At first I was concerned when I saw this machine.  It is BIG, almost too big for a countertop.  You can’t open it to get ice unless it is on the front edge of the counter  because it is so tall the upper cabinets restrict it, but an inexpensive countertop appliance slide remedied that for us.  This ice maker is a work horse!  It can make almost twice the amount of ice most countertop machines do and it makes perfect size small ice cubes of soft ice rather than the hollow round cylinders most the others do.  The ice maker in our fridge just couldn’t keep up with our needs.  This ice maker has no problem keeping up with our needs.  The only problem is I now drink way too much fresh brewed iced tea and coffee than I should and may have to switch to decaffeinated!  This thing is a game changer much the same way a KitchenAid stand mixer is for the home baker.  Definitely worth every penny and every inch of countertop space.