Review · Compressor ice cream maker
Klarstein Vanilla Sky Family
The biggest and most powerful of the ones we recommend: 250 watts and two and a half litres. Ice cream in 30 or 40 minutes, with nothing to pre-chill.
2,5 L
per tub
250 W
of power
30–40 min
per batch
The short answer
The big one, when two litres are not enough for you
It moves up on the two things that really matter: 250 watts against the ELISA's 180 and 2.5 litres against 2. More power means bringing the temperature down sooner, and the sooner it drops, the finer the crystals. The price is size: it is a big, heavy appliance, the kind you find a permanent spot for in the kitchen.
Ideal if you make ice cream often and in quantity
Buyer reviews
5,0
out of 5
Our score, after reading the reviews one by one.
How the ice cream turns out
The most powerful of the ones we recommend: 250 W brings the temperature down sooner.
Ease of use
Four buttons and an LED display; the timer is set in 5-minute steps.
Capacity
2.5 litres: half a batch more than the two-litre ones.
Quality and price
It is the most expensive of the ones we recommend, and it has a track record behind it.
How well it works
Four things you notice
in use, not on the box
How the ice cream comes out
At 250 W the mix drops in temperature sooner, and that helps the crystals come out fine.
How long it really takes
The manufacturer quotes 30 to 40 minutes. The timer goes up to 60.
Day to day
Brushed steel body and a removable, dishwasher-safe bowl.
Footprint
It is big and heavy: you have to find it a permanent spot, not store it in a cupboard.
Two and a half litres
Half a batch more than the two-litre ones
Capacity is its argument. With a 2.5-litre bowl you can turn out one big batch at once or split it into two flavours without running short. And when it finishes it holds the cold for another hour, which gives you room to serve without rushing.
2,5 L
Bowl capacity
250 W
The highest-wattage one in the selection
1 h
Keeps the cold once it has finished
5–60 min
Adjustable timer
The balance
What you gain
and what you have to accept
The best of it
- The highest-wattage one in the selection: 250 W
- Two and a half litres of bowl, half a batch more than the two-litre ones
- It holds the cold for an hour after finishing
- Brushed steel body and dishwasher-safe bowl
- Timer adjustable in 5-minute steps
What you have to accept
- It does NOT make yoghurt: the “Frozen Yoghurt” in the name is yoghurt ice cream, not fermentation. The manual confirms it
- It is the most expensive of the ones we recommend
- Big and heavy: it needs a permanent spot on the worktop
- The Amazon listing contradicts itself: the title says 250 W and 2.5 L, and the technical details 180 W and 2 L. The right ones are those in the title and the manual
Specifications
Specifications of the
Klarstein Vanilla Sky Family
250 W
Power
2,5 L
Capacity
30–40 min
Ice cream ready in
1 h
Holds the cold
No
Makes yoghurt
Brushed steel
Body
LED with timer
Display
5–60 min
Timer
Alternatives · Compressor ice cream makers
The Klarstein Vanilla Sky Family
against its rivals
These four compete in its bracket. The Vanilla Sky Family costs today —: these reviews tell you what you gain and what you lose with each one.
If you also want yoghurt
Springlane ELISA 2.0
Springlane
Power
220 W
Capacity
2 L
Makes yoghurt
Yes
Price today
—
Half a litre less and 30 W less, but this one does ferment real yoghurt, with its own heating element.
If you want to spend less
H. Koenig HF320
H. Koenig
Power
180 W
Capacity
2 L
Makes yoghurt
No
Price today
—
Half a litre less bowl, but considerably cheaper.
If you want real yoghurt
Severin EZ 7405
Severin
Power
180 W
Capacity
2 L
Makes yoghurt
Yes
Price today
—
Two litres of stainless steel and a yoghurt programme that chills on its own when it finishes.
The same size, with yoghurt
Springlane ERIKA
Springlane
Power
250 W
Capacity
2,5 L
Makes yoghurt
Yes
Price today
—
The same two and a half litres and 250 watts, cheaper and with a yoghurt programme.
The verdict
Would we buy it?
Yes, if you make ice cream in quantity
It is the machine for someone who has already got past the trying-it-out phase. If you make ice cream a couple of times a year, less is plenty and this will be in your way on the worktop. If you make ice cream every week, want two flavours at once or have run short with two litres, this really solves the problem. That said: do not count on it for yoghurt.
250 W of power
2.5 L tub
Holds the cold for 1 h
Answers to your questions
Frequently asked questions
Who is this one for, rather than a cheaper one?
For someone who already knows they will make ice cream often and in quantity. If two litres are plenty for you, there are cheaper options with the same result.
Do the 250 W really show?
Yes. More power means bringing the temperature down sooner, and the sooner it drops, the finer the ice crystals. You notice it in the texture, not on the stopwatch.
Does 2.5 litres fit in any kitchen?
It is the biggest of the ones we recommend, and the price you pay for capacity is size. Measure the gap before buying it.
Does the Klarstein Vanilla Sky Family make real yoghurt?
No. The name the manufacturer gives it is “Frozen Yoghurt”, and that is yoghurt ice cream: churning an already-fermented base, which any ice cream maker does. The official manual mentions neither fermentation nor a heating function. If you want real yoghurt, the ELISA and the Severin EZ 7405 do ferment it.
Does the Klarstein Vanilla Sky Family need anything pre-chilled?
No. Like all compressor machines, it chills on its own: switch it on and start.
Does it come complete or do you have to buy extras?
It comes with a bowl, paddle, lid, measuring cup and spoon. To get started you need nothing else.
Recipes to break it in
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