ProCook hot chocolate maker and milk frother review: "Beautifully smooth from first sip to last"

RRP at time of testing: £59 | Check price at ProCook

My verdict

When I started testing the ProCook hot chocolate maker and milk frother, I had one fairly obvious question: did I really need it? My kitchen cupboards are already full of gadgets that promised to change my life, and hot chocolate is something I can make perfectly well with a saucepan and whisk. To earn its place, the ProCook needed to make the whole process noticeably easier, as well as the drinks tastier.

In our house, making hot chocolate usually means warming milk while four children repeatedly ask whether it’s ready. The ProCook offers a much calmer route. All I had to do was add the milk and chocolate to its removable stainless-steel jug, choose one of four settings and leave it to heat and whisk everything together. There’s no saucepan to watch and no frantic stirring to get rid of lumps at the end.

I mastered making thick, rich hot chocolate with this ProCook appliance

By the end of the fortnight, I was using it far more than I thought I would. I made both milk and white hot chocolates, which came out beautifully smooth, with everything evenly mixed from the first sip to the bottom of the mug. Better still, I could press the button and get on with something else while it worked.

It also proved more useful than a machine that only comes out for hot chocolate season. I used it as a milk frother to whip up semi-skimmed and barista oat milk for coffee, and both produced warm, creamy foam. It made an ordinary coffee machine brew feel much closer to something I’d paid several pounds for in a café, without requiring me to master a steam wand before the school run.

The 400ml capacity is useful, although it won’t keep four children supplied in one go. The limit drops to 200ml when frothing because the milk needs room to expand, so making drinks for several people can involve more than one cycle. That wasn’t a deal-breaker for us, but don’t expect a full tray of hot chocolates to appear at the touch of a button.

My 10-year-old could use it once I’d shown him which setting to select. The machine heats rather than fully boils the milk, while the sturdy base, comfortable handle and controlled spout felt less precarious than carrying a saucepan of hot milk across the kitchen. The jug and drink still become hot, so supervision is sensible, but I was happy for him to make his own with me nearby.

The real danger is that everybody quickly gets used to having their drinks made for them. My next job is teaching DH how to use it before I accidentally become the family barista.

At £65, the ProCook isn’t essential. If you make hot chocolate twice a year, stick with the saucepan. But if your family regularly drinks hot chocolate, milky coffee or dairy-free lattes, it does enough to justify its place.

How I've tested the ProCook hot chocolate maker and milk frother

I’m trying to cut down on alcohol these days, so coffee and hot chocolate have become my guilty pleasures. With four children who were very happy to help with the hot-chocolate testing, I used the ProCook at least once a day for two weeks. We made milk and white hot chocolate, while I also used it to prepare frothy milk for my daily coffees.

I used Lindt milk hot chocolate, Cadbury powder and Knoops white hot chocolate to see how well the machine melted and mixed different types of chocolate. For the frothing tests, I compared semi-skimmed milk with barista oat milk, looking at the amount and consistency of the foam and whether it held up once poured into coffee.

I used the ProCook hot chocolate maker at home with a variety of hot chocolate flakes and powders

Throughout testing, I assessed how quickly and smoothly it prepared each drink, whether any lumps or residue remained and how well it performed at different fill levels. I also considered the controls, pouring, stability, cleaning and worktop footprint. 

Most importantly, I wanted to know whether we would use it regularly enough to justify spending £65 on another kitchen appliance – or whether it would eventually join the George Foreman grill and toastie maker at the back of the cupboard.

ProCook hot chocolate maker and milk frother: What’s in the box?

• ProCook Hot Chocolate Maker and Milk Frother

• Removable 400ml stainless-steel cup

• Lid

• Removable magnetic whisk

• Power base

• Instruction booklet

The ProCook hot chocolate maker arrives securely packed, with instructions

First impressions

The first thing I noticed was that it looked like a proper coffee accessory rather than a novelty machine. The black base and stainless-steel jug fitted neatly beside my Nespresso, and at 21cm high it didn’t dominate the worktop.

That matters in my kitchen because space is already tight. The ProCook is still another plug and cable to accommodate, but it’s compact enough that I didn’t immediately resent its presence.

It also feels reassuringly sturdy. The jug has a proper handle and pouring spout, while the base stayed firmly in place as I lifted it on and off. That made it feel like something designed for regular family use rather than a gadget that needed treating carefully.

