Ambiano Mini Popcorn Maker

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In recent years, my husband has taken to making popcorn on our stove top. It’s not hard to heat a little oil in a saucepan, drop in some popcorn kernels, and make a batch of hot crispy popcorn in just a few minutes. Homemade popcorn tastes better than microwavable popcorn or bagged popcorn, and we can season it to taste, which may or may not make it healthier, depending on how much salt and butter we dump in. We also like making our own popcorn versus microwave popcorn so we can control exactly what we’re eating.

We have tried some different methods of making our own popcorn besides using a pan on the stove. We bought a rather underwhelming microwave popcorn maker from Aldi a while back. My family used to have an air popper when I was a young child, but my husband and I had never purchased one … until recently when Aldi sold one.

The Ambiano Mini Popcorn Maker (Product Code: 707459) cost $14.99 at the time of publication. That’s cheaper than a lot of air popcorn poppers I found on Amazon.

Aldi sold this mini popcorn maker in 2021 and 2022 for a higher price of $24.99. This is yet another example I’ve seen during the past year of Aldi quietly lowering prices on many of its nonfood Aldi Finds. A $10 price drop on an item like this is a big deal.

This is an Aldi Find, so it’s only in stores for a short time. Each store gets one shipment, and after that sells out, it’s gone unless Aldi decides to bring it back again at some point. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products that are not currently in stock at your local store.

The back of the box. (Click to enlarge.)

Here’s more information about the mini popcorn maker, according to Aldi:

• Sold in a mixed case: choose a Cotton Candy or Mini Popcorn Maker
• Two vintage color designs to choose from: Red or Teal
• Easy one-touch operation
• All accessories included
• 900 W
• Easy to clean
• Makes popcorn oil free for a healthy snack
• Includes measuring lid
• Makes up to 10 cups of popped popcorn
• Comes with a three-year warranty

The warranty for this popcorn maker is serviced by Wachsmuth & Krogmann, a company founded in Germany with U.S. operations based in Chicago. They’re a common Aldi warranty provider. For warranty service, call 1-888-367-7373 or email help@myproduct.care.

Setup and Maintenance:

What comes in the box: the popcorn maker base, a transparent cover, a measuring lid, the manual, and a warranty card.

This mini popcorn maker comes with the base, a transparent cover, a measuring lid, the manual, and a warranty card.

Before using, the manual recommends wiping all the parts with a soft damp cloth or sponge and warm water. Dry thoroughly. Do not immerse the base in water or any other liquid. Don’t put any parts in the dishwasher, and don’t use abrasive material to clean the surfaces.

The manual also says the popcorn maker may produce an odor or emit smoke when switched on for the first time. This is just reside from the production process being burned off. It is normal and does not indicate a defect or hazard. I did not notice smoke or any unusual odors with my machine.

The assembled popcorn maker.

To set up, place the base on a flat and stable surface near an electrical outlet. Take off the lid and transparent cover. Measure out half a cup of popcorn kernels and pour it into the center receptacle. Do not overfill! Never use any ingredients other than popcorn kernels. Note: the lid is equal to half a cup and can be used to measure kernels. Every half cup of kernels makes about 8-10 cups of popped popcorn.

Make sure the popcorn maker is turned to OFF, and plug it into an outlet. Return the transparent cover and lid. Place a large bowl directly under the spout and turn the unit to ON. After about 3 minutes, the popcorn will start popping and come out of the spout. Once all kernels are popped, turn the base to OFF.

Add salt, butter, or any flavoring after the popcorn is popped and in a separate bowl. Do not add flavoring to the kernels while they’re in the machine.

Side view, with the power button at bottom right.

Also of note: keep hair, loose clothing, fingers, and all body parts away from the openings when the machine is in the ON position. The heating element is hot, naturally, so avoid contact until it is cool.

After making popcorn, allow the machine to cool. Wash the lid and cover in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly before storing. Wipe the base with a damp cloth, sponge, or paper towel, but do not immerse the base in water or run water over the base unit.

Using the Popcorn Machine:

This popcorn maker is a cinch to use and reminds me exactly of the air popper my family had when I was a kid. It’s faster and easier than making popcorn in a saucepan with oil. I filled it with 1/4 of a cup of kernels, plugged it in, and flipped the switch to ON. While the manual says it takes about 3 minutes for kernels to start popping, mine started popping in less than a minute. The machine did spit out several unpopped kernels initially — with some of them flying out of the bowl and onto the kitchen counter or the floor — but I didn’t feel like I had any more unpopped kernels than when we make a microwavable popcorn bag.

The popcorn maker can handle up to 1/2 a cup of kernels at once. When I filled the machine with 1/4 of a cup, it was enough to half fill my large popcorn bowl, which is about the size of a large mixing bowl you might mix cookie dough in. So if you fill the machine with 1/2 a cup of kernels, make sure you have a large bowl, or keep a second bowl close at hand so you can quickly swap out bowls when the first one fills up.

I was surprised when the popcorn maker turned off by itself after the kernels were all popped. I still flipped the switch back to the OFF position, though. The reservoir was still filled with popped popcorn that hadn’t come out the chute into my bowl. I recommend using a potholder or two to lift off the measuring lid and the transparent cover, then carefully lifting the base and pouring the last of the popcorn into your serving bowl. The entire machine is pretty hot at this point, and the plastic lid and cover are especially hot to the touch, so don’t handle these with your bare hands. There were no unpopped kernels left in the reservoir when the machine turned off, so the only unpopped ones you get are the few that spit out as the machine is first heating up.

I seasoned my popcorn with some melted ghee and ground some Trader Joe’s salt on it for a perfect movie night snack. This popcorn maker is easy to use and I expect it will get regular use in my house. The only thing that remains to be seen is how well it holds up to regular use. I’ll update this post with any new developments.

The Verdict:

The Ambiano Mini Popcorn Maker is easy to use. Simply pour in popcorn kernels, put the lid on, turn the machine on, and watch fresh-popped popcorn come tumbling out of the chute and into your bowl. This makes a full bowl of popcorn in a matter of minutes, and you can season it to your own liking, making it a healthier option than many microwave or store-bought popcorn varieties. It does spit out some unpopped kernels when the machine first gets heated up and going, but it wasn’t any more unpopped kernels than what you might get with a bag of microwavable popcorn. Do watch out, though, because those unpopped kernels sometimes don’t land in the bowl. Otherwise, we have no complaints, and we’re excited to continue using this on family movie nights or anytime we want a crispy, buttery snack.