Commercial Gelato Equipment Buying Guide

What Equipment Do You Need to Make and Sell Your Own Gelato?

Planning to open a gelato shop, start an ice cream business or add freshly made gelato, ice cream and sorbet to an existing foodservice operation?

Choosing the right commercial gelato equipment is an important part of turning that idea into a practical, profitable operation.

Your equipment requirements will depend on what you want to make, how much you expect to produce, how many flavours you plan to offer, your available space and utilities, and how your production will fit around the day-to-day running of the business.

At Taylor UK, we supply professional Frigomat gelato-making equipment and can help you understand the different options available before you invest.

Whether you need a single commercial batch freezer or are planning a complete gelato production kitchen, this guide explains the main equipment you should consider.

Join us for a one-on-one equipment demonstration 

The Taylor UK Gelato Demonstration Kitchen is located within the catering department of West London College, Hammersmith.

The site is just five minutes from Barons Court tube station on the Piccadilly Line which allows easy access from all parts of London and connecting mainline railway stations. On site parking is available.

Contact the Taylor UK team on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form to schedule your one-on-one gelato demonstration.

Schedule Your Demonstration

What Equipment Do You Need to Make Gelato Commercially?

At the centre of most commercial gelato operations is a batch freezer. This takes your prepared liquid mix and freezes it while incorporating controlled amounts of air to create the finished texture.

Depending on how you plan to prepare your mix, you may also need a pasteuriser. Businesses producing larger quantities or creating their own base mixes from raw ingredients are more likely to benefit from dedicated pasteurisation equipment.

A professional operation may also require equipment for rapid freezing, storage and display.

The right combination will be different for every business.

Contact the Taylor UK team on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form to schedule your one-on-one gelato demonstration

Make an Enquiry About Gelato Equipment Today

Which Gelato Equipment Setup Is Right for Your Business?

There is no universal gelato equipment package.

A café producing six signature flavours will have very different requirements from a busy gelateria making dozens of flavours or a production kitchen supplying several outlets.

The first step is to understand how gelato will fit into your business.

Adding Gelato to a Café, Restaurant or Existing Venue

If gelato is being added to an existing menu, you may not need a large production setup.

A suitably sized batch freezer can allow you to create your own flavours in-house without dedicating a large area of your kitchen to gelato production.

This can be an attractive option for:

• Cafés and coffee shops

• Restaurants and pubs

• Hotels

• Farm shops

• Bakeries

• Visitor attractions

• Garden centres

• Leisure venues

The main considerations are likely to be available space, the number of flavours you want to offer and how much product you need to make at one time.

Talk to the Taylor UK gelato team on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form to request a call back.

Make an Enquiry About Gelato Equipment Today

Opening a Gelateria or Ice Cream Parlour

If gelato will be at the centre of your business, production capacity becomes much more important.

A dedicated gelateria may require:

• Pasteurisation equipment

• One or more commercial batch freezers

• Blast freezing

• Frozen storage

• Professional gelato display cabinets

• Ingredient and preparation areas

You will also need to consider how many flavours you plan to offer, how frequently each flavour will be produced and how quickly you need to replenish your display during busy periods.

Choosing equipment around these real production requirements can help create a more efficient operation.

Talk to the Taylor UK gelato team on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form to discuss your gelato shop project.

Make an Enquiry About Gelato Equipment Today

High-Volume Gelato Production

Businesses producing larger quantities or supplying more than one outlet need to think beyond individual batch size.

Frigomat FR260 High Volume Batch Freezer

Production planning may need to consider:

• Total daily or weekly output

• Labour requirements

• Number of production cycles

• Storage capacity

• Ingredient preparation

• Blast freezing

• Distribution

• Future expansion

In these situations, investing in greater production capacity can reduce the amount of staff time required to produce the same volume of finished product.

Speak to us about high volume production equipment, call us on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form.

Make an Enquiry About Gelato Equipment Today

How to Choose a Commercial Gelato Batch Freezer

The batch freezer is one of the most important pieces of equipment in a gelato production operation.

But bigger is not automatically better.

The right machine is the one that matches the way your business will actually produce and sell gelato.

How Much Gelato Will You Produce?

Consider your expected production across a normal trading day rather than simply choosing a machine based on its maximum hourly capacity.

Think about:

• Expected portions sold per day

• Number of flavours

• Typical batch size

• Frequency of production

• Seasonal peaks

• Weekend demand

• Future growth

A machine capable of producing a large batch may be unnecessary if most of your flavours are produced in relatively small quantities.

Equally, choosing a machine that is too small may mean repeating the same production process many times throughout the day.

How Many Flavours Will You Offer?

This can significantly influence the appropriate batch size.

For example, producing 20 different flavours in relatively small quantities is a very different production challenge from making large volumes of four or five core flavours.

The largest machine is therefore not always the most efficient choice.

Taylor UK Tip: Consider the amount of each individual flavour you expect to sell, not just your total daily gelato volume.

Think About Labour as Well as Machine Cost

Equipment price is only part of the investment.

If choosing a smaller batch freezer means staff must complete substantially more production cycles, the apparent saving on the machine may be offset by additional labour over its working life.

A larger-capacity machine may cost more initially but reduce production time where volumes justify it.

Your equipment decision should therefore consider:

• Purchase price

• Production capacity

• Number of batches required

• Staff time

• Cleaning between batches

• Expected growth

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Vertical Batch Freezers

Vertical or Horizontal Gelato Batch Freezer?

Commercial batch freezers are available in different configurations.

Vertical Batch Freezers

Vertical machines allow the operator to work directly with the product from above.