The ProCook hot chocolate maker and milk frother is easy on the eye

How easy is the ProCook Hot Chocolate Maker to set up and use?

There’s no assembly beyond placing the magnetic whisk inside the stainless-steel jug and sitting the jug on the powered base. I added the milk and chocolate, selected the appropriate programme and pressed the button.

The four settings cover hot milk, hot milk foam, cold milk foam and hot chocolate. It was easy to select which one I wanted. My favourite two were hot milk foam for cappucinos and hot chocolate for those in the family with a sweet tooth (which is basically everyone except DH). I can imagine I’d use cold milk foam more in the summer for iced coffee.

The ProCook hot chocolate maker requires no assembly: just plug in and power on

Once the programme starts, the machine takes over and sounds a buzzer when the drink is ready. I particularly appreciated being able to walk away and get on with something else instead of standing over a saucepan, stirring while somebody asked every 30 seconds if the hot chocolate was finished.

DH hasn’t mastered it yet, although that says more about our preference for black vs milky coffee than the controls. I plan to teach him soon, as I have no intention of becoming the best (and therefore default) coffee maker in the house.

How good is the ProCook at making hot chocolate?

For my first test, I used Lindt milk hot chocolate and added enough to make a richer drink than the instant hot chocolate I’d normally mix with water.

The ProCook heated and whisked it at the same time, producing a smooth drink without any powdery patches or chocolate collecting at the bottom. It wasn’t quite the almost-spoonable hot chocolate you might get in an Italian café, but I could adjust the amount of chocolate to make it as rich as I wanted.

I then tried Knoops white hot chocolate. White chocolate needs a bit more care because it can clump or catch when heated in a saucepan, and its pale colour makes it harder to spot any pieces that haven’t melted until you drink it. The ProCook kept everything moving while the milk warmed, and the finished drink was creamy and beautifully smooth from the first sip to the last.

I loved the creamy taste of drinks made in the ProCook hot chocolate maker and milk frother

That was the biggest improvement over making hot chocolate by hand. I didn’t need to stand at the hob stirring, squash stubborn lumps against the side of a mug or discover a layer of expensive chocolate sludge at the bottom. I could press the button, deal with whichever child needed me next and come back when it was ready. I was also easily able to experiment with consistency, and eventually got better at making it thicker and more syrup-like.

ProCook says the machine can be used with hot chocolate powder, flakes, chips or finely chopped chocolate, so you aren’t tied to one brand or a supply of special sachets.

The children were delighted with the results, which is both a recommendation and a warning. Every day, they were begging to use it, which the dentist will be thrilled about (not).

White hot chocolate is now a favourite in our house thanks to the ProCook hot chocolate maker

Is the ProCook good at frothing milk for coffee?

I probably used the milk frother more often than the hot chocolate setting. I kept the ProCook next to my coffee machine and switched it on whenever I fancied a change from an espresso.

You can see the milk frothing thanks to a glass lid

With semi-skimmed milk, it produced warm, creamy foam rather than a stiff layer of bubbles floating separately on top. Once I poured it into my coffee, the drink tasted smoother and looked much closer to something I might order in a café. I’m not claiming to have mastered latte art, but it was a considerable improvement on adding a splash of cold milk.

It was also wonderfully low effort. I poured in the milk, pressed the button and carried on getting ready while it worked. There was no steam wand to learn how to use and no milk splattered across the worktop.

You can froth a maximum of 200ml at a time because the milk needs room to expand. That is just enough for two cappuccinos in my house. DH, who normally takes his coffee black, has become rather fond of the finished drinks, so my next job is teaching him which button to press before I’m permanently appointed household barista.

I was impressed by how much froth it produced in just two minutes

If coffee is your main reason for buying one, it’s worth looking at the best milk frothers too.  The ProCook makes most sense if you’ll use the hot chocolate function frequently.

Does the ProCook froth oat milk?

I also tried barista oat milk and was pleased that it worked just as reliably as semi-skimmed milk. It warmed evenly and produced enough creamy foam to make a noticeable difference to my coffee.

ProCook recommends using higher-fat plant milks for better foam, and the barista oat milk I chose is specifically made for frothing. 

