One of the most important features that we have to decide on is if we want our machine to be a pump or gravity fed machine. These two types of machines have important differences and if you are not sure what they are, we'll explain which is best for each situation.

When you're deciding on a new soft serve ice cream or yogurt machine, there are many different features we have to account for to decide which one best fits your needs.

-Chino Leong, CEO Slices Concession

The main difference between gravity and pump fed machines is how the mix is fed into the freezing cylinder:

• In gravity fed machines, the mix flows into the cylinder with… gravity (I know, shocking!). It is fed through a mix feed tube into the freezing cylinder with a fixed air ratio of about 30%, depending on the size of the feeding tube. This means we will get 30% of ice cream overrun (extra ice cream compared to the mix).
• In contrast, the pump fed machines have a pump in the hopper that feeds the mix into the freezing cylinder, allowing us to control the amount of air we want in the mix. This lets us control the amount of overrun we get from each batch. Most pump machines allow for up to 80% overrun!

We can see that the difference in the amount of overrun we get is substantial. Even though this might be perceived as a disadvantage for the gravity machines, there are advantages and disadvantages for each machine:

Gravity Machines

Advantages

• More affordable
• Easier to use
• Easier to clean
• Easier to maintain
• Fewer parts when compared to pump machines
• Ice cream has stronger, more intense flavor when compared to pump machine

Disadvantages

• Less ice cream overrun
• Ice cream is not as soft or creamy when compared to pump machine
• Slower at making ice cream when compared to pump machine

Pump Machines

Advantages

• Ice cream has a creamier texture & more structure when compared to gravity machines
• Larger amount of overrun
• Makes ice cream more efficiently and faster than gravity machines
• Better for high demand shops

Disadvantages

• More expensive than gravity machines
• Harder to clean
• More difficult to understand and use
• Could be difficult to maintain due to more parts being in use

Sales Volume

• If you're busy with a large amount of sales, a pump machine would be the best choice for your business as this machine is faster and more efficient at producing ice cream or yogurt.
• If you have a small business, with less sales volume, (or an already existing operation and just looking to add soft serve ice cream to it) we recommend going with the gravity machine. It would be a smaller investment and capable enough to handle a lighter demand.

WE OFFER BOTH PUMP & GRAVITY FED MACHINES & OUR EXPERTS ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS. SHOP OUR SOFT SERVE & FROZEN YOGURT MACHINES TODAY.

Feel free to call us at: 

  352-262-9627