To ask how many of you have a velvetiser and if it's really as good as it's made out

[CoffeeWithCheese]

I covet one but I am a sucker for hype.

I got one as a present last Christmas. It's very good, makes awesome hot chocolate, yet it's still just another gadget that spends most of its life in the cupboard. I use it very occasionally, but the kids would rather reach for the instant hot chocolate and heat the milk in the microwave. So it's a no from me.

There are so many threads on here about this! I used to make lovely hot chocolate by melting down some real chocolate and stirring it into hot milk in a pan. Still the best hot chocolate I have had.

I have the Lakeland milk frother which was rated better and 1/2 the price. I haven't opened the box and was going to give it as Xmas present.

We have one. My dh loves it. Its easy to clean just put water in and set it going and it cleans itself thinking its making hot chocolate!! You don't have to use the hotel chocolat sachets. If you really want hotel chocolates stuff you can buy tubs and it's a bit better value. You can really get imaginative with it, I made mulled wine in ours last night 😁

I have the Lakeland milk frother. My sister has the velvetiser. She said she couldn’t tell the difference

We have a Dualit milk frother which we use every day for frothing milk for coffee. The hotel Chocolat machines are rebranded Dualit milk frothers I believe. They look prettier but probably not worth 3-4 times the price.

We got one last year, use it 2-3 times a week. Easy to clean, I make the D.C. instant hot chocolate in it (Swiss Miss) and it makes even that really nice

I have the aldi one, £20 and makes lovely frothy coffees and creamy hot chocolates with a bit of galaxy powder in.

@ImInStealthMode

I was looking at them in Hotel Choclat today, although I didn't succumb! Looking at the sachets, it's just ground up chocolate isn't it? Couldn't you save a bit on the HC prices by grating any old solid chocolate bar?

Yes you can definitely grate up any old chocolate but since the advantage of the velvetiser is that it's literally a single touch, the additional effort of grating rather ruins the USP.

WRT cleaning, the whisk goes in the dishwasher and the interior is non-stick.
But it does work well with drinking chocolate powder - either Cadburys or posher brands.

@CarlaH it is very easy to clean, I'm surprised anyone has said it's not, in fact the ease of cleaning is my favourite part.
I don't like hot chocolate and bought it for my daughter, any hot chocolate is fine, it looks very thick, smooth and whippy, it gets well used. Much better than using a whisk and a pan.

it is very easy to clean, I'm surprised anyone has said it's not, in fact the ease of cleaning is my favourite part.

It's a PITA to clean. the whisk and the lid are easy but the body is ridiculous. The so-called "cleaning cycle" just leaves smears and is therefore pointless so you have to hold it under a tap and use a washing up sponge. I hate it.

I don’t find that soupdragon, I just run the cleaning cycle and dry it off, never been left with smears.

Just get a jar of the instant stuff and use a kettle

@ChessieFL

I don’t find that soupdragon, I just run the cleaning cycle and dry it off, never been left with smears.

By coincidence, have literally just done it and then had to wash the smears under the tap (and it was actually a HC sachet mix too). I usually tend not to bother with the "cleaning cycle" and just go straight for the tap instead.

It's ok. The drinks are light and well-mixed but they don't come out hot, just warm. If you're someone who likes to cradle hot drink / coffee and sip it while snuggled up in front of a film, it's not for you.

I think they 're overpriced.

@Carrotte

Just get a jar of the instant stuff and use a kettle

Other top tips: why spend so much money on sirloin steak when an Iceland frozen quarter pound beef burger is so much cheaper?

It's excellent

I got mine as a MN tester. If I was buying one I think I'd get the Dualit version as I think it is slightly larger and it does cold drinks too (not just a hot drink you have to cool down like the Velvetiser!)

@SoupDragon I disagree! The cleaning is my favourite part it's so simple. Never had issues with smears I dry it with kitchen roll.

[quote 20viona]@SoupDragon I disagree! The cleaning is my favourite part it's so simple. Never had issues with smears I dry it with kitchen roll. [/quote]
🤷🏻‍♀️ Well, mine leaves smears of hot chocolate so it's clearly not always "easy to clean".

The smears are on the base under the whisk.

I'm not alone in not finding it easy to clean.

I've got one of those hot chocolate shakers -- it basically does the same job but it's only about £30 including a starter bag of choc chips.

You just heat the milk in the microwave, add 35g of chocolate, put the lid on and shake the thing. It has an expandable lid which means you don't get hot chocolate sprayed everywhere when you open it up again.

It makes brilliant hot chocolate, as good as a Velvetiser I think. Plus I can buy any chocolate chips or flaked chocolate I want.

@EvilRingahBitch unless you're going to use it every week its just another appliance to clean and dust.

I absolutely love mine! I use bog standard hot chocolate powder in it and it transforms into frothy and smooth gorgeousness in the velvetiser!

That is definitely true Carotte. I love hot chocolate and use it frequently enough to be worth the space, but I'm sure a lot of people's are just gathering dust. But if I didn't have mine I'd be whisking up hot milk and chocolate in a saucepan, or a microwave at a pinch, which is far more faff.