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Original poster

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser

181 replies

Coffeewinecake · 20/09/2024 12:59

Are they worth it?
It’s coming to that time of year (although it’s hot and sunny at the moment!) and was thinking of getting as a joint Xmas gift for DCs.
I spoke to someone at Hotel Chocolat but I still don’t really understand what they do (the velvetiser, not the shop assistant). Are they just a glorified milk frother that take up extra space and cost a lot more?
TIA

OP posts:
NecklessMumster · 20/09/2024 22:29

I've got a milk frother that has a different widget for hot chocolate that I use a lot, I use any brand of poshish hot chocolate: whittards or packet of the pellety ones, or broken up dark chocolate. It makes one mug at a time, doesn't spill and is easy to clean. So I like the look of the velvetiser but it wouldn't be any better.

Shallana · 20/09/2024 22:24

I always thought it was a bit of a gimmick until DH got me one for christmas. I love it, I use it every day. You aren't limited to flaked chocolate, it works just as well with powedered hot chocolate, and even instant.

Lovely smooth frothy hot chocolate at perfect drinking temperature 🥰

AnneShirleysNewDress · 20/09/2024 22:23

SisterAgatha · 20/09/2024 22:23

Seriously, when you’ve been stood there for 7 mins furiously wanking off a pan of milk with a frother, you’ll wish you’d bought the velvetiser 🤣

(if they use this in advertising, remember you heard it from me)

😂

Differentstarts · 20/09/2024 22:23

WigglyVonWaggly · 20/09/2024 22:22

You can tip the velvetiser chocolate into a pan of warm milk and stir it and it comes out the same. Just takes about two minutes longer. Don’t waste your money / cupboard space, imo!

But then you have to wash up a pan

SisterAgatha · 20/09/2024 22:23

Seriously, when you’ve been stood there for 7 mins furiously wanking off a pan of milk with a frother, you’ll wish you’d bought the velvetiser 🤣

(if they use this in advertising, remember you heard it from me)

WigglyVonWaggly · 20/09/2024 22:22

You can tip the velvetiser chocolate into a pan of warm milk and stir it and it comes out the same. Just takes about two minutes longer. Don’t waste your money / cupboard space, imo!

Differentstarts · 20/09/2024 22:21

Coffeewinecake · 20/09/2024 22:20

Each time I think about going for the velvetiser, a poster says a frother is as good and with the price difference it is tempting.
So silly question- with the frother, do you heat the milk first, the add chocolate and froth it all up?

Get the velvetiser ignore all the poor people

Original poster
Coffeewinecake · 20/09/2024 22:21

Differentstarts · 20/09/2024 22:20

But it really is

Show quote history

Oh now I have swung back the other way 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
MartinsSpareCalculator · 20/09/2024 22:21

I use mine most days for either iced latte or hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is more expensive than buying a jar of Cadbury or whatever but isn't expensive if you're having them as a treat.

Differentstarts · 20/09/2024 22:20

AnOldCynic · 20/09/2024 22:19

@Differentstarts Fucking hell, they've captured you 😆. I wasn't aware Velvetiser was in the Oxford English Dictionary, BECAUSE IT'S NOT. And if it were it'd be something to do with fabric, not a hot drink.

The Lavazzo machine is a frother. And it makes lovely, 'velvety' hot chocolate.

It is go and check

Original poster
Coffeewinecake · 20/09/2024 22:20

Each time I think about going for the velvetiser, a poster says a frother is as good and with the price difference it is tempting.
So silly question- with the frother, do you heat the milk first, the add chocolate and froth it all up?

OP posts:
Differentstarts · 20/09/2024 22:20

ADHDHDHDHD · 20/09/2024 22:16

Aldi and Lidl regularly do a milk frother in the middle aisle. About £15. I use mine daily and they last years. No way is the velvetiser worth the money.

But it really is

AnOldCynic · 20/09/2024 22:19

@Differentstarts Fucking hell, they've captured you 😆. I wasn't aware Velvetiser was in the Oxford English Dictionary, BECAUSE IT'S NOT. And if it were it'd be something to do with fabric, not a hot drink.

The Lavazzo machine is a frother. And it makes lovely, 'velvety' hot chocolate.

Mrsknowitall · 20/09/2024 22:18

We love ours

ADHDHDHDHD · 20/09/2024 22:16

Aldi and Lidl regularly do a milk frother in the middle aisle. About £15. I use mine daily and they last years. No way is the velvetiser worth the money.

PuppyMonkey · 20/09/2024 22:15

Sister got one two years ago for Xmas and brought it round to us for a visit (Grin) - I thought it was nice but tbh DP makes much nicer just warming milk on the hob and putting chocolate in.

Ineffable23 · 20/09/2024 22:15

The only thing I wish is that they did a double size one so that you could fit two cups worth in.

And that it wasn't so calorific. It's delicious but I can't justify it on a regular basis because I am trying to lose weight.

If you have a Magimix/food processor with a grater function, you can make hot chocolate flakes out of any chocolate you like - event green and blacks or similar is cheaper than the hotel Chocolat stuff. I also concluded absolutely nothing happens to the HC stuff when it goes out of date, so I buy it if it's reduced as on its best before date.

SisterAgatha · 20/09/2024 22:11

That is the same thing technically but you don’t have to stand there and do it. Therein lies the luxury 🤣

Calories wise yes, but I do my milk for our morning coffees to make it more special - so that’s what, less than 100ml?

Cookerhood · 20/09/2024 22:09

Differentstarts · 20/09/2024 22:08

It's not a frother it's a velvetiser

Show quote history

They are the same thing. A milk warmer with a stirrer in the bottom.

Differentstarts · 20/09/2024 22:08

AnOldCynic · 20/09/2024 22:06

"Are they just a glorified milk frother that take up extra space and cost a lot more?"

Yes. Get a Lavazzo Modo Mio frother.

It's not a frother it's a velvetiser

AnOldCynic · 20/09/2024 22:06

"Are they just a glorified milk frother that take up extra space and cost a lot more?"

Yes. Get a Lavazzo Modo Mio frother.

ThinWomansBrain · 20/09/2024 22:06

milk frother mentioned above

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser
ThinWomansBrain · 20/09/2024 21:59

I bought a milk frother from Amazon; I use it with very dark chocolate, cocoa or cacao - it's brilliant, really thick smooth chocolate, inexpensive, better for the planet - no capsules,
I think it cost about £5 - and I later saw similar in Ikea for £1.99
£5.49 now - I bought mine a couple of years ago.

bodydrain · 20/09/2024 21:56

Re Velvetiser‘s temperature:

“My hot chocolate/latte isn’t hot enough for me

The Velvetiser has been calibrated to serve at the best temperature for flavour, which is up to 68 – 70 degrees Centigrade. A few degrees either way is perfectly acceptable, but if your hot chocolate is much hotter, its delicate flavours will be scalded (this is often the reason that hot chocolate served in some coffee shops doesn’t taste as good as ours). We worked hard on the design of our Velvetiser to ensure this never happens and a simple tip for a warmer drink is to fill your cup with hot water and empty it just before pouring in your hot chocolate or latte.”

https://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/velvetiser-faq.html#:~:text=The%2520Velvetiser%2520has%2520been%2520calibrated,to%252068%2520%E2%80%93%252070%2520degrees%2520Centigrade.

Cookerhood · 20/09/2024 21:51

We have a Dualit milk frother which we use for frothing milk(!). However I think the hotel chocolat one is made by Dualit.
Those who use it daily, or many times a day, isn't it a huge number of calories? I'd be the size of a house if I had so much hot chocolate.