by Rick Goldman
Hot chocolate is one of the best hot beverages in existence.
You would be hard pressed to find anybody who disagrees with that.
Even those who do not really like coffee or hot beverages at large will still enjoy hot chocolate.
You would think that all hot chocolate makers are the same, since they only really exist for one purpose: Make hot chocolate.
Hot chocolate makers are also known as milk frothers, as they heat up and make froth out of milk, which is a necessary process in making hot chocolate.
These machines are different in their own ways. Some of them are good at making different beverages, some of them excel at making them for crowds, and some of them excel at making them for just one person.
Keep these kinds of things in mind as you explore the ten best hot chocolate makers.
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As mentioned previously, not all hot chocolate makers are made the same despite how simple their purpose may be.
You'll need to consider a few things before buying one to make sure that you have the right one for you.
There is a difference between a hot chocolate maker for your home and one for your establishment or your office.
This difference, of course, is the amount of people that you will be serving.
You'll need to keep this in mind because certain makers are better at making different amounts of hot chocolate?
While you might be making hot chocolate and hot chocolate only for yourself, you definitely will be making more than just hot chocolate for others.
Even if you are getting a hot chocolate maker for yourself, chances are good that you will probably want to make other hot beverages down the road.
This is related to the first consideration that you should have, which mentioned whether you need the maker for the home or an establishment or office.
Some hot chocolate makers are able to yield a lot of hot chocolate and some are only able to make a little bit of it. It is up to you to decide which one is right for you.
Because hot chocolate and its counterparts utilize milk, you'll need to determine whether you will want a hot chocolate maker that is compatible with different kinds of milk or a hot chocolate maker that only uses one type.
This is important because different kinds of milk can make different kinds of hot chocolate. If you are used to using only one kind of milk to make hot chocolate, you might need to develop some new techniques or stick to makers that use just one or two kinds.
Hot chocolate makers can be complicated in the materials that they come with. Because they come with multiple jugs and parts, you'll have a difficult time cleaning them, especially if they are not dishwasher safe.
Fortunately, Souvia's steamer machine solves this in a couple ways. It does not come with a lot of parts, making it easy to clean. It only contains three major parts: The machine itself, the steel jug that the milk, hot chocolate, or cappuccino related product is dispensed into, and the discs that are needed for the machine.
Unless you count the parts that are inside of the machine, these three major parts are the only things you'll need to clean with any regularity. This makes things convenient. The jug is also dishwasher safe so you'll be able to clean that really easily.
You also get a lot of options with Souvia's steamer machine. It is compatible with any type of milk and you also have milk frothing options as well. The carafe is also 700mL, meaning that you can make nearly any kind of hot chocolate drink for large groups. Another option that you get is temperature control. You'll never run out of options with Souvia's steamer machine.
You might struggle a bit when it comes time for you to clean the inside of Souvia's steamer machine, however. Because it is so compact, the inner parts that process the milk and cocoa powder that gets placed inside of it can be difficult to reach and clean.
Fondue fountains are hard to come by on their own, and even if you do manage to encounter one that you might want, chances are good that the fountain might be too big for your kitchen or it might be difficult to assemble, containing many small parts that you might not be familiar with.
Nostalgia's fondue fountain is what you need if you are looking for a fondue fountain that you can easily keep in the comfort of your kitchen. Being extremely compact and only weighing about two pounds, you'll be able to place Nostalgia's fondue fountain anywhere.
You do not need to sacrifice anything about a fondue fountain's aesthetics with Nostalgia's fountain, either. You still get the cascading effect, the fountain contains four tiers, and a stainless steel heated bowl at the base will ensure that anything that you use it with remains warm. This makes it perfect for small groups.
Nostalgia's fondue fountain is very one dimensional. You will not be able to make hot chocolate or cappuccino related beverages with it. Even though you can use more than just chocolate with Nostalgia's fondue fountain, be aware of how one-dimensional it is.
As convenient as milk steamers and frothers are, some of them can be pretty messy. Some of them will see milk splatter all over the place as it gets dispensed from the machine into the carafe and this can be troublesome to deal with.
