A method of automatically filling carbon dioxide (CO2) snow block into a container within an automatic dispensing station and vending said CO2 snow block from the selected container, wherein a plate is permanently or removably affixed to the container, the method comprising: inputting into a controller at least one set point to be used for determining completion of fill of CO2 snow block into the container, said set point based on i) fill duration; (ii) a pre-defined weight of the CO2 snow block, (iii) a pressure in the selected container, (iv) a capacitance of the CO2 snow block, (v) a temperature in the container or (vi) a deformation of the plate; the controller receiving a volume of the CO2 snow block to be generated; the controller selecting the container having an interior volume that is capable of receiving the volume of the CO2 snow block to be generated, said container located within the automatic dispensing station comprising two or more containers of different interior volumes; flowing a sufficient amount of gaseous CO2 into and along a fill conduit; the controller transmitting a first signal to a liquid CO2 control valve to cause the liquid CO2 to flow along the fill conduit and into the container and therein undergo a phase change to transform into CO2 snow block and offgas CO2; withdrawing said offgas CO2 from the selected container through the plate, said plate permeable to the offgas CO2 and at least partially impermeable to a solid phase CO2, and further wherein said fill conduit is operably connected to the container; measuring a real-time variable corresponding to the set point and generating a second signal corresponding to the real-time variable; transmitting the second signal to the controller; the controller (i) allowing said liquid CO2 to continue to flow into the container, in the absence of an override, when determining the real-time variable has not reached the set point; and the controller (ii) preventing said liquid CO2 to flow in the container when the real-time variable has reached the set point. inputting into a controller at least one set point to be used for determining completion of fill of CO2 snow block into the container, said set point based on i) fill duration; (ii) a pre-defined weight of the CO2 snow block, (iii) a pressure in the selected container, (iv) a capacitance of the CO2 snow block, (v) a temperature in the container or (vi) a deformation of the plate; the controller receiving a volume of the CO2 snow block to be generated; the controller selecting the container having an interior volume that is capable of receiving the volume of the CO2 snow block to be generated, said container located within the automatic dispensing station comprising two or more containers of different interior volumes; flowing a sufficient amount of gaseous CO2 into and along a fill conduit; the controller transmitting a first signal to a liquid CO2 control valve to cause the liquid CO2 to flow along the fill conduit and into the container and therein undergo a phase change to transform into CO2 snow block and offgas CO2; withdrawing said offgas CO2 from the selected container through the plate, said plate permeable to the offgas CO2 and at least partially impermeable to a solid phase CO2, and further wherein said fill conduit is operably connected to the container; measuring a real-time variable corresponding to the set point and generating a second signal corresponding to the real-time variable; transmitting the second signal to the controller; the controller (i) allowing said liquid CO2 to continue to flow into the container, in the absence of an override, when determining the real-time variable has not reached the set point; and the controller (ii) preventing said liquid CO2 to flow in the container when the real-time variable has reached the set point. <EOS>