They can offer greater visibility and control during production, making them appealing to artisan gelato makers who want to closely monitor texture and consistency.

Horizontal Batch Freezers

Frigomat Batch Freezers

Horizontal batch freezers typically provide a more automated production process, with the finished gelato extracted from the front of the machine.

They can be particularly useful where consistency, ease of operation and efficient production are priorities.

The right choice will depend on your production style, staff experience and the level of control you want during the freezing process.

Compare our Batch Freezers

Do You Need a Gelato Pasteuriser?

Frigomat Pasteurisers

Not every business will require a dedicated pasteuriser, but it can become an important part of a professional gelato production setup.

A pasteuriser allows you to prepare, heat, cool and manage your own base mixes in a controlled process.

It is particularly relevant for businesses that:

• Want to develop their own recipes

• Intend to produce larger volumes

• Prefer to prepare base mixes in advance

• Want greater control over ingredients and formulation

• Need a more structured production workflow

The capacity of the pasteuriser should be considered alongside the capacity of your batch freezer.

There is little benefit in creating a production bottleneck where one part of the process cannot keep pace with another.

Compare our Pasteurisers

Do You Need a Blast Freezer for Gelato?

ISA ZERO Blast Freezers

A batch freezer creates finished gelato ready for extraction, but the freezing process does not necessarily end there.

Rapidly reducing the temperature of freshly produced gelato can help stabilise the product before it moves into storage or display.

A blast freezer can therefore become an important part of a professional production process, particularly where:

• Gelato is being produced ahead of service

• Larger quantities are being made

• Product is being stored

• Consistent production and stock rotation are important

Your Taylor UK equipment specialist can discuss whether blast freezing is appropriate for your particular production method.

Gelato Storage and Display

Making a high-quality product is only one part of the process.

You also need to consider what happens between production and the moment it is served to the customer.

ISA Labor Gelato Storage Freezer

Frozen Storage

Adequate frozen storage allows you to manage production efficiently and build stock ahead of peak trading periods.

The amount of storage you require will depend on:

• Number of flavours

• Production schedule

• Stock rotation

• Daily sales

• Seasonal demand

Gelato Display Cabinets

If customers are selecting gelato by the scoop, the display cabinet is a critical part of both product presentation and service.

A professional gelato cabinet should allow your range to be presented attractively while providing the temperature control required for the products being served.

Taylor UK can help specify gelato display equipment alongside your production machines, giving you a more complete solution.

Speak to us about storage solutions and display cabinets, call us on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form.

Make an Enquiry Today

Combination Gelato Machines

Frigomat Combination Machine

Where space is limited, a combination machine can provide an alternative to installing separate pieces of production equipment.

Depending on the model, a combination machine can allow multiple stages of the production process to be completed within a single footprint.

This may be particularly attractive for:

• Smaller gelato shops

• Cafés

• Restaurants

• Farm shops

• Businesses with limited kitchen space

However, an all-in-one machine will not necessarily be the best solution for every operation.

Larger businesses may benefit from separating different production stages, allowing several processes to take place simultaneously.

Ask Us Whether a Combination Machine Is Right for You, call us on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form.

Make an Enquiry Today

Planning Your Gelato Production Area

Before choosing equipment, it is important to consider where it will actually be installed.

Commercial gelato production can require more than sufficient floor space.

You may need to consider:

Electrical Supply – Different machines can have different electrical requirements.

The available electrical supply within your premises should therefore be considered early in the planning process.

Water and Drainage – Some equipment may require a water connection and suitable drainage.

Understanding these requirements before equipment is specified can help avoid complications later.

Production Space – Allow sufficient room for:

• Ingredient preparation

• Machine operation

• Product extraction

• Cleaning

• Storage containers

• Staff movement

• Frozen and Refrigerated Storage

Storage should be planned around expected production rather than treated as an afterthought.

Workflow – Think about how ingredients and finished products will move through your production area.

A logical workflow can make the operation easier for staff and reduce unnecessary movement during busy production periods.

Commercial Gelato Equipment Checklist

Before investing in gelato-making equipment, consider the following:

• What products do you want to make?

• How many flavours will you offer?

• How much gelato do you expect to sell each day?

• How much of each individual flavour will you need?

• Will you prepare your own base mixes?

• How much production space is available?

• What electrical supply is available?

• Do you have suitable water and drainage?

• How much frozen storage will you need?

• Will the product be sold directly from a display cabinet?

• How many staff will be involved in production?

• How much time can be allocated to making gelato?

• Do you expect the business to grow?

• Will you eventually supply more than one location?

If you do not yet know all the answers, that is not a problem.

These are exactly the questions our team can help you work through.

Get Advice From a Taylor UK Gelato Specialist, call us on 0800 838 896 or complete the enquiry form.

Make an Enquiry Today

See Commercial Gelato Equipment Before You Invest

Book a One-to-One Taylor UK Gelato Demonstration

Choosing equipment becomes much easier when you can see it working first-hand.

Taylor UK offers tailored one-to-one commercial gelato demonstration days for business owners considering making and selling their own gelato, ice cream and sorbet.

Rather than following a standard group programme, the demonstration can be shaped around your individual business requirements.

We can discuss:

• What you want to produce

• Your expected production volume

• Available space

• Utilities

• Proposed menu

• Equipment options

• Budget

• Future growth

You can see relevant Frigomat equipment operating, explore the gelato-making process and ask questions specific to your project.

Whether you are at the earliest stage of developing an idea or preparing to purchase equipment, a demonstration gives you the opportunity to understand the process before making an investment.

What Happens During the Enquiry Process?