Hadin's milk frother comes in only one piece: A jug that you put milk and other ingredients in, mixes the ingredients, and then dispenses easily with a simple pour. This eliminates the mess that most need to deal with when using other milk frothing machines. Hadin's milk frother operates very fast as well; it takes a little under a minute to froth up milk.
However, a milk frother such as this suffers from a couple of inconveniences. First, it is only compatible with one kind of milk: Whole milk. While it is possible to use other kinds of milk, these other kinds of milk will not froth as well and you'll notice a difference.
Also, the capacity of Hadin's milk frother is very compromised when compared to other milk frothers. It yields about 130mL of frothed milk and only 300mL of heated milk, which is much less than most milk frothing machines that do not take the form of a jug.
Even jug design milk steamers and frothers can be difficult to pour from without making a mess. Their spouts are either too big or the angle of the jug does not allow for the beverage you just made to come out without spilling.
If the spouts of these kinds of frothers are not perfect, the interior sometimes sticks. Fortunately, Miroco solves all of these problems with its milk steamer. The interior is made of non-stick coating, which will make cleaning it very easy. It also pours much more effectively than other milk steamers as well.
The strix temperature control is another nice thing about Miroco's milk steamer. With most milk steamers only being able to operate under one temperature, you'll get a few more temperature options with Micoco's steamer.
There are a couple of things that might let you down with Miroco's steamer, however. First, you'll need to wait a little longer for your milk to be completely frothed. With most steamers taking a little over a minute to heat and froth milk perfectly, Miroco's will take about two minutes. You'll also need to be aware of its capacity, as it only yields about 240mL of milk.
A lot of milk frothers are usually severely lacking in the department of temperature control, as most of them are set to one temperature: Really hot. This can reduce options and make things inconvenient, especially if you need a hot chocolate maker for a group.
One of the best things about Capresso's milk frother is that it has three different temperature settings. With most other milk frothers containing at most two temperature settings, you will get a decent amount of options with Capresso's milk frother. You'll be surprised at what you can do with even two additional temperature options.
The pitcher that comes with Capresso's milk frother is dishwasher safe, does not stick too much, and is easy to pour from. It also has a lot of capacity, being able to yield 8 ounces for frothing and 12 ounces for heating without froth.
The only real issue with Capresso's milk frother is that it takes the form of a machine that takes milk and transfers it to the pitcher. Most other milk frothers and hot chocolate makers are built into a pitcher. Because this is not the case with Capresso's milk frother, you'll need to clean up after yourself a little more than you might want.
A good amount of hot chocolate makers and milk frothers can have a difficult time with the actual heating process. Most of them do heat up milk enough for the frothing process, they do not approach temperatures high enough to keep the milk hot. This leads to milk being lukewarm.
This issue completely vanishes with the Nespresso, from Nestle. It can heat milk up to 160 to 170 degrees fahrenheit, which is a lot hotter than most other milk frothing machines which can only approach temperatures of 120 or so. This is guaranteed to keep your milk related hot beverages very hot to where they will not cool off seconds after making them.
Doing this is also made very easy, as the Nespresso contains one button for all of its operations. Push the button once and it will do anything that you want it to do, whether it is heat up milk, heat milk up as well as add froth, or just add froth to milk that is still cold.
You do not get many options or capacity with the Nespresso, however. It only yields a capacity of 4 or so ounces for froth and 8 or so ounces of heated milk without the froth effect. You also cannot alter temperatures, so 160 to 170 degrees is all you'll get.
Most milk frothers and hot chocolate makers come with only one whisk. While many do not notice the difference in the quality of froth that it creates, some do, and it leaves them begging for a machine with an additional whisk.
You get this additional whisk with Hadin's milk frother, and it makes a significant difference. You will instantly notice better froth quality immediately with this, as the additional whisk will make the milk from the froth more smooth than when using milk frothers with only one whisk. If you have these kinds of smoothness preferences, you'll want Hadin's frothing machine.
