Clatronic ICM 3846
850 millilitres of ice cream per batch, with a real compressor and a four-position dial instead of a screen. When the batch is done, it keeps the ice cream cold for an hour, which is what sets compressor machines apart 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 compressor ice cream maker with 100 W: 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 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
Its price changes quite a bit from one Amazon catalogue to another, so it is worth checking the comparison before deciding. The button above takes you to yours.
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.
Of ice cream per batch
Dial positions
Power
Holding the cold at the end
What it wins and what you have to accept
- Built-in compressor: no need to freeze the bowl beforehand
- Keeps the ice cream cold for an hour after the batch is done
- Four-position dial: chilling without churning or churning without chilling
- DC motor, quieter according to the brand
- No screen: one dial and nothing to learn
- Small: 850 ml of ice cream per batch, from 600 ml of mix
- You decide when to stop: you have to keep an eye on how it is going
- Clatronic does not publish a time per batch
- Still too few reviews to talk about reliability
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
A screen with a timer and a 1.2-litre bowl.
MEDION MD 10169
The same 100 W, one litre, and only 22 centimetres tall.
Cecotec Gelacy 800
The cheapest with a compressor: 0.8 litres and 100 W.
Would we buy it? Yes, if a manual dial doesn't put you off
It delivers what it promises: a compressor, 850 millilitres of ice cream and an hour of cooling after each batch, 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
Does the Clatronic ICM 3846 need anything pre-chilled?
No. It has a built-in compressor and starts cooling on its own.
Does the price change much?
Yes: it is in several Amazon catalogues and there is a fair gap between them. The button above takes you to yours with today’s price.
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.
What would we buy instead of the Clatronic ICM 3846?
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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