Nothing beats a warming cup of hot chocolate in the colder months, and now the winter staple is even easier to recreate at home. You can, of course, simply combine hot chocolate powder with frothed milk. But if you’re truly dedicated to making the perfect cup of cocoa, there are now dedicated hot chocolate makers that promise barista-perfect drinks from the comfort of your kitchen.
The most famous of these is the viral Hotel Chocolat velvetiser, which launched in 2018 to huge fanfare and was updated this summer to incorporate a cold chocolate function. It’s by far the bestselling hot chocolate maker out there, but it’ll set you back £150. Since its release, similar models have appeared on the market, and one in particular has caught my eye: Salter’s the chocolatier electric hot chocolate maker, which costs a fraction of the price at £35.
Both machines combine chocolate flakes with milk to make hot chocolate, while Salter’s appliance can also froth milk to different consistencies, which you can add to your coffees. There’s a chunky £115 difference in price between the two, so having tested countless kitchen appliances over the years, I was intrigued to see if the budget-friendly alternative was as effective as its premium counterparts. All in the name of a decent cup of cocoa, I got my hands on Hotel Chocolat’s velvetiser and Salter’s chocolatier electric hot chocolate maker to see if it’s worth spending more.
Read more: 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 get lots of exciting hot chocolate varieties, from orange chocolate to peppermint, but I stuck to a classic flavour for this test. I followed the instructions, assessing key factors including ease of use, taste and ease of cleaning. These appliances are often left out on kitchen countertops, so I made notes on appearance, too. You can read my full testing criteria at the end of the review.
