the manual to the right, the ice basket in front of the manual and the ice scoop slightly in front of the machine

Dimensions

Width

9.5" (24.1 cm)

11.2" (28.4 cm)

Depth

12.8" (32.4 cm)

9.0" (22.9 cm)

Height

13.0" (33.0 cm)

11.0" (27.9 cm)

Weight

17.0 lbs (7.7 kg)

13.0 lbs (5.9 kg)

Build Quality

9.0

8.0

Top down view of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop ice maker with its lid open.

Side view of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop ice maker showing the quality of seem joining.

Side and rear view of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop ice maker.

Bottom view of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop ice maker.

The Crownful countertop ice making standing on a table.

The side to back view of a portable countertop ice maker.

The under view of a portable countertop ice maker.

Panel Design

7.5

7.6

Close up view of the panel of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker.

A close up view of a control panel on a portable ice maker.

A top view of a portable ice maker with the scoop seen inside a basket filled with ice.

Buttons

2 - On/Off, Select

2 - On/Off Select

Power Indicator

Yes

Ice Full Indicator

Yes

Add Water Indicator

Yes

IceS Indicator

Yes

IceL Indicator

Yes

Lid Design

7.5

7.3

Degraded ice shown in an ice basket of a portable ice maker after being left to run overnight for 8 hours.

Ice degradation shown in a baking tray after being left overnight in a working portable ice maker.

Close up view of a portable ice maker with its lid closed.

Material

Transparent plastic

Ice Basket

8.0

8.1

White hard plastic basket of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker.

An empty ice basket partially visible being held in front of an ice making machine. Caption = Raised edge and extended rear creating a slope.

A countertop ice maker with a scoop filled with ice in front and an empty ice basket to the right side.

Length

7.9" (20.1 cm)

7.7" (19.6 cm)

Height

3.6" (9.1 cm)

3.5" (8.9 cm)

Depth

5.0" (12.7 cm)

4.2" (10.7 cm)

Material

Hard white plastic

Hard Plastic

Water Reservoir

The inside of a portable countertop ice maker reservoir. — The reservoir and water guard.

Water being poured in a portable countertop ice maker.

Capacity

2.3 qt (2.2 L)

1.3 qt (1.2 L)

Drainage Plug

A hand holding the plug to a water reservoir on a countertop bullet ice maker.

Material

Hard plastic and silicone

Silicone and plastic

Ice Scoop

Material

Hard white plastic

Cord and Plug

The white electric cord and three prong plug of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker picture against the front of the machine.

A three pronged plug being held up to the front of a portable ice maker.

Length

5.9 ft (1.8 m)

5.9 ft. (1.8 m)

Plug Type

3-pronged

3-pronged earthed

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring

8.4

8.1

Ease of Use

8.5

7.8

Alt: The Select button being pressed on a countertop ice maker to choose the ice size.

Water being poured into the reservoir of the Frigidaire ice maker.

Ice being scooped out of the basket of a countertop portable ice maker.

A man is carrying a portable ice maker to place on a table top. — The Crownful weighs only 13 lbs (6 kg).

Ice being scooped out of an ice basket inside a portable ice maker.

A full basket of ice being removed from a countertop portable ice maker.

Noise

8.2

8.7

A sound meter showing 67.2 dB being emitted from the working Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker.

A sound measuring meter standing next to the fan vent of a portable ice maker and measuring 65.5 dB as a reading.

Decibels

67.2 dB

65.5 dB

Cleaning

8.3

8.4

The empty water tank of the Frigidaire EFIC189 countertop portable bullet ice maker with the water guard shown in the right hand upper corner.

A lid to a portable ice maker being held open.

The drainage plug on the bottom of a portable ice maker.

A finger pointing to the control buttons on a portable ice maker.

Self Cleaning

Yes

Behind the Comparison

Roger ShitakiReviewer

Roger Shitaki is a writer, author, and editor. His niches are household appliances, health & wellness, and travel. He’s a freelance contributor to a Tokyo lifestyle website and a leading ophthalmology magazine in Asia.

Lap VoTest Lead

Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

Nguyen NtkVisual Specialist

Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.