"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Ice machines are like drink butlers, providing cubes for cocktails, carafes, or crunching, in mere minutes. These handy appliances let you ditch manual ice trays (along with the anxiety-inducing walk between the sink and the freezer) and opt for a portable design (provided you have power) for chilling drinks out on the patio or a compact style that sits at your home coffee bar.