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I tested the £35 alternative to Hotel Chocolat’s £150 velvetiser – here’s what I thought
Is it worth spending more for the perfect cup of cocoa? As the lingering cold weather ushers in prime hot chocolate season, many chocolate lovers are seeking ways to create luxurious, café-quality drinks from the comfort of their homes. With dedicated hot chocolate machines becoming increasingly popular, the question arises: can a budget-friendly option truly compete with a premium gadget?
Our Top Picks
- Salter the chocolatier electric hot chocolate maker – £35
- Hotel Chocolat velvetiser – £150
At the forefront of this trend stands the Hotel Chocolat velvetiser, launched in 2018 and beloved by serious chocolate enthusiasts. Newer models even feature a cold chocolate setting, but with a price tag of £150, it represents a significant investment for a daily cocoa fix. Enter Salter’s chocolatier electric hot chocolate maker, priced at a far more palatable £35, offering a compelling alternative that has captured considerable attention.
How I tested
I compared both machines side by side, making classic hot chocolate with milk chocolate flakes and dairy milk. I assessed several key factors to determine which appliance delivers the ultimate mug of hot chocolate.
- Ease of use: How simple were the instructions and operation?
- Quality: Taste, texture, temperature, and frothiness compared to barista-made drinks.
- Cleaning: How easy was it to clean after use?
- Appearance: Aesthetics for kitchen countertop display.
Salter the chocolatier electric hot chocolate maker
Salter’s hot chocolate maker is fairly compact, measuring H18.6cm x W11.1cm x D16.8cm with a 240ml capacity. Its matte black exterior with a chrome border around the handle offers a minimal design, though it lacks colour options. The instruction manual could be clearer, but once familiar, operation is straightforward: press the function button once for thick hot froth, twice for light hot froth, three times for hot milk or hot chocolate, and four times for cold froth.
Maximum and minimum fill lines are clearly marked, preventing overflow. However, the hot chocolate mode takes around five-and-a-half minutes, slower than the velvetiser’s two-and-a-half minutes. The resulting drink reaches a perfect, drinkable temperature with a smooth texture, though it lacks the froth typical of barista-made hot chocolate.
Cleaning is straightforward with a removable whisk and smooth interior. While it comes without cups or chocolate sachets, its versatility as a milk frother for coffee adds significant value, making it a multifunctional appliance ideal for those who enjoy both hot chocolate and coffee.
Hotel Chocolat velvetiser
The Hotel Chocolat velvetiser boasts a modern design with colour options like pebble, chrome accents, and a solid ash handle. It feels weighty and well-made, featuring a magnetic whisk and clear instructions with helpful diagrams. Measuring H21.5cm x L24.5cm x D19.1cm with a 220ml capacity, it requires slightly more countertop space.
Operation is simple: add chocolate flakes to 220ml of milk, select hot or cold on the dial, and press go. It impresses with speed, preparing hot chocolate in just two-and-a-half minutes at the perfect temperature with a rich, foamy texture that rivals café quality. The unique design, including ridges inside and a custom whisk, creates a vortex effect for exceptional smoothness and froth.
Cleaning is somewhat harder due to the ridges, and at £150, it is undeniably pricey. Its use is limited to hot and cold chocolate, but for dedicated hot chocolate lovers, the quality is hard to match.
What is the best hot chocolate maker?
If you’re a regular hot chocolate drinker seeking barista-quality drinks at home, the Hotel Chocolat velvetiser is a worthy investment. It delivers frothy, silky smooth hot chocolate quickly, with a striking design that enhances any kitchen.
If you regularly switch between hot chocolate and coffee, Salter’s chocolatier electric hot chocolate maker is the better choice. Though its hot chocolate lacks the foamy texture of the velvetiser, it remains tasty and offers versatile milk frothing options for cappuccinos, lattes, and more, providing excellent value for money.
Why you can trust this review
Sabrina Sahota, IndyBest’s deputy editor, has over five years of experience testing kitchen gadgets, from stand mixers to air fryers. As someone who always has a hot drink on the go, she is well-placed to evaluate whether Salter’s budget-friendly appliance stacks up to the £150 velvetiser. The wider IndyBest team has extensively tested appliances, ensuring expert insights into the best kitchen accessories.