I didn’t try an ordinary oat drink or a soy milk, as I’ve had bad experiences trying to froth these in the past. Oatly and Minor Figures both have barista plant milk options, so I’d err on the safe side and use these if you prefer a plant-based milk.

Is the ProCook Hot Chocolate Maker safe for children to use?

My 10-year-old was keen to make his own hot chocolate, and after I’d shown him where to fill the jug and which button to press, he managed it easily. The machine heats the milk without bringing it to a full boil and switches itself off when the programme finishes, so there’s no saucepan bubbling away on the hob.

The base stayed firmly in place, while the large handle and shaped spout helped him pour steadily into his mug. I felt much happier watching him lift a handled jug from a stable base than carry a saucepan of hot milk across the kitchen.

It isn’t risk-free, of course. The drink and stainless-steel jug still become hot, so younger children will need an adult to take over. However, for an older child who wants a little more independence, it offers a straightforward way to make a hot chocolate with a parent nearby. My son was very pleased with himself – and my dream of him eventually making the entire tea round feels one step closer.

Is the ProCook Hot Chocolate Maker easy to clean?

The stainless-steel cup lifts away from the powered base, so I could carry it straight to the sink and wash it properly without manoeuvring a cable around the taps.

I hand washed the ProCook hot chocolate maker cup, but it is dishwasher-safe

The small magnetic whisk also pulls out. Milk and melted chocolate can collect beneath it, so being able to remove it made it much easier to rinse the whole cup clean. This was especially useful after making white hot chocolate, which left more of a creamy coating behind than plain frothed milk.

ProCook says the cup is dishwasher-safe, although the powered base must stay dry. I still found it easiest to rinse the cup soon after pouring the drinks, before the remaining chocolate had time to set. 

Cleaning took a couple of minutes at most, which is always a win. If I’d had to scrub dried chocolate from a fixed jug every evening, the machine would have been banished to the back of the cupboard long before the test was over.

Is the ProCook Hot Chocolate Maker good value for money?

For £65, I think it’s good value – as long as you’ll use both sides of it.

I wouldn’t buy it for two hot chocolates at Christmas. A saucepan or microwave can warm milk perfectly well, and a cheap handheld whisk will add froth to a coffee.

What you’re paying for is convenience, consistently smooth drinks and four settings covering hot chocolate, hot milk, hot foam and cold foam. The removable, dishwasher-safe jug also makes it easier to clean than a frother with a fixed cup.

ProCook includes a two-year guarantee. If you used the machine once a day for those two years, the £65 purchase price would work out at just under 9p per drink. That’s considerably better value in my opinion than the £119.95 Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. The Velvetiser offers the full branded experience, complete with Hotel Chocolat drinking chocolate and serving cups. The ProCook costs almost half as much, lets you choose your own chocolate and froths  milk for coffee

If your family regularly drinks hot chocolate and milky coffee, I think £65 is excellent value. My mum was so impressed when she tried it that she asked for one herself. I’d happily pay full price to buy her one for Christmas,  because she certainly isn’t having mine. It has earned a permanent spot on my kitchen worktop.

How does the ProCook compare with other hot chocolate makers?

Final verdict

After two weeks of daily use, I think the ProCook is well worth £59. It made beautifully smooth hot chocolate, frothed semi-skimmed and barista oat milk well and gave my everyday pod coffees a café-style upgrade. The removable jug made cleaning quick, too.

Its 400ml capacity means a larger family may need to make hot chocolate in batches, but that was the only real compromise during testing.

At almost half the price of a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, it offers excellent value. You can use your favourite powder, flakes or finely chopped chocolate rather than buying special sachets, and the milk-frothing function makes it useful between hot chocolates. We used it at least once a day, and I actually can’t imagine life without it.

About the author

Zoe Griffin is a mum of four and content writer at Mumsnet, specialising in home essentials and appliances. She’s been a journalist for 15 years and has written for The Daily Telegraph, Mail Online, Sunday Mirror and The Independent. Originally a showbiz journalist and an original 3am gossip column girl, Zoe made the switch to parenting and lifestyle content when she had her first son in 2016.

On a mission to simplify household chores so she can spend more time doing things she enjoys, Zoe loves to test household products that make life easier (and laundry piles smaller). When she’s not writing, she’s practicing karate with her seven year old daughter, cheering on Brentford FC, or squeezing in an early morning run or gym session.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices are correct at time of publication.

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