An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a bottom shelf configured to support a blender cup. The bottom shelf has a blender drive to drive the operation of blades provided in the blender cup. The dispenser further includes a dispensing chamber including a cartridge receptacle configured to receive a frozen beverage cartridge, and a dispense plunger. The dispenser further includes a water reservoir having a water pump to drive the movement of water from the water reservoir to the dispense plunger of the dispensing chamber and into the blender cup. A controller coupled to the blender drive, the dispenser plunger, and the water pump controls the operation of the individual frozen drink dispenser. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing frozen drinks are further disclosed.