If you’ve ever wanted a Keurig-style ice cream machine, ColdSnap is just the thing for you. Like most of the best Keurig or Nespresso coffee makers you can buy, you just plop an energy-drink-looking can into the top, close it up, and two minutes later, you’ve got tasty, creamy ice cream. I would never have believed it unless I saw it for myself, and at CES 2025, I got a chance to do just that.
It’s hard to argue with the tasty deliciousness of ice cream. As someone who has consumed more than his fair share of it over my nearly 40 years on this planet, I can attest to how awesome it is. And when I saw this thing churning out ice cream on the show floor, I just had to check it out.
The concept is straightforward. You take one of the ‘pods,’ which resembles the size and shape of a small energy drink can, and place it on the top of the machine. Then, close the lid, and it will dish out the ice cream in two minutes. The best part is that the company claims no cleaning is required for the machine. You just remove the can and dispose of them. Unfortunately, while the cans are technically recyclable, they are only available at specialized facilities now. They are working to make them more widely recyclable in the future.
While the concept is simple, its technology is much more complex. You might be surprised to find just how complicated it is to make ice cream. ColdSnap says the creaminess and consistency of the ice cream all come down to the size of the ice crystals—smaller ice crystals mean smoother, creamier ice cream.
For ice cream that must be made and distributed on a large scale, such as most store-bought ice cream, the company found that during transportation of the ice cream from the creamery to the store, the ice cream would melt slightly, causing the crystals to enlarge, often making it less creamy by the time it reached your home (and your mouth).
ColdSnap solves this problem by directly freezing the liquid in the pods in the machine before it goes into your bowl. The result is smooth, creamy, delicious ice cream.
Whatever it does, I can attest that the ice cream was much better than I expected.
If you have been wondering, ColdSnap offers more than just ice cream. It also makes frozen lattes, protein shakes, smoothies, cocktails, and even boozy ice cream, so you can choose whichever tasty treat your heart desires.
ColdSnap uses ‘high-quality’ ingredients, so it’s not packed with ultra-processed ingredients, as you might find in other packaged products. At CES, it launched a new Passionate Mango smoothie, the first in a new line of low-sugar products made with natural ingredients.
The biggest downside to the ColdSnap is the price. It costs a cool $3,000, and the pods run from $45 to $51 for a pack of 12. The machine is designed more for the commercial market (ask your boss to grab one for the office), but the company also announced an Early Adopter Program for in-home use as it works to bring a residential model to market soon. You can apply for it here and get a discounted machine. ColdSnap will ask for feedback during the exchange program.
We hope to get a unit to review soon, so stay tuned to learn more about it.
