Clatronic ICM 3846
850 millilitres with a real compressor and a four-position dial instead of a screen. When the batch is done it holds the cold for an hour, which is exactly what separates compressor machines from the rest.
The compressor machine with no screen and no programmes
Clatronic is a German brand of plain household appliances, and this ice cream maker follows suit: a compressor, a four-position dial, and nothing else. There is no recipe card in the lid and no programmes to choose; you switch it on, pour the mix in, and stop it when it's ready.
Our score, after reading the reviews one by one.
What you would expect from a 100 W compressor: creamy if the recipe is right, and no miracles if it isn't.
One dial, that's it. The good part is there is nothing to learn; the bad part is that you decide when it's ready by looking.
850 ml: two or three servings per batch.
The hour of cold at the end and the DC motor, quieter than is usual in this class.
Four things you notice
in use, not on the box
How the ice cream comes out
Sound enough. With 100 W of compressor the cold does arrive, but the mix should go in already cold from the fridge so the batch doesn't drag on.
How long it really takes
Clatronic doesn't publish a time per batch. What it does say is that it holds the cold for 60 minutes after finishing.
Day to day
Nothing to pre-freeze. It comes with a spatula and a measuring cup, and the bowl lifts out for washing.
Where to buy it
It is sold in Spain and across the other European Amazon stores. On the Dutch one it is usually a good deal cheaper, so it is worth checking both.
Fewer buttons, more judgement
Most compressor machines this size have a screen and a timer. This one doesn't: a dial turns between off, cold only, churn only, and both at once. It is less convenient, but it allows something the automatic ones don't — carrying on cooling with the paddle stopped, or churning without cold to temper.
Bowl capacity
Dial positions
Compressor power
Holding the cold at the end
What it wins and what you have to accept
- Its own compressor: no need to pre-freeze the bowl the night before
- The cheapest in the compressor range
- LCD screen with timer
- Removable steel bowl
- The one that takes least worktop space
- 135 W and 1.2 litres: the lowest rung of its brand
- It falls short as soon as you want more quantity or more flavours
- It does not make yoghurt
- The recipe booklet doesn't give balanced formulas; the recipe is up to you
Clatronic ICM 3846 specifications
The Clatronic ICM 3846 against its rivals
Severin EZ 7407
More bowl, more power, and it ferments yoghurt rather than just churning it.
Springlane ELLI
350 ml more bowl and a screen with a timer.
MEDION MD 10169
Same 100 W compressor, one litre, and only 22 centimetres tall.
Cecotec Gelacy 800
Fifty millilitres less and the same compressor, for less money.
Would we buy it? Yes, if a manual dial doesn't put you off
It delivers what it promises: a compressor, 850 millilitres and an hour of cold at the end, with no screens to break. In exchange you have to stand there and decide when to stop. One warning: eleven reviews on Amazon are still far too few to say anything about long-term reliability. And the price swings a lot from country to country, so compare first.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pre-freeze anything?
No. It has a built-in compressor and starts cooling on its own.
Is it sold in Spain?
Yes, and across the other European Amazon stores. The price differs a lot between countries: on the Dutch one it is usually cheaper.
What does the four-position dial do?
Off, cold only, churn only, and both at once. It lets you keep cooling with the paddle stopped, or churn without cold.
How many people does 850 ml serve?
Two or three servings. And since nothing needs pre-freezing, you can run another batch straight after.
Is it reliable? It only has eleven reviews
It is a recent model with few ratings. The score is good, but eleven reviews say nothing about long-term reliability.
Which would we buy instead?
The Cecotec Gelacy 800 if you want to spend less, or the Springlane ELLI if you would rather have more litres and a screen.
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