Every soft serve machine gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Machines are grouped by cabinet, countertop or floor-standing, and use the same scale in both groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per quart an hour of output | 30% |
| Output | top of the maker's stated hourly output | 25% |
| Flavors | flavors including twists | 10% |
| Hopper capacity | total mix hopper capacity | 10% |
| Features | pre-cooling, air pump or overrun, low-mix alarm, auto-clean and hopper agitator | 15% |
| Warranty | parts warranty and compressor coverage | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Output, flavors, hopper and cylinder capacity, features, electrical needs, dimensions and warranty come from the maker’s spec sheet and warranty statement, or from the maker’s own copy on a retail listing where no spec sheet is published. Prices are checked at the stores each page links to, and the lowest price is used.
Most makers state output as a range in liters or quarts an hour, and the top of that range is recorded and scored. Spaceman rates output in 4 oz servings an hour, which is converted to quarts (servings times 4 oz, divided by 32).
The factors
Value is the price divided by the top stated output in quarts an hour, on a log scale: $400 per quart an hour scores zero and $30 full marks.
Output is the top of the maker’s stated hourly output, on a log scale, so going from 8 to 16 quarts an hour counts the same as going from 32 to 64: 8 quarts an hour scores zero and 64 full marks.
Flavors counts every flavor the spouts serve, twists included, so two flavors and a twist count as three: one flavor scores zero and five full marks.
Hopper capacity is the total capacity of the mix hoppers: 4 L scores zero and 24 L full marks.
Features adds up five features that make service easier: hopper pre-cooling or a standby mode that keeps mix cold overnight (30%), an air pump or overrun system (25%), a low-mix alarm (15%), an auto-clean cycle (15%) and a hopper agitator (15%).
Warranty is 60% parts warranty, scored from none (zero) to 2 years (full marks), and 40% total compressor coverage, scored from none (zero) to 5 years (full marks).
What isn’t scored
Freezing cylinder capacity, number of compressors, cooling method, refrigerant, power draw, voltage and plug, dimensions, weight, casters, certifications and release date are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a flavor count, hopper capacity or feature list isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Output and warranty are the exceptions. Output separates these machines more than any other figure, so a machine whose maker doesn’t publish it scores zero for output and is marked estimated rather than getting a middle score it hasn’t shown. Most of the import machines publish no warranty, so a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, that factor scores zero and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.