A bartender with tattooed arms stirring a cocktail in a glass filled with clear Hoshizaki Sphere Ice
Tags
water filtration hoshizaki water filter hoshizaki choosing choose

If you really want your bar to look great and serve drinks, you need to know about Hoshizaki spherical craft ice and craft cocktail solutions. Hoshizaki craft ice makes ice balls every time using special freezers and machines that people in the business trust. They make Hoshizaki spherical craft ice that's clear and nice, which is what you want for your bar program and Hoshizaki craft cocktail solutions.

 

Ice Properties

 

Slow melt for superior drink quality

Spherical ice is really good for drinks like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans and for serving spirits over ice. When you serve premium spirits over ice, it also helps to keep the flavor and alcohol balance of the premium spirits.

 

Premium visual appeal

Sphere ice is great for people who want their drinks to look special. People who like drinks will really like it when you use sphere ice because it looks nice, and it shows that you want to give them the best. 

 

Crystal-clear formation

Craft spheres are really cool because they use a method to get rid of air pockets and impurities. Craft spheres and good water filtration go hand in hand to give you the results.

 

Ideal Venues

 

Craft cocktail bars

If you want to make drinks or serve good alcohol, sphere ice is a great idea. It makes your bar feel fancy and different from others. Sphere ice is a part of what makes a bar special and fun to go to.

 

High-end restaurants and lounges

Sphere ice is really good for places like that because it is part of what makes them look nice. This kind of ice looks great in places where how things look is important to the restaurant.

 

Hotel bars and event venues

Hotels really like sphere ice. The reason is that sphere ice makes sure the ice is of quality every time it is used, no matter if it is for a big event, a small banquet, or just for people hanging out in the lounge.

 

Coffee/tea shops with specialty cold drinks

Some cafés and fancy tea shops use sphere ice in their drinks. They do this for the drinks that come in glasses so you can see the sphere ice.

 

Alternatives for other workflows

If you do not really need sphere ice, you should think about crescent KM Edge machines (see models), flaked ice (flakers), or cubelet ice (cubelet machines).

 

Model Families

 

Specialized craft cocktail ice units

Hoshizaki's craft cocktail solutions make spheres by freezing them in a controlled way rather than using stamps or making them by hand with molds.  It is a lot less work for you when you are making craft cocktail solutions with Hoshizaki's craft cocktail solutions.

 

Modular production for high-volume bars

It is a good idea to make spheres and use a special machine that can be taken apart or a separate bin to hold them. Making spheres takes more time than making cubes.

 

Complementary ice types

Lots of bars use sphere ice when they make good drinks, and they use a different kind of ice cube for other drinks. The square cubes, from the IM series (view options), are something that many people like to use.

 

Sizing

 

Estimate sphere usage per night

You have to consider these things to estimate the demand for craft cocktails and the spheres that they use.

• Number of whiskey-based cocktails sold per night

• Special menu items requiring sphere ice

• Weekend peak volume vs weekday baseline

 

Account for freezing time

Spheres take a lot longer to form than cubes. You should make sure your machine can handle the amount of work it needs to do every day and also during the hours.

 

Use a sizing calculator

To get a good idea of what you need, you should try the Size Calculator. The Size Calculator helps you figure out how much you have to make based on the food and drinks you are serving.

 

Care

 

Water filtration is critical

A Hoshizaki filter manifold or something, like it can make the water better. It takes out the things that make the ice cloudy. You can look at our water filter collection.

 

Prevent scale buildup

Regular descaling and maintenance are important to protect your equipment and get sphere quality from your freezing molds and equipment.

 

Clean molds and freezing surfaces

The spheres can be affected by a tiny bit of residue. When you do, make sure to check for mineral deposits or scratches on the molds.

 

Monitor temperature and airflow

You have to make sure the craft cocktail machine has space around it so it can keep freezing at a consistent temperature. This is important for the craft cocktail machine to make drinks.