You won't need to worry about remembering to turn off Hadin's milk frother, either. It will automatically turn off whenever any milk that is put in it is done frothing, and this is a convenience that is not typically shared by many milk frothing machines.
Unfortunately, there is only one temperature that Hadin's hot chocolate maker operates at, unless you are frothing cold milk. This temperature is 140 degrees fahrenheit. This will limit your options a little and if you are looking for a milk frother that heats milk at different temperatures, you will need to look elsewhere.
Capacity and simplicity are two things that most milk frothers and hot chocolate makers struggle to be optimized in. If they are easy to use, it is not likely that they have a decent capacity. If the pitchers or carafes attached to the machine have a good capacity, it is rare that the machine is easy to use.
The FrothPLUS, by Capresso, marries the best of these worlds by being very easy to use and set up as well as having a respectable capacity. The pitcher yields 8 ounces of frothed milk and 12 ounces of milk that is heated without froth, making this capacity one of the best among a good majority of milk frothing machines.
It is very easy to use the FrothPLUS as well. It operates similar to a blender, where the pitcher goes on top of the machine and can be removed easily once the frothing or heating process has ended. This design is much different and better than most other milk frothing machines which usually has the process take place in the pitcher itself. Because of this, you'll be able to clean the FrothPLUS very easily.
The only thing you'll need to watch for with the FrothPLUS is that it does not have much to offer in terms of heat. It'll reach 120 or so degrees fahrenheit on its hottest setting, which means that the milk froth that is dispensed from it will cool down really quickly.
A common issue with milk frothing machines is that the milk inside of it can easily cool off after it has been heated and frothed inside of the machine. This is especially true if the machine also takes the form of the pitcher that it is designed to be poured from.
One of the best things about NutriChef's milk steamer is that it has double wall insulation. This will help the milk that has been heated and frothed inside maintain its temperature, this way you are not drinking lukewarm hot chocolate or cappuccino after you make it, but rather hot chocolate and cappuccino that is nice and hot.
Heat is not a problem at all for NutriChef's milk frothing machine, either. When heated, milk inside of it will rise to an impressive temperature of 160 or so degrees fahrenheit, which is much more warm than average machines, which usually max out at 120 degrees.
The only thing you might need to worry about with NutriChef's milk steamer is how it pours. The pitcher does not contain a spout at all, meaning it will likely spill when pouring it. While this may be negligible, you'll notice a difference when pouring if you are used to pitchers that have a clearly defined spout.
Not many milk frother or hot chocolate maker machines contain pitchers that are able to be taken on the go. If you are in a hurry, you need to make sure you are making just the right amount of hot chocolate or cappuccino before heading out of your home.
This can get very inconvenient, especially if you are in a hurry. Fortunately, the Aeroccino by Nestle provides just what you need for these kinds of situations: A mug that you can take anywhere. Say goodbye to preparing your hot drink with the hopes of making enough to fit into your personal coffee mug. The Aeroccino provides everything you need.
The mug itself attaches to the base which will heat up the milk that you pour inside of it and will froth it. You also have the option of hot froth or cold froth. You can also just enjoy a hot milk drink with no froth if you want. Just because the Aeroccino is small does not mean that you have fewer options.
Of course, this means that the Aeroccino has its capacity limitations. Do not expect to make any amount of hot chocolate or cappuccino for more than one person with the Aeroccino. It is designed for one person and one person only. Also, because it utilizes one whisk and one whisk only, the froth that it produces may not be as smooth as you might want it to be.
Ans: Coffee machines can indeed make hot chocolate, but the methods of doing this are complicated. To make hot chocolate with a coffee machine, you'll need to be much more careful with the ingredients that you typically use to make hot chocolate as you will have a little less room to work with.
Ans: There do exist K cups that can make hot chocolate right alongside your other coffee related beverages. However, do not expect the hot chocolate to be nearly as flavorful as hot chocolate that you make with a hot chocolate maker, a milk frother, or any other kind of machine that heats up and smooths out milk.
