Frequently Asked Questions
- What amount of power is needed for the machine to work?
- Our Taylor 152 ice cream machine requires its OWN dedicated 115-volt, 20-amp circuit with a ground to properly function. Using our provided 50- or 100-foot cord, it will plug into a standard wall outlet used in most homes/businesses, but NO other electrical device can run on the same circuit, including lights, bounce houses, refrigerators, etc. This machine is renowned for its quality and consistency in delivering the perfect texture and temperature of ice cream. No refunds will be issued due to problems with the power source.
- Confirming adequate power is best done through the electrical panel.
- If you rent more than one machine, each machine needs to be on their own circuit since they each will need to draw enough power to work effectively without blowing a circuit.
- Can I provide my own extension cord?
- No. The only cord that can be used to provide power for the soft-serve machine is the one we bring. We have both a 50- and 100-foot extension cord depending on the distance from the power source.
- Why can't the cart/machine go up steps or over rough terrain?
- Our current cart with the machine attached is over 500 lbs. Due to the weight, we are unable to go up anything other than a small step/curb. For this same reason, a flat surface like concrete or asphalt is ideal.
- How do I decide how many servings to get? How big is a serving?
- We consider each serving to be about 4oz. We provide 6oz cups, which allows room for the soft serve and toppings. In some instances, this can mean 1-1 so if you have 25 people at a party, the 25-serving event will be adequate, but we do see guests enjoy more than one serving or a larger than 4oz serving size! With the fun of a self-serve machine, many come back for seconds!
- Click here to watch a video on our Instagram page that shows a typical 4oz serving size.
- If this is the only sweet treat at your event, we'd suggest closer to a 1-1 but if other treats will be there, you can typically go down a bit or we can offer smaller cup sizes to allow for smaller servings.
- Why do you only offer one flavor per machine?
- Believe it or not, soft serve machines are not designed to be mobile due to the weight of the machine and the power required to operate them. Our single flavor machine is 212lbs and a dual flavor machine (vanilla & chocolate) to make swirl are roughly 300lbs and require more power than most residences or even businesses have available.
- Can I increase my servings package before the event?
- Yes. You will receive an email at least one week prior to your event confirming all details. If at that time, you decide more servings are needed, let me know and cost/added serving will be discussed.
- How long does it take to make the ice cream?
- From the time we plug in the soft-serve machine and pour in our provided mix, it takes about 3-5 minutes until the soft-serve ice cream is ready to enjoy!
- Do you offer toppings?
- No. We leave that to you! We always say it's ok to keep it simple, but some like to go all out and that's fun too!
- Visit our "ideas" tab for topping ideas from past events.
- What do I need to do to the machine during the event?
- During the event, it's important to ensure the power plug is not moved/taken out and the cart with the machine attached is not moved from the placement in which it was left during set up. The same goes for not moving the switches on the machine to ensure the machine functions properly. In addition, if your event has more than 50 servings, you will be provided mix to add to the hopper once the orange "mix low" light comes on. Prior to the end of your event, you are asked to drain any mix you didn't dispense.
- We give a very thorough overview of the machine at drop off and anything you'd need to know. It's VERY easy and simple.
- Do I need to clean the machine before pickup?
- No. You do not need to clean the machine before pickup; however, if possible, draining any leftover mix from the hopper into our provided leftover cups/containers makes for a quicker clean up process when we arrive for pickup.
- Can the machine be placed outside?
- Yes, the machine can be placed outdoors. If it is a hot, sunny day, we will use our umbrella to help shade the machine to allow for optimum performance. In the event of rain, we ask that an alternate location is available to keep the cart and soft-serve machine covered; this could be under a tent or in a garage.
- Does the machine make noise?
- Yes. The machine will intermittently make noise as it is making the soft serve or keeping the mix cool in the hopper. While this is not continuous, if you are hosting an event where you want minimal noise, this machine cannot stay silent entirely.
- What's the cancellation policy?
- If there is a cancellation two weeks prior to the event, a refund will be issued minus a $30 administration fee. If the cancellation is made within two weeks of an event, a $75 fee will be applied to the refund due to administration and product costs.
- Is the soft-serve mix/JOY cake cone allergy friendly?
- The vanilla and chocolate soft serve are a dairy base and contain milk. They are both gluten free, dye free, egg free, peanut allergy friendly and kosher. The JOY cake cones are also safe for our peanut allergy friends. The ingredient label for the soft-serve mix is available on each cart. If you would like a small box of gluten free cake cones for any gluten allergy friends, please include that in your request via email.
- What if we don't use all our mix during the event?
- We provide five food- and freezer-safe containers for you to use for any possible remaining mix. Leftovers are also great dispensed into pie crusts to be frozen and enjoyed at a later date or even in milkshakes and root-beer floats. No refunds are given for unused mix as it is perishable and purchased for your event based on the serving number you provided/purchased.
- Does someone need to dispense the soft serve and monitor the machine?
- Yes and no. The fun part of renting our machine, is it's easy to use for any age and is intended to be self serve. That said, for larger events, especially with younger children, we do suggest having an adult nearby to help if needed as well as ensure the plug or switches on the machine are not tampered with. In this instance, the machine would not function as designed.
- For parties with more than 50 servings, having one person assigned to monitoring the mix level is helpful as more mix would need to be added once the mix is low.