Velvetiser dupes (and for the accompanying choc too)

[antiquisearchers]

Sorry, I know this has been done to death on here. I'm not in the market for the actual velvetiser as I think it's too pricey. But I'm wibbling over which alternative to get. The virtually identical Dualit? The cheap and cheerful supermarket ones? Help me out, wise MNers.

And while I'm at it - are there alternatives to the HC sachets for the velvetiser?

I have a velvetiser, and while it is quick and easy to use I don’t find it makes the chocolate hot enough so I have to warm the cup with hot water first. It does look lovely though, I have the copper one.

l prefer the Charbonnel and Walker flakes, they work in exactly the same way, the HC flavours are OK but a lot of them are not to my taste.

You can use absolutely any hot chocolate in it, I quite often just use a regular powder one. I had a milk heater/frothed from the middle of Lidl before I got my Velvetiser and it worked fine. You could also froth milk for coffee with it. Not sure it held quite as much milk though so worth double checking the capacity.

If it'll melt you can put it in the velvetiser or budget equivalent, though you might have to chop it up first. I used up some of those Guerlain seashell things, yummy.

Last year Hotel Chocolate had a student discount, if they still do and you are (or can borrow) a student, it's worth bearing in mind.

I'm really happy with the hot chocolate shaker

www.chocolate.co.uk/products/hot-chocolate-shaker-new?variant=33008162570283

Much cheaper and you can keep it out of the way in the cupboard.

Thanks!