Soft serve machines. Tested in our own business.
We sell soft serve machines we know ourselves: six seasons at our kiosk at the Achensee. Nissei as the premium choice, Spaceman as a solid alternative, plus the mix and the know-how.
Service book no. 01
- Operator
- Zoran Obradović
- Location
- Lakeside promenade, Pertisau at the Achensee
- Soft serve
- Six seasons at our own kiosk
- Hospitality
- A working life, from top hotels to cocktail bars
What we learned behind the counter
Air or water cooling
At our place: On hot afternoons three air-cooled machines could no longer keep up. One water-cooled Nissei outperformed all three under the same conditions.
Our advice: Up to about 150 portions a day, air works; from 150 we recommend water, from 400 only water. Air-cooled machines do not belong in full sun.
Pump or gravity
At our place: Our first low-cost gravity machine gave heavy, watery ice cream after a few vanilla portions. Gravity was not to blame, the wrong machine was.
Our advice: Pump: creamier, more portions per litre. Gravity: denser, stronger, fewer parts; ideal for frozen yogurt.
With or without pasteurisation
At our place: We waited too long. Without pasteurisation you dismantle the machine about every three days and lose mix and working time each time.
Our advice: A Nissei with pasteurisation heats the mix to 72 °C overnight and, according to the maker, only needs dismantling every six weeks.
Low-cost new or a brand
At our place: We started with low-cost machines because the budget said so. Today we know: the machine makes the difference on busy days.
Our advice: With two flavours, look for two separate cooling systems, for service near you and for spare parts. Be careful with machines sold under many names.
Nissei
Nissei has been a Japanese brand since 1947 and sold Japan’s first soft serve in 1951; according to ITOCHU, Nissei today holds about 60 % of the Japanese soft serve market. The machines for Europe are developed and built in the Netherlands, in cooperation with the Japanese partner.
- RAPP pump Share of air set via the pump speed on the touchscreen
- Pasteurisation Overnight at 72 °C, at least 35 minutes; dismantle every 6 weeks
- Warranty 5 years on cylinder and beater motor, staggered on compressors (according to Nissei)
- Family Nissei Netherlands is majority-owned by the Orkla group, which NIC also belongs to
More on Nissei and Japanese soft serve at softeis-investition.com (in German).
Compact
Countertop, one flavour
Power TT
Low, water-cooled
Power Combi
Soft serve and shakes
Giant Combi
For long queues
Titan Duo
Two flavours and twist
| Model | Flavours | Feed | Output* | Type | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | 1 | Gravity | 30 l/h | Countertop, 29 cm wide | Café, food truck, a first machine |
| Power TT | 1 | RAPP pump | 55 l/h | Low, water-cooled | Little space, long queues |
| Power Pro | 1 | RAPP pump | 55 l/h | Floor model, water-cooled | Kiosk, smaller restaurant |
| Giant | 1 | RAPP pump | 75 l/h | Floor model, foot control | Long queues |
| Titan Duo | 2 + twist | RAPP pump | 55 + 75 l/h | Floor model, cylinders switch on separately | Ice cream parlour, day-trip spot |
| Combi models | 1–2 + 4–5 shakes | RAPP pump | 55–75 l/h | Soft serve and milkshakes in one | Café, leisure park |
* According to Nissei. Frozen yogurt versions without a pump for Compact, Power TT and Titan Duo. All Nissei models with data →
Spaceman
Spaceman builds soft serve, frozen yogurt and shake machines in Huzhou, China, which are sold in over 130 countries (according to dealers). The equipment keeps up with the big names in the trade: gravity or pump, one or two flavours with twist, countertop or floor model.
