Bali vs Key West (DM3500 vs DM1000)
Opposite ends of the range. The Key West makes up to three 12 oz drinks per cycle and you pour; the Bali makes a half (~30–33 oz) or full (~60 oz) chamber and guests serve themselves from the lever.
| Bali DM3500 | Key West DM1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 36 oz jar (3 × 12 oz) | Half ≈ 30–33 oz / full ≈ 60 oz |
| Serving | Pour from the jar | Self-dispensing lever |
| Programs | One automatic cycle + drink dial | Ritas, Daiquiris, Coladas, Smoothies |
| Reference margarita | 9¾ fl oz (3 drinks) | 11 fl oz (half) / 22 fl oz (full) |
| Best for | Self-serve parties where you don’t want to play bartender. | People who like a glass jar and want the machine to size the ice for 1, 2 or 3 drinks automatically. |
All figures from the manufacturers’ user manuals. We have not run side-by-side tests of these machines; this comparison is about specifications and features only.
Bali DM3500
Shave, blend and serve: a self-dispensing machine with a Remix Channel™ that re-blends each drink as you pull it.
Key West DM1000
The original Key West: heavy-duty glass jar and a Number of Drinks dial for 1, 2 or 3 twelve-ounce drinks.
Check on Amazon: Key West DM1000 (paid link)
How to decide
- How many people do you usually serve? A 36 oz jar makes about three 12 oz drinks per batch; larger machines save you from running back-to-back batches.
- Do you want the machine to size the ice? Dial models (Key West, Fiji) shave for 1, 2 or 3 drinks automatically; others rely on the recipe volume and the manual toggle.
- Mostly margaritas, or a bit of everything? Drink-type programs (Fiji, Tahiti, Bali) adjust the cycle for fruit, cream and ice-cream drinks.
See the full Best Margaritaville Machine guide.