Those of us without built-in ice makers in our fridges will know the struggle of balancing a full ice tray without spilling any water from the sink to the freezer. That is, if there's even any room in the freezer.

While an ice machine might not be the first (or second, or third) appliance that comes to mind when furnishing a kitchen, one can be a handy addition to any countertop. No longer are the only options the massive industrial setups, or those constantly humming machines in hotel hallways. Consumer technology has given us compact ice dispensers suitable for the average kitchen.

If you enjoy making cocktails at home, an ice machine is basically a necessity. As any mixologist will tell you, ice is an integral part of any drink. Clarity of the ice plays into the flavor of the cocktail — its gradual dilution as the ice melts means that water quality is extremely important (no tap water for those fancy bartenders!). In modern mixology, there are four basic types of ice: cube, cracked, shaved, and block, each with its own usage in different kinds of drinks.

Of course, not everyone will be so particular about their drinks, but it's always nice to be able to impress your guests with a perfect frozen daiquiri blended with cracked ice (cubes can deliver inconsistent results in a blender).

Even for those of us who aren't interested in the finer points of cocktail assembly, ice machines can be great for travel. There's only so much coolers can do in the summer, particularly if you're looking to go out on a lengthy outing (day on the boat, anyone?). Having a portable ice machine means not having to suffer through warm Coke ever again.

Counter space: The models available range in size, largely dependent on the amount of ice that they can make at once. If you're planning on not just breaking out the ice machine during parties but on having it as a staple on your kitchen counter, be sure to plan out a space for your new ice maker and shop accordingly.

Storage capacity: If you regularly hold large parties, you may find it worth it to spend a bit more on a bigger machine that can make more ice at once.

Ice-making abilities: These range from simple ice dispenser to multiple modes for different shapes and sizes of ice.

Sound level: Like other kitchen appliances, it's important to consider how loud an ice maker can be. The convenience of ice on command at a party would be offset considerably if it were accompanied by a grating rattle loud enough to drown out all conversation.

With this in mind, check out our selections below:

TikTok ice hive, rise up. This is the machine beloved by the masss. Though hefty, this ice maker from General Electric's appliances brand is a dependable unit. Its selling point is "the good ice" it makes, which to the ice connoisseur is perfect for crunching (as the many comments attest). Its Bluetooth function is perhaps less useful than a WiFi connection would be, as there's no way to control the machine from more than a few rooms away, but while connected, the option to schedule ice production ahead of time is useful.

For how it doubles as water dispenser and ice maker, this SOUKOO unit is a great deal. It can be filled by attaching a 2-, 3-, or 5-gallon water jug or simply from the tap. Ice cubes come in 3 different size options, and though it lacks a refrigerating mechanism, the ice that melts is funneled back into the water supply to be reused in the next cycle. Once the ice container is full, the machine automatically shuts off. 

This ice maker is a good middle-ground purchase for those who want lots of ice with no fuss and little wait time. Its digital display will warn of a full ice bucket or low water levels, while its recycling system collects the unused ice to be used again in future cycles.

The ultimate lazy ice-maker, this Kismile kit will pop out 9 ice cubes in under 10 minutes, accumulating up to 26.5 pounds of ice a day. It comes with two different size options for its ice cubes, which are in the classic bullet shape. The selling point for this ice machine is the fact that it's self-cleaning; press and hold the power button in between uses, and you won't even have to wipe down its filters or anything.

This versatile machine gives you cold water, crushed ice, or ice cubes on demand. It can be plugged into your tap or filled manually up 1.9 liters, and uses an eco-friendly refrigerant to keep ice on hand between cycles. Some reviewers note that it can be difficult to clean, so keep that in mind when assessing your options.

This compact little ice maker is the most aesthetically pleasing out of all the machines on this list, but does produce slightly less ice and requires more monitoring, as its sensor will halt ice production whenever it deems the basket full — often well under the 2 lb capacity. Still, it has two ice cube sizes to choose from, as well as a transparent lid that lets you see if the basket is at capacity without disrupting the process, and most importantly, it would look adorable on any kitchen counter.