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.

@ChessieFL I don’t understand why you’d need a machine when you can use a saucepan. That’s all.

I prefer the velvetiser over the hob as it has no lumps, is frothy and I don't have to watch over it in case it boils over. Also it's done in 2 minutes and needs far less cleaning.

Agree with everything Commander said! Also the velvetiser is safer for DD to use than the hob.

It whisks as it heats so it's all frothy.
Yes you could get the same effect by standing over a saucepan whisking - it is in no way an Essential Purchase - but it does give you frothy hot chocolate at perfect (IMO) drinking temperature at the literal touch of a literal button with minimal washing up. I wouldn't try and persuade you to get one if you don't want one, but for some people it does fill a niche.

Same reason as I don't want to stand over a hob constantly stirring baked beans when I can put them in the microwave and press a button. It's easier.

The velvetiser does pretty much the same as the hot chocolate shaker - the whisking / shaking action emulsifies the chocolate with the milk, so it is perfectly blended and thick and creamy. No globs of chocolate powder at the bottom. Lovely and thick.

Milk frother is ace and makes v smooth hot chocolate when we drink it - I can't see how a velvetiser would improve on that, and it sounds harder to clean than a milk frother.

@Talipesmum

The velvetiser does pretty much the same as the hot chocolate shaker - the whisking / shaking action emulsifies the chocolate with the milk, so it is perfectly blended and thick and creamy. No globs of chocolate powder at the bottom. Lovely and thick.

That's my understanding- the hot chocolate shaker is just a non electric version really.

What I like about the shaker is I can heat the milk as hot as I want rather than the velvetiser deciding how warm

I have one but don't love it. When it breaks I'll buy a standard milk frother I think. I can never get it to have many bubbles, often just warmed milk with a tincy bit of foam on the top that has disappeared by the time it's poured into a mug.

Had one for about four months.
A big expenditure for us ,was saved for and we love it.it's drinkable as soon as it's made and the chocolate is fair trade I think.
I use oat milk.
So in answer to your question,yes it's great,the only got drink I have.
The salted caramel is lovely.
Cleaning,you fill with water to maximum Mark with two drops of washing up liquid put on for two minutes as you would for making the drink and it's done!simple.

Sorry if it’s already been asked, does it make non HC hot chocolate as creamy looking as the HC one?

Also, does it get quite hot? I got a milk frother last year and it was rubbish. Doesn’t get that hot.

Princess yes. I use Pendragon flakes and the drinks are frothy.

The hot chocolate is warm. Ok for some, but not for me. I microwave my drink for 20 seconds after. Others warm their cup first or press the start button again to make the hot choc hotter, but this doesn't seem to work for me.

I have been coveting one since the product test thread! Currently make hot chocolate in the microwave with cheap (but delicious) French hot chocolate powder. I have tried running the milk through the nespresso machine but it was disappointing!

... But hôtel chocolat loses points for STILL not having sorted its European shipping 11 months after Brexshit

I use milk and rose syrup in mine. Devine.

I got one for Christmas. I didn't think I needed one. Turns out I did. First two drinks and i'm converted.

I'd recommended cheaper frothers on here before. DH bought me a velvetiser.
It's chalk and cheese. The chocolate isn't meant to froth it's supposed to cream together so that was a huge difference. Added to that the velvetiser is designed to reach exactly the right temperature where the frothers I find you need to microwave the chocolate after.

I take it all back and the velvetiser is worth every penny. And I also found it extremely easy to clean.

I've just got one for Christmas from my bosses and i love it! They bought me a good selection of chocolate to try with it, the 70% is rich but not too rich. Lovely, so silky.
Going to get some of the latte sachets to try.
How do people do the horlicks in it?
A friend said it does great coffee, put in the milk then a spoon of instant coffee.

it is so easy to use. I thought it was going to be a huge faff and cleaning is a doddle.
I've done an instant coffee and is was very nice, I've just had a hot chocolate using one of the sachets included.

I do have form for using new kitchen gadgets for a week then in the cupboard they go forever (ice cream maker and soup maker, plus Soda Stream) so we'll see but at the moment it's a thumbs up.

Well, more expensive I grant you but we have the Nespresso barista, and while to me it’s an expensive gimmick to DP it’s good for hot chocolate, and the benefit it has which the velvetiser doesn’t is the fact that the jug comes out of the unit so the whole thing can be put in the dishwasher.

Do you have to use the sachets? That would really put me off. Sounds v environmentally unfriendly. You can easily imagine them all in landfill in 5 years time.

Also, a lot of space for a single use object.

Not for me.

@Figmentofmyimagination

Do you have to use the sachets? That would really put me off. Sounds v environmentally unfriendly. You can easily imagine them all in landfill in 5 years time.

Also, a lot of space for a single use object.

Not for me.

It's really quite small. I've used the (paper) sachets of powder/chocolate (that were supplied with it) but probably won't get any more and Cadburys drinking Chocolate powder, plus done an instant coffee. Why do you feel they are environmentally unfriendly? What's going in landfill-the whole gadget?

sparklingbrook surely it’s environmentally unfriendly to create and then service a ‘need’ for yet another gadget to make something that can already be made in a saucepan? Maybe it’s just me.

With so many companies desperate to trade on their newfound green credentials, I suppose it’s refreshingly honest to have this one travelling in the opposite direction. It feels a bit 70s though for that reason - shades of the teasmaid.

@Figmentofmyimagination

sparklingbrook surely it’s environmentally unfriendly to create and then service a ‘need’ for yet another gadget to make something that can already be made in a saucepan? Maybe it’s just me.

With so many companies desperate to trade on their newfound green credentials, I suppose it’s refreshingly honest to have this one travelling in the opposite direction. It feels a bit 70s though for that reason - shades of the teasmaid.

I don't think I could make it the same in a saucepan TBF, it's much smoother and frothier than that. It is much quicker in the Velvetiser I have found and you can leave it unattended unlike a pan.

I have no experience of teasmades not sure what they did that was better than making a cup of tea in the kitchen as you would have to go down for milk anyway. Unless I have misunderstood.