Velvetiser hot chocolate

[CheeryHazelFox]

I am trying to decide whether to invest in the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser or opt for the Dualit hot chocolate maker, or perhaps consider something else entirely.

Le chocolat chaud is one of the pleasures I miss most about working in our Paris office. As I am unlikely to globe trot with DC quite so much these days, I would love to create a suitably indulgent, velvety, at home alternative. Sadly, my enthusiastic hand whisking simply does not suffice.

We love our velvetiser - we were given it though so would never have bought it ourselves. You can get cheap ones on FB marketplace. The sachets from HC are really expensive but delicious but we use bog standard hot chocolate powder.

The new HC velvetiser makes cold and hot chocolate. I've got an older model that only makes hot chocolate, though it's never really hot enough.

There are many other brands, I believe Lakeland is good.

The new Velvetiser has many issues apparently, not as good as the old!

I really like my one. It’s never really hot enough though. I tend to make it and then blast it in the mircro for 20 secs and it’s perfect. Xx

I got the Velvetiser for $30 at TjMaxx and I love it but I 100% wouldn't love it if I'd paid full price for it.

I got the John Lewis version. Just as good - possibly a bit better and a lot cheaper

Will have a look at the JL one too, thank you! So disappointing that the new one from HC is worse, particularly given the cost 😔

Love ours (the old version). We chop up 90% lindt chocolate, three tsps of that one tsp of sugar and a cup of very well shaken oat milk. Also v nice with a splash of Cointreau 😁

@Buzzlightfear excellent recipe tip! The old model say seems hard to find now and wary of buying second hand electrics untested.

Get one of these instead - hot chocolate shaker
https://www.chocolate.co.uk/collections/hot-chocolate/products/hot-chocolate-shaker-new

Heat up your milk in a jug in the microwave, add a scoop of chocolate drops (I buy big bags of Callebaut dark chocolate callets) to the shaker, pour milk over, put lid on and shake for 20 seconds.

The shaking emulsifies the chocolate and milk perfectly. And you can have the milk as hot as you want.

It’s absolutely perfect. Bought ours years ago and we still use it all the time.

For those struggling with the heat on the old one, the key is to warm your
mug before you pour it. Whack some boiling water in your mug whilst the Velvetiser does its thing, then tip away before you pour. Then the hot chocolate is the perfect temperature.

We have the old style one and it’s a bit temperamental, I don’t think it will last much longer. It hasn’t been used a great deal either.
If we replaced it I would look at the JL one to purchase.

I do all that palarva, but shouldn't have to in order to get hot chocolate at a decent temperature.

I have both the old one and the new one. They are well worth the money imo. The new one looks really nice and does cold drinks too. You also get a selection of hot and cold chocolates and a cup and glass. I've heard there were issues with the new one at the start, I only bought mine about a month ago and so far so good. The reason I got two is because my dd has discovered them and we can now make two at a time ☺️ They have brought out new packaging on the hot chocs. There are a few of the older version of the sachets currently in the sale and still in date, if you want to top up your supply 😉

We have a procook hot chocolate maker because it’s dishwasher safe. It’s great, easy to use, never have a problem with the temperature, and wasn’t that expensive.
We use twinings hot chocolate powder. We haven’t yet tried any of the proper sachets but it’s on my list of things to buy!

I have the velvetiser and love it, though haven't used any other for comparison. I personally find it makes hot chocolate at perfect drinking temp, which I consider a great positive, as I always have to leave a freshly made cup of coffee to cool and inevitably forget about it. DH likes to drink his coffee straight from the kettle, though he's also never had an issue with the velvetiser temp.

I do have a subscription for the Hotel Chocolat sachets, but they are expensive (the subscription has free delivery but the chocolate is still full price). You can use any brand of chocolate flakes or powder with the machine, though it struggles a bit with some of the powders where you have to dump 5 giant teaspoons in (though I also have that issue when making them with a kettle, so 🤷‍♀️). Tesco used to do really nice Belgian choc flakes, and M&S also have nice flakes. You could also just cut up or grate a bar of chocolate if you prefer. (Just ensure it's not one with bits in – I made that mistake with a raspberry bar with dried raspberry bits in and they all stuck to the bottom 😅.)

I also make lattes with it, as it's really just an all-in-one milk warmer and frother.

@Talipesmum I ordered this thinking it was the cheapest and if it didn’t work I would go for one of the more expensive options. Perfect hot chocolate! Thank you! Would highly recommend both the gadget and method you suggested.

I just make mine in a pan with cocoa/cacao, sugar and milk. Always is delicious, plus I can make more than one cup a time... what does the machine do ?

Oh hooray! So glad you like it. I honestly think it’s the greatest thing ever - no more rubbish hot chocolates ever again!!

I also recommend these hot chocolate flakes if you fancy interesting flavour ones - we love the “dark spice”, the orange one and the gingerbread one for Xmas. https://pendragondrinks.co.uk/
and https://pendragondrinks.co.uk/?s=Dark+spice+ for the dark spice one only in large bags!

Wanted to share this company last night and couldn’t remember the name and then they emailed me this morning!, they make a mix which gives proper Italian style hot chocolate, I’ve only ever found it in the UK at Carluccio’s. Paul patisserie also do a fab one. For really nice quality choc flakes Knoops is excellent.
https://harthchocolate.com/

It velvetises it 😁
I thought like you until I got one. Now I'd never go back. I also use mine for a velvety coffee. Just add oatmilk and a spoonful of instant coffee and it's lovely.

I am prepared to be convinced. I thought the same about a soup maker, I'd always just made it on the hob, didn't see the point in a suit maker. My sister-in-law had one and was waxing lyrical, then I found one on Facebook marketplace for £5 and thought go on then worth a punt... Never made soup on the hob ever again LOL

The new one is definitely not hot enough, and you can’t adjust it. However the drinks are gorgeous

Good idea! Ours is definitely not hot either. It’s the latest Hotel Chocolate one