Hotel Chocolat velvetiser
- Colourways: Copper, charcoal, white
- Volume: 200ml
- Dimensions: 21.8cm x 11.9cm x H 20.2cm
- Why we love it
- Can be used to make a variety of drinks
- Easy to clean
- Take note
- Not dishwasher-safe
A velvetiser is a device that makes hot chocolate – it’s something akin to a more traditional milk frother. As far as we know, Hotel Chocolat was the first brand to coin the name, but others, such as Asda (£23, Asda.com) have since made rival products.
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A velvetiser works by simultaneously heating and whisking the milk and chocolate together, to create a homogenous, silky-smooth mixture with a frothy top.
SetupThere’s not much to this. It’s a plug-in-and-go sort of job. We double checked the included instructions but didn’t actually end up needing them.
You simply unwrap the velvetiser from its packaging before sitting it on its base, clicking the central whisk into place, pop on the lid, plug it in and then you’re ready to go. Before you use your machine for the first time, you’ll want to give it an initial clean, so we’ll look at that very exciting job next.
Cleaning and upkeepThe velvetiser isn’t dishwasher-safe, which will always, always get us down deep in our hearts. The good news is, however, it’s actually very easy to clean. In fact, the instructions tell you to add a splodge of washing up liquid and water and switch it on. The velvetiser works it magic and cleans itself with little to no effort.
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If, after a cycle, there was any milk residue left over, we found a quick rinse around with warm, soapy water and a wipe with a sponge cloth was all it took to get the velvetiser looking good as new again. This is what we did before we used it for the first time and after most subsequent sessions.
The removable whisk can go in the dishwasher, or can be washed easily by hand, and the whole machine then just needs to be dried with a soft, clean tea towel and stored away again.
How do you use the velvetiser?This really is super simple. All you need to do to make a hot chocolate in a velvetiser is to add 100ml of milk (there’s a fill line on the inside, which roughly just covers the whisk), then follow the milk with one serving of hot chocolate powder or flakes, and turn it on. You operate it using the small black button on the base, under the handle.
It takes two and a half minutes to make a Willy Wonka-worthy hot chocolate. For couples or for households where hot chocolate is a little treat every now and then, this is ideal.
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However, if you wanted to make a few cups for friends or your family, this could be a bit of a drawback. And let’s be honest any time at all seems too long when you’re waiting for hot chocolate.
The elongated handle off to one side, along with the pouring lip, makes it easy to get everything into your cup without any spills, so you won’t waste a drop.
We also wanted to see if the velvetiser could make iced chocolates (aka milkshakes). The good news is they can be made in your velvetiser in just a couple of steps.
First, make a hot chocolate as normal. Secondly, pour said hot chocolate over half a glass of ice and cold milk. Lastly, watch the two liquids meet in the middle in a little dance, drink and enjoy.
Can I use normal hot chocolate?Even though the Hotel Chocolat flakes have been specially designed for the machine – and did give rich-tasting results when we put them to the test – thankfully, you can use any hot chocolate in the velvetiser.
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We were equally impressed with the results after using bog-standard Cadbury’s hot chocolate powder, if we’re truly honest. Maybe even more so? It took something a bit regular and made it feel super special, thanks to the texture created.
What about for coffee?Hotel Chocolat says you can’t use regular coffee in your velvetiser, but we tried whisking up plain milk and that worked perfectly. So, if you make an espresso and pour over the warm, frothed milk, you’ll have a pretty snazzy barista-style coffee without having to leave the house.
Hotel Chocolat also sells latte powder packs, which you can use in the same way as hot chocolate. If you’re a bit of a caffeine addict, these could be a good buy.