Quick Answer: Real undercounter nugget ice makers do exist — the Euhomy Lyra S1 is a genuine plumbed-in, gravity-drain built-in that makes about 66 lbs of nugget ice a day in a standard 15-inch cabinet for roughly $1,099.99, and the commercial-grade Scotsman Brilliance SRN110 goes up to 110 lbs/day for around $5,500. But most people searching this term don’t actually want (or need) to plumb a water line into their cabinetry — for that, the countertop GE Profile Opal 2.0 (~$449) remains the far more practical way to get chewable nugget ice near your counter.
Search “undercounter nugget ice maker” and you’ll find a lot of countertop machines mislabeled as built-in, because most nugget ice makers — including our top pick, the GE Opal 2.0 — are reservoir-fed and sit on the counter, not plumbed under it. That’s not a scam; it’s just a different product category answering a similar need. This guide separates the two genuinely plumbed, drain-connected undercounter nugget machines that actually exist from the countertop workaround most shoppers should buy instead.
Our undercounter nugget ice maker picks at a glance
| Ice Maker | Best for | Ice/day | Install | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euhomy Lyra S1 | Best true undercounter | ~66 lbs | Water line + gravity drain | ~$1,099.99 |
| Scotsman Brilliance SRN110 | Best commercial-grade | ~110 lbs | Water line + gravity/pump drain | ~$5,500 |
| GE Profile Opal 2.0 | Best practical workaround | ~38 lbs | Reservoir, no plumbing | ~$449 |
1. Euhomy Lyra S1 — Best True Undercounter Nugget Ice Maker
Euhomy Lyra S1 Under Counter Nugget Ice Maker
- Genuinely plumbed-in: connects to a water line and drains by gravity, per Euhomy's own product specs.
- Fits a standard 15-inch-wide cabinet opening (18.03"D x 32.48"H) — built-in or freestanding rated.
- 18-lb ice bin plus double baskets and a self-cleaning cycle.
- The most affordable genuine undercounter nugget machine we found — well under a third of Scotsman's price.
Restocking mixers or citrus for the bar cart while you’re setting up the cabinetry? Try Amazon Fresh for grocery delivery — it’s free to try and saves a supply run once the plumber’s already got the cabinet opened up.
If you specifically need nugget ice from a unit that lives permanently inside cabinetry with a real water line — not a countertop machine you top off by hand — the Euhomy Lyra S1 is the one to buy. It’s a scaled-down version of the commercial under-counter nugget machines bars and restaurants install, brought down to a price a home kitchen remodel can actually absorb. You’ll still need a plumber (or comfort with basic supply-line work) to tie in the water line and route the gravity drain, exactly like the EdgeStar IB250SS and other best undercounter ice makers — the difference is this one shaves true chewable nuggets instead of crescent cubes.
2. Scotsman Brilliance SRN110 — Best Commercial-Grade Undercounter Nugget
Scotsman Brilliance SRN110 Nugget Ice Machine
- The commercial-grade benchmark: up to 110 lbs of nugget ice a day in a 15-inch cabinet width.
- Available with gravity drain or an optional built-in drain pump.
- Rated 40% more energy-efficient and 50%+ more water-efficient than standard gourmet cube machines, per Scotsman.
- Typically sold through appliance dealers, not general big-box retail — budget for professional install.
If 66 lbs a day isn’t enough — a home bar that hosts often, a busy wet bar, or anyone who’s basically running a small commercial setup — the Scotsman Brilliance SRN110 is the real deal: the same nugget-ice technology Scotsman sells to restaurants and hotels, scaled for a residential undercounter cabinet. At roughly $5,500 for the unit alone, plus professional plumbing install, it’s a serious investment; most home buyers are better served by the Euhomy Lyra S1 above or, if plumbing isn’t in the budget at all, the countertop pick below.
3. GE Profile Opal 2.0 — Best Practical Workaround (No Plumbing)
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker
- Not a true built-in, but tucks into a counter nook or open cabinet shelf with zero water-line install.
- Reservoir-fed with an optional side tank; Wi-Fi scheduling and app control.
- The right call if you want chewable nugget ice now, without a remodel or a plumber.
Be honest with yourself about why you searched “undercounter nugget ice maker” in the first place. If the goal is genuinely to sink a machine into cabinetry with a permanent water line, buy the Euhomy above. But if what you actually want is chewable, Sonic-style ice that looks tidy near your counter and doesn’t involve tearing into a cabinet, the Opal 2.0 gets you there for less than half the Euhomy’s price and none of the plumbing. See our full best nugget ice maker guide for the complete lineup, including budget alternatives to the Opal.
How to choose
- Be clear on what “undercounter” means to you. If you want the machine physically inside cabinetry with a plumbed water line, only the Euhomy Lyra S1 and Scotsman Brilliance qualify. If you just want it to sit near your counter, any countertop nugget maker — including our top-ranked Opal 2.0 — works and skips the plumbing entirely.
- Drain access is the real gatekeeper. Both true undercounter nugget machines need gravity drainage (or a pump); if your cabinet has no floor drain nearby, budget for a plumber to add one or a condensate pump, per our ice maker installation guide.
- Output for your use case: ~38 lbs/day (Opal, reservoir-fed) covers a household; ~66 lbs/day (Euhomy) suits a home bar that entertains regularly; ~110 lbs/day (Scotsman) is commercial-bar territory.
- Budget the full install, not just the unit. The unit price is only part of it — see our ice maker cost guide for typical plumbing add-ons, and our ice maker water line guide for the tubing and valve requirements.
- Maintenance is heavier on true undercounter nugget units. The auger-and-extruder mechanism that makes nugget ice scales up faster than a cube maker’s — see our ice maker maintenance guide for the descaling schedule that keeps output from dropping.
The bottom line
A true undercounter nugget ice maker isn’t a myth — the Euhomy Lyra S1 (about $1,099.99, roughly 66 lbs/day) is a genuine plumbed-in, gravity-drain built-in, and the Scotsman Brilliance SRN110 (about $5,500, roughly 110 lbs/day) is the commercial-grade step up for a serious home bar. But for the large majority of people who land on this search, the countertop GE Profile Opal 2.0 answers the real need — chewable nugget ice, no plumber required — for a fraction of the price. Want the full built-in category, including non-nugget crescent and clear-cube picks? See our best undercounter ice makers guide. Setting this up specifically in bar cabinetry? Our best ice maker for a wet bar guide covers the drain-vs-drainless decision for that exact install. And if $1,000+ is more than you want to spend either way, our best nugget ice maker guide ranks every countertop option from budget to premium.