Key West DM1000 vs DM1946
Same Key West system — 36 oz jar, 1/2/3-drink dial, 3¼ fl oz of liquid per drink. The DM1946 adds the Spiller Spoiler™ pour-spout lid and the No-Brainer™ mixing tool; the DM1000 has a heavy-duty glass jar with fill icons.
| Key West DM1000 | Key West (DM1946 series) DM1946 | |
|---|---|---|
| Jar | Heavy-duty glass, 36 oz, 1/2/3-glass icons | 36 oz maximum |
| Lid | Standard | Spiller Spoiler™ easy-pour lid |
| Batch dial | 1, 2 or 3 × 12 oz | 1, 2 or 3 × 12 oz |
| Reference margarita (3 drinks) | 9¾ fl oz liquid | 9¾ fl oz liquid |
| Extras | — | No-Brainer™ mixing tool (use the 3-drink setting) |
| Best for | People who like a glass jar and want the machine to size the ice for 1, 2 or 3 drinks automatically. | Key West fans who pour straight from the jar at parties. |
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.
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)
Key West (DM1946 series) DM1946
A later Key West variant with the Spiller Spoiler™ pour-spout lid and a No-Brainer™ mixing tool.
Check on Amazon: Key West DM1946 (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.