A machine for making liquid or semi-liquid products, including a first container adapted to contain a basic mixture, having an inside surface and an outside surface and equipped with a stirrer disposed inside the first container a thermodynamic system comprising a circuit for circulating a heat exchanger fluid and a first heat exchanger associated, in use, with walls of the first container, the first heat exchanger is defined by at least one element which is fixable, in use, to the outside surface of the first container, having an open cavity, extending uninterruptedly and defining, when coupled with the outside surface, a channel for circulating heat exchanger fluid, the element also having at least one inlet and one outlet for the heat exchanger fluid.