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The Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser is the perfect gift for that person who already has everything.
If you have someone on your to-gift list who seems to have everything, or who’s notoriously impossible to buy for, you may need to get a little more niche. Consider this stylish hot chocolate maker. It’s one of those things that I didn’t realize I needed until I had one, and now I can’t imagine going without it.
The Classic Velvetiser from UK brand Hotel Chocolat is a hot-chocolate lover’s dream. It’s especially appreciated on the brisk evenings we’re currently facing, when all I want to do is curl up under my heating blanket with a warm drink in hand.
The Velvetiser works with branded packets of hot chocolate, also from Hotel Chocolat. My favorite flavor so far is the classic 70% milk chocolate, but I know I’m going to have to try the matcha one as soon as possible.
I’ve experimented with oat milk, 2% milk and whole milk, and they’ve have turned out rich and delicious. The latter two come out a bit more frothy than cups made with dairy-free milk, but I’ve happily indulged in many cups without complaint. And from my experience, it lives up to its name and does in fact make a perfectly velvety drink.
Here’s everything to know about this gourmet hot chocolate maker and what to keep in mind if you’re gifting one to yourself or a loved one this holiday season.
How does the Velvetiser work?
One of the draws of this hot chocolate maker is how simple it is to use. You place the whisk inside of the Velvetiser, pour in 9 ounces of milk and a packet of the drinking chocolate, then place the lid on top and push the button. The base heats up the hot chocolate in the same way an electric kettle heats up water. There’s practically no noise during the process, and it takes around 2 minutes to complete.
To clean the Velvetiser, put a drop of soap and some warm water inside, then let it run its cycle again. Just make sure to check between the whisk and the Velvetiser as sometimes little chunks of chocolate can get stuck to the wall, but with a coated inside, it’s as easy to wipe out as a non-stick pan.
What makes this hot chocolate maker stand out?
Although it may seem at first glance that this hot chocolate maker is a glorified milk frother, it stands out when it comes to the chocolate produced by the brand, Hotel Chocolat.
Rather than a chocolate powder like Swiss Miss or something similar, it’s premium shaved chocolate pieces that blend together effortlessly as your milk warms up in the Velvetiser. It creates a smooth cup of hot chocolate that actually tastes better than any of the overpriced hot chocolates I’ve received this holiday season at Christmas markets. Best of all, there are no chunks that I sometimes get with the powdered alternatives.
There are more than two dozen flavors to choose from and each packet makes one cup of hot chocolate. The packets are sold in 10-packs and cost between $25 and $27. While I haven’t experimented with using other types of chocolate in the Velvetiser, others have and recommend using a food processor or grater to make the chocolate as fine as possible first.
The cups included with the Veletiser are the perfect size for one serving of hot chocolate.
Hotel ChocolatI haven’t tried the cold drinking chocolates for myself, the brand has recently added them to the lineup, so you can enjoy drinking chocolate year-round, despite the temperatures outside.
Final verdict: Is the Velvetiser worth the price?
At $129 for the intro pack, which includes the Velvetiser, a variety of drinking chocolate packets and two glass cups, it’s definitely not a budget pick. That said, if you have a family who frequently buys or craves hot chocolate, the Velvetiser can pay for itself fairly quickly.
Just keep in mind that the Velvetiser can only make one cup of hot chocolate at a time, so if you have a large family, you’ll be making multiple batches each time, so you may be better off preparing hot chocolate in a large pot on the stove. Ultimately though, whether the Velvetiser is worth the price, entirely depends on how often you plan to use it, and perhaps how passionate you are about hot chocolate itself. For me, it’s already earned its place in my nighttime routine.