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AIBU?

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Original poster

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser

108 replies

Gleps · 04/02/2021 16:52

I recently got one of these as a gift for my birthday from DH. Very thoughtful and generous gift but it actually makes awful hot chocolate. Watery and lukewarm. It definitely doesn’t come out as thick and rich as it looks in the pictures (unless I’m doing something wrong).

So, would I be unreasonable to try and return it even though I’ve used it a handful of times?

OP posts:
Emmelina · 05/02/2021 11:48

Maybe you just don’t like the chocolate, if mint options was more to your taste. Try different chocolate options - grated galaxy is divine.

sueelleker · 05/02/2021 14:10

@ZackaryQuack

I suggest trying the boiled water in the cups as above and as Doro has said, full fat rather than semi makes it smoother. I actually find their chocolate too rich, so tend to grate a dairy milk bar instead. I've also taken to running it a second time before putting it into the cup to heat the milk up more.
Thank you for that; I've wondered if it was safe to run a second time.
ZackaryQuack · 06/02/2021 00:21

@sueelleker not a problem, we got ours last Christmas and I've been doing the second run for a few months, it seems to be OK, hopefully it gets yours to the perfect heat 😊

Pinktruffle · 06/02/2021 01:36

You must be using it wrong, I've had mine two years now and it's still used a hell of a lot. Almost every night, I love it!

You can use Hc tubs rather than sachets, just use 6 teaspoons full. I've used other hot chocolates in there - a selection box of John Lewis hot chocolates for example - they were powders and still made a pretty good hot chocolate. Made the Velvetiser a bit harder to clean though.

SisyphusDad · 09/02/2021 22:37

Three found dead in house.
Chocolate overdose suspected.
Velvetiser taken in to custody.

middleager · 09/02/2021 22:43

I got one for Christmas. I use 70% dark chocolate sachets.
When the drink is made I microwave it for about 20 seconds as I like my chocolate very hot. The others are happy with the Velvetiser temperature.

It's our weekend treat as it's very calorific. I use oat milk for mine.

25yearsnhsworker · 09/02/2021 22:49

We love ours and buy grated choc from here
I also pre warm mugs.

pendragondrinks.co.uk/real-hot-chocolate-flakes/

middleager · 09/02/2021 22:50

[quote Gleps]@TheTeenageYears I’m inclined to agree with you. I wonder if I just don’t like the chocolate. It’s definitely not the same consistency though.[/quote]
It is a different consistency. When I've used Cadbury's drinking chocolate, the drinks come out very frothy.

The texture and taste is different when using HC flakes. This is my favourite.

covetingthepreciousthings · 09/02/2021 22:51

Are they easy to keep clean?

Yes extremely easy, I got one for Christmas and was so pleased that it's not a complete faff to clean!

I'm surprised by everyone saying it doesn't make drinks hot enough, I usually drink coffee as soon as the waters come out from the kettle and haven't found my velvetiser too tepid..

KimchiLaLa · 09/02/2021 22:53

Is it like an aerocino?

funnelfanjo · 09/02/2021 23:11

Best Christmas present ever. Even the cups that came with it are wonderfully tactile. I also prewarm them, but just using hot water from the tap and that does the job fine.

The hot chocolate isn’t thick like a shake, but it’s smooth and has a lovely layer of froth on top. I find some flavours give a better froth than others. Certainly wouldn’t describe it as watery.

Currently watching what I eat/tracking calories and it’s an incentive to stay on track and not snack during the day to be able to have one of these in the evening. I find that I only need half a sachet of some of the darker chocolates, especially the 100%, as they are so strongly flavoured. So that saves a third of the overall calories if it’s a consideration for you.

OldGreyBoots · 09/02/2021 23:11

I'm the same as Coveting, I like my tea scalding and I don't find the velvetiser tepid at all Confused

ShaunaTheSheep · 10/02/2021 08:17

[quote 25yearsnhsworker]We love ours and buy grated choc from here
I also pre warm mugs.

pendragondrinks.co.uk/real-hot-chocolate-flakes/[/quote]
@25yearsnhsworker

Any favourite flavours to recommend?

covetingthepreciousthings · 10/02/2021 08:29

I think I've only used the kettle for a coffee twice now since Christmas, I've ended up having frothy lattes with the Velvetiser every day. My lockdown treat since we can't go to coffee shops Grin

middleager · 10/02/2021 09:24

'25yearsnhsworker

We love ours and buy grated choc from here
I also pre warm mugs.

pendragondrinks.co.uk/real-hot-chocolate-flakes/'

How do these compare with the HC flakes taste wise?

Excited101 · 10/02/2021 10:11

Pendragon hot chocolate is lovely! DP got me the catering size (!!) gingerbread flavour and it was lovely!

25yearsnhsworker · 10/02/2021 10:40

@middleager

'25yearsnhsworker

We love ours and buy grated choc from here
I also pre warm mugs.

pendragondrinks.co.uk/real-hot-chocolate-flakes/'

How do these compare with the HC flakes taste wise?

We buy the white for dd2, milk for dd1 and salted caramel for all of us :)

I want to try the gingerbread now!! And we also buy the catering size as such good value!

Excited101 · 10/02/2021 10:46

Which would make sense but he wasn’t sure I’d like it! 🤣 I’d like to try a few of them but need to get my stash down first... 🤦‍♀️

middleager · 10/02/2021 15:18

Thanks - I need to try this. Am currently on the subscription HC service, but it's not the cheapest...

I'm really weird though as I don't like flavoured hot choc. I tried the HC selection box, but I prefer just 'plain/only' chocolate 70%. Not tried the 100% though.

Glittertwins · 10/02/2021 15:34

We have the 70% as the basic subscription and add other flavours. We found the 85% incredibly bitter, as did my brother, so I won't be getting the 100%

mimbleandlittlemy · 10/02/2021 15:37

@middleager

Thanks - I need to try this. Am currently on the subscription HC service, but it's not the cheapest...

I'm really weird though as I don't like flavoured hot choc. I tried the HC selection box, but I prefer just 'plain/only' chocolate 70%. Not tried the 100% though.

We love our Velvetiser and we've gone on to the 85% now after trying various selection boxes, the mint (ambivalent about that one tbh) and the white (no). DS likes very high percentage dark chocolate but didn't like the 100% so we find the 85% the perfect blend for us and it works very well with both semi skimmed and nut milk.
recededpronunciation · 10/02/2021 16:35

@ConnieCaterpillar

We use semi skimmed with ours and hotel chocolat as a treat but found the twining hot chocolate tub much nicer! Always comes out thick and frothy, is it frothing up for you? Best thing we have ever bought
The Twining Swiss hot choc is a proper Swiss brand, Caotina, repackaged for Twining. It makes the best hot chocolate by miles. I’m probably biased because it’s the taste of my childhood
funnelfanjo · 10/02/2021 17:36

I'd avoid the HC 100% if you already know that you don't like very high cocoa content chocolate. If you do, it is lovely as I think the heat releases a lot of the flavours.

Like 100% chocolate, a little goes a long way. I don't find it bitter at all, but it certainly not sweet as there is so little sugar in it.

funnelfanjo · 10/02/2021 17:41

Does anyone mix and match their flavours? I haven't had much success, with neither flavour coming through. But I have found sometimes that the "hot" flavours like ginger or chilli are a bit much, so if I use half a sachet and half a sachet of a non flavoured variety then I can tone down the heat without losing the flavour or chocolatyness

funnelfanjo · 10/02/2021 17:41

Grin sorry, lot of flavour there.

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