Meet the ColdSnap, an ice-cream-making gadget unveiled by Sigma Phase at CES 2021. It works similarly to a Keurig appliance, but instead of dishing out coffee, it makes single-serve pod-dispensed ice cream and other tasty frozen treats in 60-90 seconds. Frozen margaritas, mango passionfruit smoothies and chocolate ice cream are just a few of the available options.

Sigma Phase president Matt Fonte says his team took its inspiration from the compressor/condenser tech used in today’s refrigerators and freezers to make the ColdSnap. “We’ve just made it more powerful and packed it into a smaller space,” Fonte says.

The pods look like energy drink cans. They’re made of aluminum instead of plastic because they’re easier to recycle, Fonte says. Each pod also has a built-in QR code and a mixer to ensure you get the right consistency for the specific pod you’re making. It starts out as a liquid mix and in under two minutes, it’s supposed to dispense your ice cream. Pods are designed to keep in your pantry for up to one year.

“This is challenging and requires significant development and engineering expertise,” said Fonte, who has a PhD in mechanical engineering from Tufts University.

The company says the machine simultaneously pulls heat from the pod, creating a cooling effect on the liquid ice cream mix, and engages a part within the pod that churns the ingredients during the cooling process. Air is sucked into the can to make the required loft in the ice cream.

Cleanup is supposed to be simple because it dispenses straight from the pod into the bowl or cup you’re using — and the ColdSnap offers nondairy options like oat milk ice cream in addition to the standard dairy versions.

It’s still very much in the prototype stage and won’t be available until 2022. When it hits retail, it’s expected to cost somewhere between US$500 and US$1,000. The pods will be somewhere in the US$2.5 to US$3 range. That’s a hefty price for ice cream, but it might be one worth making.

(SD-Agencies)