How many Velvetisers do you reckon hotel, chocolate sell in December?

[Justthisonce12]

I have just completely run out a day ideas for stepmum and younger daughter and ordered another three because obviously I had to have one as well to demonstrate how it works 🤣
Literally, every person I know open down the land has one

Well as someone who has neither wants "a large jug" out on my countertop and also as as former Velvetiser owner (given one as a gift, then sold on Ebay) who noticed absolutely no difference in texture, nor was it anywhere hot enough for me, we will have to agree to disagree.

Well as someone who loves the Velvetiser I guess we will.
Intrigued as to how just microwaved milk can have the same texture.

After the initial 2 minute nuke in the micro, add your ingredients, stir.

Then nuke again, for approx 30 seconds (I forgot to say that bit in my original post!)

The whole lot thickens to exactly the same texture as The Velvetiser with the added benefit of being piping hot.

Believe me, I wanted to love it when I was given it but was very disappointed, so as I said upthread, sold it on ebay and bought something I would really use/want/need.

Handy tip for Velvetiser users (apologies if this has been posted already)....get a Cadburys Flake, Twirl, Galaxy Ripple (or any chocolate that can be easily broken), smash the contents inside the wrapper with a spoon/rolling pin etc etc, empty smashed bits into Velvetiser and voilà.....Hot Chocolate Galaxy, Flake etc......works out cheaper than the sachets from HC and tastes just as good

@ErinAndTonic we have been using ours with the Whittard powder, makes a lovely hot chocolate. They say to use there but that's a marketing ploy as really it's a machine that heats and make frothy milk.

There are those who insist that instant coffee is 'just as good' as ground. It may be to their taste buds, which is great, but most people can tell the difference. IMO this applies to the difference between chocolate made in the velvetiser and the microwave, but then I can taste the difference between water heated in the kettle and the microwave. I can't explain the difference, but it is there.

For the poster who asked what does it actually 'do', it heats the milk, which melts the chocolate and stirs it at the same time. The result is not the same as heated milk poured over flakes, or heated first and stirred later. It is not a million miles from the same as being heated in a saucepan and stirred/whisked as it heats, so yes, I reckon you could get a very similar result that way for less money, but the velvetiser also looks good and is easy to clean.

It's far from a necessity, but it's an ideal Christmas present if budget allows.

IMO I don’t think you can recreate what it does (to my taste) in a saucepan or putting mugs of milk in and out of the microwave. (Which is exactly what we did before we got one and never thought about it)

Now though put in milk and chocolate switch on and leave it, come back and it’s ready. Perfect.

@ShyMaryEllen theres been some proper arguments on here about coffee. 😂 Don’t whatever you do mention Tassimo.

Anybody who was ever had hot milk, spilt all over the stove or the microwave and the smell that accompanies burnt milk would consider it money well spent to avoid it

Haha, this reminds me of Joey’s Friends advert for the gadget that opens a milk carton without spillage where he has to pretend it’s an impossible task.

Part of drinks for many people is ritualistic: I’d far rather stir something in a saucepan (not once have I had milk spilt all over the hob, not being a wolverine) and watch it come together than press a button on a piece of clutter gadget.

I hate standing over saucepans stirring stuff whatever is in them TBH. 😂

Btw tesco now do flakey hot chocolate, it’s delicious!

There's no way a machine can produce better hot chocolate than a saucepan and a whisk. The machine is essentially a saucepan and a whisk. I only have hot chocolate very rarely as a treat so saucepan it is. Not that horrible Hotel Chocolat stuff though. Knoops.

@mam0918

I don't get them either, I make real cocoa in a pan, fair trade cocoa, sugar then add any flavourings you desire (orange zest works well as does booze) far richer than any shop powder

There's no way a machine can produce better hot chocolate than a saucepan and a whisk

You had better tell Hotel Chocolat that their bestseller has competition. 😮

I was bought one as a gift earlier this year and love it!

I had been tempted by them for a couple of years but never bought one because of people saying it makes lukewarm hot chocolate. I hate lukewarm hot chocolate.

However I wish I hadn’t listened as mine makes it to the perfect temperature - hot but drinkable. And if you’re making more than one cup then the next cup is hotter again. I wish I’d got one earlier.

I have a hot chocolate every evening as my treat. In answer to people above questioning regular hot chocolates, I don’t drink alcohol or get drinks out or eat puddings or snacks; this is my thing. You can make it with any type of milk or even water if you prefer. I find the amount just right as I use the cups that came with it. I’m currently using HC flakes and I wouldn’t want a larger amount with those.

I also don’t want to stand over a saucepan stirring to get a lovely hot chocolate and then have to wash up too. The velvetiser pretty much cleans itself as you add water and a drop of washing up liquid and turn it on again to clean.

Oh no everyone just had a hot chocolate, I guess that's another £50 down the drain 😯

The hot chocolate isn't lukewarm but it's not hot enough for me - I like to blast it in the microwave quickly to make it piping hot but I'm one of those people who asks for drinks extra hot in cafes.

Can anyone tell me whether it actually "thickens" the milk - I suppose making it more frothy? I mean, could you put coffee and milk in there and get a cappuccino type drink?

If you want it hotter you just put hot milk in to start or run it twice.

It doesn't froth. It velvetises.

I pre-heat the mug with boiling water from the kettle. The heat from the mug keeps it just right until I have finished it.

Ahh, I see...😄

We have one - DS bought it for DH nearly 3 years ago 😄

They love it - we use Pendragons flakes - we buy the 1kg bags and the Rum &Salted caramel is a favourite.

I wasn't a fan of hot Chocolate before-whenever I would have one when out I found it a bit grainy and also so hot it would take me ages to sit there and drink it.
However I do like how the Velvetiser makes it - faff free and just the right drinking temperature-if it were to break we would replace it.

In fact have just bought the Podster

I have the poncy White Company diffuser. I've always looked after it carefully (it comes with a list of care instructions as long as your arm) but it's stopped working after only 16 months! Absolute joke.

Have just ordered 2 of the Asda dupes, one for upstairs & one for downstairs - it would be rude not to, when they're only £20 each! Will still use White Company oils in it though.

If you just put milk in it does froth it a bit. But not super thick so you don’t get a full cappuccino froth. I have used it to mix with aeropress coffee for a close enough cappuccino.