Slushies are wonderful frozen beverages that you can make with sodas, sports drinks, juices and other similar drinks. While it is possible to prepare them without any fancy tools, a smart slushie maker like the INOVIVA Slushie Machine can make your life a lot easier. This particular machine has programs for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. You simply have to pour your drinks and let the machine do the rest. The good folks behind it were kind enough to send us one to test. Let’s see what was included:
Our slushie maker came incredibly well packed. It ships in a large box but once you take out all the protective materials, you are left with a gorgeous machine that should fit in most kitchens. It has a handle that you will have to attach to the unit before starting. Also included were a stirrer blade, condensation catch, container, and drip tray, in addition to the main unit.
The INOVIVA S1.0 frozen drink maker comes with 6 modes for you to choose from. You get slushie, frappe, milkshake, cocktail, and wine programs. There is also a self-cleaning function. Before getting started, you need to turn the device upright and let it sit for 2 hours to allow the refrigerant fluid to settle. We also cleaned the container, drip tray, and other removable parts before pouring any drinks.
The control panel is pretty straightforward: simply select the program you want and thickness for your drink. If you have never made your own slushies, you need to make sure your liquids have at least 5% sugar. For alcoholic beverages, an alcohol content (ABV) between 2.8% and 16% is recommended. If you have a drink that doesn’t have that much sugar, you just have to add granulated sugar to it. That’s exactly what we did for a frappe we made with half & half milk, vanilla extract, 2 cups of coffee, and whipping cream.
Depending on the mode and type of beverage, it could take up to 60 minutes for your frozen drink to be ready. In our tests, we never went over 40 minutes. The longest drink was a mimosa we made with pinot grigio and orange juice. Once the job is done, the machine beeps and a snowflake sign shows up on its display. The touch panel has a lock feature that activates to make sure kids can’t mess around with your settings.
I found the INOVIVA Slushie Machine to be incredibly easy to use. I only checked the manual for the recipes as I needed ideas for my drinks. The cleaning process is also straightforward. You can remove various parts to clean in your dishwasher. The S1.0 gives you feedback if there are any issues. For example, it will give you the E3 error if low sugar alert is detected. You will also hear a rubbing noise in that case. It will also not work when the container is removed for safety.
In my tests, I used ginger ale, orange juice, and coffee with half-and-half milk and heavy cream. You need to be patient as not every ingredient will turn into a slushie in just a few minutes. The manual has instructions on how to make your own custom slushies, milkshakes, and frappes.
Overall, I found this slushie machine very easy to use, even for someone who has never owned one before. Installation and cleaning were easy for the most part. The machine doesn’t make a whole lot of noise, so you can let it run without scaring your pets or disturbing others in your home. Best of all, it doesn’t require any ice. If you are looking for a versatile machine to make frappes, milkshakes, and slushies all year long, you should give this model a look.
