If you've been searching high and low for the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, but you can't find it any cheaper than £89 at Very, then we're here with some great news. We've found a Velvetiser dupe, which is currently on sale for only £39.99 at Robert Dyas.
This means that you can buy one for each of your friends and family without breaking the bank — ideal for Christmas eh.
The Salter Chocolatier does the same job. It comes in black and sits compactly on your kitchen worktop. This hot chocolate maker/milk frother is brilliant at making festive hot drinks, plus you don't need to be a wizard (or have any barista skills) to be able to use it.
For under £40, this Velvetiser dupe is a total steal. See for yourself below, and find out how we used it whilst reviewing it. Otherwise, if you've still got your heart set on a Velvetiser, you can always buy a refurbished one. We spotted an option at eBay for £54.99 too...
- Buy the Salter Chocolatier for £39.99 at Robert Dyas
- Buy the refurbished Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser for £54.99 at eBay (with 2 cups)
The Velvetiser dupe and its specs
Christina is the ecommerce editor for Real Homes and tests all of our small kitchen appliances, including air fryers, coffee makers, and hot chocolate makers! She's had the Salter Chocolatier for around a week and is already ordering them in bulk for her friends and chocolate-obsessed, TikTok-savvy niece.
On looks alone, the black Chocolatier is pretty similar, and coming from the UK's oldest homeware brand, it's no surprise that it matches the more expensive model in terms of smooth hot chocolate results. Sure, you can use a milk frother, but this is much more impressive (and still small enough to have on your countertop).
Other than making a rich vessel of chocolatey goodness, it works in tandem with my coffee machine (where I can add a shot of espresso to make a mocha) and froth larger quantities without using the steam wand.
For something that would totally pass as a self-care purchase or Christmas gift, it's a total bargain, especially while many of us are tightening the purse strings.
The one gripe I have with it is that I do actually like my drinks a little hotter (and I'm saying that despite having scalded my tongue a fair few times on coffee shop hot chocolate!). But to counter that again, this makes it more than ideal for anyone with kids that wants to make them a winter treat.
Drink customisation
At home, I tend to switch between dairy and plant-based milk. I keep a selection of chocolate flakes on hand (I do prefer the darker milk chocolate bits that are 65% cocoa) and always use my favorite mug. I also am unapologetic for the mountain of whipped cream and toppings I use.
When I feel like going a little more luxe, I'll choose the 70% cocoa option, I might add a pinch of sea salt or cinnamon, and adorn the rim of a glass coffee cup with a little cayenne pepper for an Aztec spin. Honestly, you can go to town with this machine and that 360-degree swivel makes me feel like a bit of a barista. Even matcha lattes are possible by subbing out chocolate flakes for your favorite powdered green tea.
And, come summer, it's the gift that keeps on giving. Switch hot choccy to iced lattes with the cold function. Instead of warming the milk, this chills your milk so you can have a cooler, milkshake-style drink for pennies.
Time from Chocolatier to cup
It takes about five minutes. Though the dupe Hotel Chocolat model is a little slower than the OG appliance, I have actually waited far longer than five minutes for my drink in a coffee shop. Still, I didn't mark it down for that because the results are worth it.
Design
Its compact design means I haven't accidentally sent my appliance flying, plus its small size makes it a dream to clean (all you have to do is rinse with warm water) so it does merit its 4.5 stars for a few different reasons. Much like the modern kettles these days, this milk frother has been designed with a 360-degree base so that everyone in the family (left or right-handed) can use it.
- Model: EK5134ROFOB
- Dimensions (cm): H18.6 x W11.1 x D16.8
- RRP: £79.99
- Capacity: 240 ml jug capacity / 115 ml milk frothing capacity
- Weight: 970 g
- Heat-up time: 5 minutes to reach 168°F/76°C
- Wattage: 500 W
Why do you need a hot chocolate maker?
The biggest advantage of using a hot chocolate maker is that you'll get super smooth results since your beverage is being constantly being stirred as it gently heats. So you won't end up with that gross skin that sits on top of hot milk and you won't scald the milk and/or chocolate either in the microwave or on the hob.
Personally, I pick a lot of faults with shop-bought cups of cocoa. They're either too sweet, made with a powder that's not properly stirred (hello saccharine sweet bottom), or there's no whipped cream. So it's nice to get it spot on at home with this cute machine that didn't cost me much, even when it wasn't on sale!