Ans: The answer to this question is "yes," and another answer to this question is "you should." Some of the best hot chocolate is made with milk frothers. Adding just a little bit of cocoa to the milk that you put in the frother will enhance the hot chocolate that it produces greatly. However, be prepared to clean up a lot after doing this.
Ans: Although you can use K cups to make coffee related beverages multiple times, this is not too recommended. Keep in mind that the k cups you are using are exposed to a lot of heat, so if you use them multiple times, it will affect the quality of the coffee related beverage that you used the k cup to make. Be aware of this.
Ans: Although you can use any kind of water in a keurig cup, you probably should not. The best kind of water that you can use in these cups is filtered water that is free of contaminants and other things of that nature. If you do use water from your city, the contaminants could possibly transfer over to your coffee related beverage.
Mr. Coffee BVMC-HC5 Cafe Cocoa Hot Chocolate Maker, Black - Walmart Link
PowerLix Milk Frother Handheld Battery Operated Electric Whisk Beater Foam Maker For - Walmart Link
Nostalgia HCM700RETRORED Retro 32-Ounce Hot Chocolate, Milk Frother, Cappuccino,Latte - Walmart Link
Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother - Walmart Link
Zulay Original Milk Frother Handheld Foam Maker for Lattes - Whisk Drink Mixer for - Walmart Link
Fivtyily Milk Frother Handheld Rechargeable Electric Foam Maker, Drink Mixer with - Walmart Link
AEVO Milk Frothing Machine, Automatic Electric Milk Warmers and Foam Maker, Dishwasher - Walmart Link
aerolatte Milk Frother, 8.5-Inch, Satin Finish - Walmart Link
Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother, One Size, Black - Walmart Link
Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender Heavy - Walmart Link
Secura Detachable Milk Frother, 17oz Electric Milk Steamer Stainless Steel, Automatic - Walmart Link
Electric Milk Frother and Steamer, Bonsenkitchen 4 in 1 Automatic Milk Foamer for Coffee, - Walmart Link
Capresso froth Control Milk Frother, 14 oz, Black - Walmart Link
Mr. Coffee BVMC-HC5 Cafe Cocoa Hot Chocolate Maker, Black - eBay Link
PowerLix Milk Frother Handheld Battery Operated Electric Whisk Beater Foam Maker For - eBay Link
Nostalgia HCM700RETRORED Retro 32-Ounce Hot Chocolate, Milk Frother, Cappuccino,Latte - eBay Link
Breville BMF600XL Milk Cafe Milk Frother - eBay Link
Zulay Original Milk Frother Handheld Foam Maker for Lattes - Whisk Drink Mixer for - eBay Link
Fivtyily Milk Frother Handheld Rechargeable Electric Foam Maker, Drink Mixer with - eBay Link
AEVO Milk Frothing Machine, Automatic Electric Milk Warmers and Foam Maker, Dishwasher - eBay Link
aerolatte Milk Frother, 8.5-Inch, Satin Finish - eBay Link
Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother, One Size, Black - eBay Link
Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender Heavy - eBay Link
Secura Detachable Milk Frother, 17oz Electric Milk Steamer Stainless Steel, Automatic - eBay Link
Electric Milk Frother and Steamer, Bonsenkitchen 4 in 1 Automatic Milk Foamer for Coffee, - eBay Link
Capresso froth Control Milk Frother, 14 oz, Black - eBay Link
Hot chocolate, cappuccinos, and other coffee related beverages that use milk are some of the most flavorful morning beverages that a person can taste.
Many think that the only way they can get their hands on these kinds of beverages is to go to their local coffee shop, but this is not the case.
If you have the proper milk frother or hot chocolate maker, you'll be able to enjoy nearly anything that your coffee shop serves in the comfort of your own home.
Consider acquiring one of these machines if you find yourself going to your coffee shop too many times than you would like to enjoy these kinds of beverages.
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About Rick Goldman
Rick Goldman's grandpa was a captain of a California coast cruise. This afforded Rick the luxury of traveling to exciting places along the Pacific Coast as a young boy. He got to try different, exotic foods on these journeys - something he really enjoys blogging about from his grandpa's beautiful garden home today.
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