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There’s nothing like a warm cup of hot chocolate during the colder months, and now the winter staple just got even easier to make at home. Of course, you can just add hot chocolate powder to it frothed milkBut if you’re really dedicated to making the perfect cup of cocoa, there are now dedicated hot chocolate makers that promise barista-perfect drinks in the comfort of your kitchen,
The most famous of these is Viral Hotel Chocolate VelvetizerWhich launched to huge fanfare in 2018 and was updated this summer to include a cold chocolate function. It’s the best-selling hot chocolate maker ever, but it’ll cost you £150. Since its release, similar models have appeared on the market, and one in particular caught my attention: the Salter Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker, which costs a fraction of the £35 price tag.
Both machines mix chocolate pieces with milk to make hot chocolate, while Salter’s device can also froth milk in varying consistencies, which you can add to your coffee. There’s a huge price difference of £115 between the two, so having tested countless kitchen appliances over the years, I was keen to see if the budget-friendly option was as effective as its premium counterparts. In the name of a good cup of cocoa, I got my hands on Hotel Chocolat’s Velvetizer and Salter’s Chocolatier Electric Hot Chocolate Maker to see if it’s worth spending more.
Read more: The best coffee machines for 2025, tried and tested for barista-quality cups
how i tested
I used both machines to make a cup of hot chocolate with milk chocolate flakes and dairy milk. Nowadays, you can find many exciting hot chocolate varieties, from orange chocolate to peppermint, but for this test I stuck to the classic flavor. I followed the instructions, assessing key factors including ease of use, taste, and ease of cleaning. These tools are often left on kitchen countertops, so I made notes on the appearance as well. You can read my full testing criteria at the end of the review.