- Reading model names Without A: gravity. With A: pump
- Cooling Air-cooled, water optional on many models
- Output From 360 to 800 servings per hour (according to Spaceman, 80 g servings)
- For whom Anyone looking for good value without giving up equipment
| Model | Flavours | Feed | Servings/h* | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6210-C / 6210A-C | 1 | Gravity / pump | 360 | Countertop, 230 V |
| 6235-C / 6235A-C | 2 + twist | Gravity / pump | 450 | Countertop, 230 V |
| 6250-C / 6250A-C | 2 + twist | Gravity / pump | 450 | Floor model, 230 V |
| 6338-C / 6338A-C | 1 | Gravity / pump | 400 | Floor model, 400 V |
| 6378-C / 6378A-C | 2 + twist | Gravity / pump | 720 | Floor model, 400 V |
| 6378AB-C | 2 + twist | Pump, pasteurisation | 800 | Floor model, 400 V |
* According to Spaceman, servings of 80 g. More models for frozen drinks and shakes on request. Spaceman AB-C with pasteurisation: all models with data →
Nissei or Spaceman?
Neither is “better”. They suit different businesses. Here is what the makers themselves state.
| Feature | Nissei | Spaceman |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Japanese brand since 1947; machines for Europe developed and built in the Netherlands | Built in China, sold in over 130 countries (according to dealers) |
| Feed | Own RAPP pump; Compact and frozen yogurt models gravity-fed | Gravity (-C) or pump (A in the model name) |
| Cooling | Water-cooled (RAPP models) | Air-cooled, water optional on many models |
| Pasteurisation | Yes, overnight at 72 °C; dismantle every 6 weeks (according to Nissei) | On selected models |
| Flavours | 1 or 2 + twist, combi with shakes | 1 or 2 + twist; separate shake machines |
| Our territory | Austria, Slovenia, the Balkans | Germany, Austria, Switzerland |
| Suits | Long queues, long seasons, businesses planning for years | Good value for money, a first machine and growth |
Machine and mix from one partner
We are the official NIC distributor in Austria and the region. The mixes are matched to the machines; plus GelDue for gelato and Molly for guests with dogs.
- NICMixes, toppings, wafersLiquid and powder mixes, sauces, sprinkles and milkshake syrups. Pasteurised liquid mixes for top hygiene.
- GelDueBases and pastes from ItalyGelato ingredients since 1984, including vegan bases and pistachio and hazelnut pastes.
- MollySoft serve for dogsVegan, with banana, from the soft serve machine.
Delivery, set-up, training if you like. In your region.
From advice to the first season: we understand your business, recommend, deliver and set up, train your team if you like and stay within reach.
- TyrolNissei · Spaceman
- Vienna & surroundingsNissei · Spaceman
- LinzNissei · Spaceman
- Southern AustriaNissei · Spaceman
- SloveniaNissei
- Croatia & BalkansNissei
- GermanySpaceman
- SwitzerlandSpaceman
Good to know
The one that suits your queues, your space and your season. A café with few portions needs something different from a lakeside kiosk. We ask about portions per day, space, power and water, and then recommend a model.
Nissei is the premium brand with Japanese roots; the machines for Europe are made in the Netherlands, with their own pump and pasteurisation. Spaceman builds solid, well-equipped machines in China with gravity or pump and is a strong alternative to the big brands.
With a pump, mix and air are pushed into the cylinder: the ice cream gets creamier and you get more portions per litre. With gravity, the mix flows in by itself: the ice cream is denser and stronger, and the machine has fewer parts.
Air is enough for short queues and mobile stands. In hot rooms, in the sun and from about 150 portions a day we recommend water cooling.
The machine regularly heats the mix overnight and cools it down again. With Nissei, according to the maker, you then only dismantle and clean the machine every six weeks instead of about every three days.
Two flavours from two cylinders plus a third tap from which both come out together, for example vanilla and chocolate swirled.
Makers state litres or portions per hour, about 30 l/h for the Nissei Compact or up to 800 portions per hour for the largest Spaceman. More important than the peak is whether the machine stays consistent on a hot afternoon.
Nissei also offers refurbished machines in which the key parts are renewed (according to Nissei). We advise against cheap used machines without service.
We deliver, set up, train your team if you like and remain your contact. For the technical side we work with service partners in our regions.
Price on request. It depends on model, equipment and use. We do not offer rental.
Request a quote
Tell us what you are planning: business, space, expected guests. We will get back to you personally with a proposal.
