Best hot chocolate makers for creamy cocoa

Hot chocolate makers are all the rage right now, and we think we know why. Just as lockdown had us all craving barista-style coffees and even creating our own coffee stations to get our smooth caffeine fix, more and more of us are looking for that creamy and flavoursome professional finish when it comes to hot chocolate, too. If you find that instant hot chocolate is all too often grainy and watered-down in comparison to your favourite high street café, a hot chocolate maker is the countertop new must-have.

The trend seems to have been inspired in part by the fandom which has sprung up around Hotel Chocolat's much-hyped Velvetiser, which promises barista-style frothy hot chocolates at the touch of the button. We've shared our tried and tested review of the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser to check out what the fuss is all about. It certainly looks fab, but is the 'Velvetiser' worth splashing out on? And is it really any better than the hot chocolate makers and simple milk frothers already on the market? Read our extended review to find out!

Read on to discover some of the other best-reviewed hot chocolate makers on the market, including affordable alternatives to the Velvetiser, such as the Dualit milk frother and Lavazza's A Modo Mio frother.

The best hot chocolate makers for sale in 2023

• Best for style: Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser
• Best Velvetiser dupe: Dualit milk frother
• Best for travel: Lavazza A Modo Mio milk frother
• Best for functions: Ocooko electric milk frother
• Best on a budget: MOSUO Milk Frother

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser

Best for style

Hotel Chocolat's Velvetiser has kicked off a mini-craze for hot chocolate machines, promising - as the name implies - a velvety-smooth hot chocolate at the touch of a button.

Available in grey, white or copper (pictured), the Velvetiser comes with ten sachets of real chocolate in a variety of indulgent flavours, including orange, hazelnut praline and salted caramel, as well as two ceramics cups to enjoy them in. There are several appliances on the market that promise creamy, frothy hot chocolate - but we have to admit, none of them look quite as glamorous on the kitchen counter as the Velvetiser!

Is the Velvetiser worth the hype? We put it to the test...

Seeing as this is the hot chocolate maker that took the internet by storm, we had to put it to the test! YourHomeStyle's Alice Tuffery put this machine through its paces - read Alice's full review of the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser to find out what she made of the much-hyped machine's performance.

Dualit milk frother

Best Velvetiser dupe

Hotel Chocolat's Velvetiser is manufactured by British brand Dualit - and their own-brand milk frother makes for a savvy cut-price alternative to the Velvetiser! This gadget can be used with or without its internal whisk attachment depending on whether you want to froth your milk as it warms up. Once your milk is hot and frothy - which should only take around 70 seconds - simply pour, combine with your hot chocolate powder of choice and stir. There is also a cold froth setting, handy for giving milkshakes that professional whipped-up finish!

The only downside, of course, is that it doesn't have that iconic Velvetiser finish - but if you're more concerned with substance than style, the Dualit milk frother is a brilliant dupe!

Lavazza A Modo Mio Milk Easy Frother

Best for travel

Lavazza is one of Italy's leading coffee brands, and their blends are sold all over the world - but did you know they also sell a range of accessories, like this electric milk frother?

Although intended as a device for frothing and warming milk to create the perfect cappuccino, the A Modo Mio works just as well for making hot chocolate - you can add chocolate flakes and use the multifunctional control button to warm and/or froth your beverage, or simply pour your heated, frothy milk over your favourite chocolate powder.

Due to its compact size and handleless design, this is a great choice for packing in your suitcase if you want to enjoy frothy cappuccinos or creamy cocoa on your travels.

Ocooko Electric Milk Frother

Best for functions

Unlike some of the other devices on our list, Ocooko's portable 4-in-1 frother actually has a separate setting designed specifically for preparing hot chocolate, as well as settings for hot froth, cold froth and heating only. Each programme takes around two minutes to complete.

We love the ergonomic design, with an easy-grip-handle and a light-up control button to select your desired setting. The jug can froth up to 160ml of milk, and heats up to 350ml.

MOSUO Milk Frother

Best on a budget

We've shared a few of our favourite electric milk frothers for making café-level hot chocolate, but if those are out of your budget, don't despair! A handheld milk frother is the ultimate budget-friendly option for whipping up a foamy hot chocolate. Just add your preferred chocolate powder or flakes to hot milk, then use this MOSUO USB-charged milk frother to combine and froth.

This multifunctional handheld tool is also well worth its salt in the kitchen even if hot chocolates are an occasional treat, as it comes with a special head design for whisking eggs.