We all recognize the jingle of Mister Softee trucks as they roll through our neighborhoods, tempting us with treats like vanilla cones, twin twists with sprinkles, and chocolate soft serve with crunchies. Soft serve is a popular dessert that many of us enjoy, but what really sets it apart from other frozen desserts? Continue reading to learn more about what soft serve is, how it differs from other ice cream varieties, the equipment needed to serve it, and more.Â
What are the 2 types of soft serve machines?
The two most common types of commercial soft serve machines are gravity-fed and air-pump machines. A gravity-fed soft serve machine is one that relies on gravity to feed the mix from the hopper into the freezing cylinder. Air-pump soft serve machines on the other hand, have a pump in the machine’s hopper that feeds the mix into the freezing cylinder.
Gravity-Fed Soft Serve Machines
Gravity-fed machines have their own pros and are great machines for all types of businesses. To start off, gravity-fed commercial soft serve machines tend to be less expensive than air-pump machines due to them having less components. If you’re looking for a machine that someone with limited operational experience can easily use, gravity-fed is probably the way to go!
Now let’s get into one of the most important aspects of soft serve- the taste! Gravity-fed soft serve machines will typically provide you with soft serve that is more rich and flavorful. The reason for this is because gravity-fed machines incorporate less overrun (air) into the soft serve than an air-pump machine. With less air, the soft serve becomes denser, heavier, and the flavor is more intense. You can still get a moderate amount of air into your soft serve and get that picture-perfect, fluffy soft serve, though!
If you run a froyo shop or another shop that sells soft serve by weight, a gravity-fed machine would be a great option for you. This is because there is less air, meaning the product weight will be heavier and you’ll make more money!
Air-Pump Soft Serve Machines
Air pump machines are also a wonderful option for those looking to invest in a commercial soft serve machine for their business. If you have a higher-volume store, air pump machines may be a better option for you. This is because as opposed to gravity machines, air-pump machines provide more overrun and will thus give you more finished product. For example, if your air-pump machine is set to 65% overrun, 1 gallon of product will yield 1.65 gallons of soft serve. You can get more servings out of a mix with more overrun, and that can end up saving you money in the long run, even though these machines tend to be slightly pricier initially than their gravity-fed counterparts.
Air pump machines will also supply you with that Instagrammable, fluffy, tall soft serve. However, the taste will differ from a gravity-fed machine. Since the soft serve will likely have a higher overrun from an air-pump machine, you can expect the flavor to be lighter and the texture to be smoother.
We hope this article has provided you with insights as to the differences between gravity-fed and air-pump commercial soft serve machines. If you have any questions, drop us a line and we’d love to help you decide which machine would be the most profitable for your business model. Email us at sales@spacemanusa.com for help!