Ice cream machines: how to choose the right one for your business
An ice cream machine freezes and churns a liquid mix into ice cream. Three types cover almost every business: soft serve machines, batch freezers and combined machines.
Which type of ice cream machine do you need?
The type depends on what you serve and how it reaches the customer.
Soft serve machines
Ice cream dispensed on demand for cones, sundaes and cups. Countertop and floor-standing models for cafés, restaurants and dessert bars.
Batch freezers
Scooped ice cream and gelato made in cycles and held in a display cabinet. For ice cream shops, gelaterias and production kitchens.
Combined machines
Pasteurise, age and freeze in one body, for kitchens that make their own base from fresh ingredients.
Carpigiani soft serve machines
Countertop and floor-standing machines for soft serve, frozen yoghurt and sorbet.
Gelmatic countertop machines
Compact Gelmatic machines for cafés and coffee shops with limited bench space.
Carpigiani batch freezers
Batch freezers for scooped ice cream and gelato, from small shops to production kitchens.
Four questions to size the machine
Answer these and we can match a machine to your shop.
What will you serve?
Cones and sundaes point to soft serve. Scooped ice cream in a cabinet points to a batch freezer.
How much each day?
Output is rated per hour. We match it to your busiest day, not your average one.
How much space?
Countertop machines fit a bench. Floor-standing machines and batch freezers need floor space and ventilation.
Ready mix or your own base?
Ready mixes are the quickest start. Combined machines suit kitchens that make their own base.
Mixes and ingredients
Ready-to-use soft serve mixes and gelato bases. Soft serve and frozen yoghurt mixes run in any brand of soft serve machine.
Cups, cones and spoons
Everything a customer holds, ordered with the machine.
Common questions
What is the best ice cream machine for a small business?
For cones and sundaes, a countertop soft serve machine such as the Carpigiani 191 or the Gelmatic Giotto fits a small counter. For scooped ice cream, a small batch freezer such as the Labo 8-12 suits a new shop.
What is the difference between a soft serve machine and a batch freezer?
A soft serve machine dispenses ice cream on demand from a mix, ready to serve. A batch freezer makes scooped ice cream in cycles, which is then held in a display cabinet.
Can one machine make ice cream, frozen yoghurt and sorbet?
A soft serve machine makes ice cream, frozen yoghurt and sorbet from the same cylinder, one product at a time. Batch freezers and combined machines make scooped ice cream, gelato and sorbet.
Do I need a special mix for the machine?
Soft serve and frozen yoghurt mixes run in any brand of soft serve machine, and our technicians adjust the settings for the mix you choose.
Does Majors Group install and service ice cream machines?
Yes. We install the machine, train your team and provide scheduled service and genuine parts.
We look after it once it is running
The same team that supplies the equipment installs it, trains your staff and keeps it running.
Training
Our frozen dessert chefs show your team the equipment and the menu.
Installation
Equipment installed in your shop by our team.
Service and parts
Scheduled service and genuine parts from the same team.
Finance
Rent-to-buy and lease plans for the first machine.
Planning an ice cream shop or menu?
Call 1800 625 677 or request a quote and we will match the equipment to your space and menu.