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Gravity Feed vs Pump Feed: Which Soft Serve Machine Is Right for You?
The real difference between gravity and pump feed machines — and which one suits your menu and volume.
Gravity feed vs pump feed
It's the most common question we get, so here's the straight answer.
Gravity feed
The mix flows down into the freezing cylinder by gravity. Simple, reliable, fewer parts to maintain, lower upfront cost. Overrun (the air whipped into the product) is typically 30–40%. Perfect for cafés, takeaways and most soft serve menus.
Pump feed
A pump pushes mix and air into the cylinder, giving higher overrun (50–80%) — a lighter product, more serves per litre of mix, and better margins at volume. More components, so slightly more maintenance. Ideal for high-volume dessert shops and busy stores.
Which should you pick?
- Lower volume / simplicity / budget → gravity
- High volume / product margin / consistency → pump
Still unsure? Send us your menu and volume and we'll recommend the right setup.