 

Explore matching models: see our collections and use the Size Calculator.

Spherical Craft Ice: When to Choose Hoshizaki Sphere & Craft Cocktail Solutions

Intro

If presentation, drink quality, and customer experience matter to your bar program, understanding Hoshizaki spherical craft ice, sphere & craft cocktail solutions benefits is essential. Spherical ice—often featured in high-end cocktail bars—melts slowly, looks premium, and instantly elevates a drink’s visual impact. Hoshizaki’s craft cocktail ice solutions produce consistent, clear spheres using precise freezing methods and machine reliability trusted across the industry. This guide explains when to choose sphere ice, what environments benefit the most, and how to size and maintain the system properly.

Ice Properties

Slow melt for superior drink quality

Spherical ice has less surface area than cubes, which means it melts more slowly. This preserves flavor and alcohol balance in cocktails like Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and premium spirits served over ice.

Premium visual appeal

Sphere ice instantly signals quality. It creates a smooth, sleek look that complements craft cocktails and appeals to customers who expect a higher standard of presentation.

Crystal-clear formation

Craft spheres use directional freezing to eliminate air pockets and impurities. When paired with proper water filtration, they remain transparent and consistent from batch to batch.

Ideal Venues

Craft cocktail bars

Sphere ice is a hallmark of modern mixology programs. If your concept emphasizes unique cocktails, premium spirits, or a curated bar experience, spherical ice is a strong differentiator.

High-end restaurants and lounges

Fine dining and luxury venues use sphere ice for tableside service, signature cocktails, and premium whiskey pours. It aligns perfectly with spaces where presentation is part of the brand.

Hotel bars and event venues

Hotels benefit from sphere ice because it delivers consistent quality across events, banquets, and lounge service. It also photographs well, which is great for marketing and guest experience.

Coffee/tea shops with specialty cold drinks

Some cafés and premium tea concepts use sphere ice for signature beverages, especially those served in clear glassware for visual impact.

Alternatives for other workflows

If sphere ice isn’t your primary need, consider crescent KM Edge machines (see models), flaked ice (flakers), or cubelet ice (cubelet machines), each optimized for distinct workflows.

Model Families

Specialized craft cocktail ice units

Hoshizaki’s craft cocktail solutions produce spheres through controlled freezing rather than stamping or manual molds. This automated approach gives you consistent results with minimal labor.

Modular production for high-volume bars

For larger programs, pairing sphere production with a modular machine or separate holding bin helps maintain a steady supply. While sphere production is slower than cube production, proper planning keeps service running smoothly.

Complementary ice types

Many bars use sphere ice for premium cocktails and another cube type for general service. Square cubes from the IM series (view options) are a common pairing.

Sizing

Estimate sphere usage per night

Most craft cocktail programs use 1–3 spheres per signature drink. Estimate demand by looking at:

  • Number of whiskey-based cocktails sold per night
  • Special menu items requiring sphere ice
  • Weekend peak volume vs weekday baseline

Account for freezing time

Spheres take longer to form than standard cubes. To avoid shortages, size your machine for both daily and peak-hour volume—not just your average usage.

Use a sizing calculator

For an exact estimate, use the Size Calculator. It helps determine production needs based on your menu and drink volume.

Care

Water filtration is critical

Sphere clarity depends heavily on water quality. Using a Hoshizaki filter manifold or similar filtration system removes impurities that cloud ice. Explore filter options at our water filter collection.

Prevent scale buildup

Scale can disrupt freezing molds and impact clarity. Regular descaling and scheduled maintenance protect your investment and maintain consistent sphere quality.

Clean molds and freezing surfaces

Even small residue buildup can change the shape of the sphere. Clean the molds weekly and inspect for mineral deposits or scratches.

Monitor temperature and airflow

Craft cocktail machines need stable temperatures and proper ventilation. Ensure the machine has the required clearance to maintain freezing consistency.

Explore matching models: see our collections and use the Size Calculator at /pages/size-calculator.