The Optish 99-piece system is a high-volume solution designed to produce 1-inch spherical ice, ideal for aesthetic beverage presentation. The trays are made from food-grade polypropylene, with a storage bin made from PET. The spherical geometry is specifically chosen to chill drinks faster than standard cubes due to the high surface-area-to-volume ratio, making it a popular choice for home coffee bars and cocktails.
The trays utilize a two-plate compression design that requires a specific filling technique to achieve perfect circles. Users should slightly overfill the bottom tray so that excess water is expelled through the small weep-holes in the top lid, ensuring the spheres are fully formed. Without this step, the ice may form "rings" that make extraction more difficult. Because the plastic becomes more brittle at very low temperatures, a brief rinse under room-temperature water can help prevent stress fractures during the release process.
The included PET lid and bin provide a helpful barrier against freezer odors, though the lid is not fully airtight. While the system is excellent for hosting, filling and harvesting 99 individual spheres is more labor-intensive than using larger-format molds. The stackable architecture is a significant benefit for those with narrow freezer footprints who need to maximize their ice storage capacity.
If you prefer larger, 2-inch cubes that melt more slowly, the Excnorm 3-pack would be a better fit for your needs.
Explore additional beverage accessories and storage bins in our ice cube trays section.
