FirstBuild Opal nugget ice maker is a co-creation of GE appliances. So, if you’re confused between GE Opal and FirstBuild Opal then you should know that the parent company is the same for both the ice makers.
In this guide, we shall focus on the FirstBuild Opal nugget ice maker review. If you’re planning to order this beautiful device from Amazon then you should read this article. We have done lots of research and collected customer feedbacks before preparing this review.
We’re pretty sure that, this article will help you in making a purchase decision. So, let’s start with basic information about the product.
Table of Contents
FirstBuild Opal Nugget Ice Maker
Pros
- It looks great in the kitchen.
- It makes soft and chewable nugget ice.
- It can be controlled with a smartphone.
- Very easy to use and clean.
- Stylish and ergonomic design.
- No installation required.
- The company provides good after-sale service.
Cons
- It’s expensive.
- It makes noise.
- It’s bulky due to its stainless steel design.
Nugget ice is the favorite ice for millions of drinkers. Usually, it’s not available everywhere. It’s because the cost of nugget ice makers is very high and only bars and club owners purchase them for commercial use.
In 2014-2015, GE appliances launched their first countertop nugget ice maker and branded it as FirstBuild. After that, lots of other brands launched their nugget ice makers in the market. Hence, nugget ice lovers can afford it and enjoy their favorite drinks with nugget ice at home.
Because of high-quality ice cubelets and great after-sale service, FisrtBuild Opal ice maker is still the most preferred nugget ice maker for home use.
Features
The FirstBuild Opal nugget ice maker comes with lots of advanced features and smart control. It’s equipped with Bluetooth technology that allows users to schedule the ice-making process remotely.
These are some excellent features that FirstBuild opal provides-
- It produces soft and chewable nugget ice very fast.
- This ice maker can be controlled via an iPhone or Android.
- The company has a responsive customer support and provides good post-sale service.
- The build quality is sturdy.
- It has a removable 3 pounds ice bin made from food-grade plastic.
- It produces 1lbs. ice per hour/24 lbs. ice per day.
Design & Build Quality
When we talk about its design then I would say- it’s great. With a stainless steel body with a glossy black interior and clear ice bin, it looks great on the kitchen countertop.
The machine dimensions are 15.5 x 10.5 x 17.2 inches which require 3 inches of clearance from each side for proper ventilation. I would suggest you to place it near sink so that draining and cleaning becomes easy.
Overall, I liked the build quality and design of the FirstBuild Opal countertop nugget ice maker. You will love the design and build-quality without a single thought.
Performance
If we talk about the performance of the FirstBuild opal nugget ice maker then you should know that it takes barely 20 minutes (in first cycle) to produce soft and crunchy sonic ice.
The working principle is not like any regular ice maker that freezes the water into solid. Rather, the nugget ice made by scrapping ice flakes off a stainless steel cylinder and then pressed in small nuggets to make it soft and crunchy.
No installation is required for this machine. You can just plug into any 120 volts power source and this machine will give you 24 pounds of nuggets ice every day.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning and maintenance of opal nugget ice maker are very easy. You just need to detach the two silicon tubes on the back of the machine and pull out the plugs. Now give an inclination of 30-degrees and all water comes out from the machine.
We have published a detailed guide on the cleaning of Opal nugget ice maker. You should read that. In short, cleaning and maintenance are very easy and you can do it yourself.
Pricing
The pricing of the FirstBuild Opal nugget ice maker is really high. If you’re looking for a cheap nugget ice maker then this is not the right choice for you. However, the brand value, features, and build quality worth it.
Conclusion
Overall, FirstBuild Opal is a perfect choice if you have a $1000 budget. The design is sleek and the build quality is great. Also, the company provides excellent customer support and good post-sale service. I would recommend this product for home and office use.
Also Check- Best Undercounter Nugget Ice Maker
