What is a Velvetiser®? How to make the ultimate drinking chocolate at home

Looking to create barista-grade hot and cold chocolate from the comfort of your own home? Discover drinking chocolate the Hotel Chocolat way with the Velvetiser.

Aaah… the Velvetiser. It’s a machine that’s become synonymous with decadent, velvet-smooth drinking chocolate, full of cacao depth and delicately melded to perfection. And now, courtesy of our ALL-NEW Velvetiser system, with a simple turn of a dial, you can savour all your beloved Hotel Chocolat recipes plus some new favourites, hot and cold. 

In this post, we’ll be covering how to use your Velvetiser to create the perfect cup of both hot chocolate and cold chocolate. Recently purchased the ALL-NEW Velvetiser and keen to put it to the test? Provided you’ve already explored our Velvetiser Library and stocked up on essential drinking chocolate supplies, you’re ready to play barista. Let’s take a closer look at how the ALL–NEW Velvetiser works and what you can do to take your cacao-brewing to the next level.

What is the Velvetiser?

The Velvetiser is far from your average drinking chocolate maker. But what is it that makes this sleek drinking chocolate machine so distinctive? 

Here’s a clue: it’s not just about the hot and cold chocolate (although they alone are a delight in themselves).

The magic of indulging in quality, barista-grade drinking chocolate extends beyond the signature taste and silkiness of each sip. It’s the aroma of real cacao, with its welcoming waft, that gives you our café experience in the comfort of your own home. It’s seeing your milk dance, swirl, and meld in front of your eyes. It’s the anticipation that builds as the barista elegantly pours your drink into a stylish cup. With the Velvetiser, you can have this experience whenever your heart desires. Not only does it deliver velvet-smooth results, ultra-satisfying chocolate crema, and an unrivalled cacao depth, but it also gives you the pleasure of barista artistry with every pour.

Discover first-class drinking chocolate with a velvet touch

Why is our newest model so adept at creating the smoothest, silkiest drinking chocolate? It all comes down to the vortex-effect. Inside the latest Velvetiser, designed in collaboration with renowned ceramicist

Andrew Wicks, you’ll find our InnerPod ridges circling a custom-designed whisk that melds drinking chocolate with milk in a mesmerising folding motion. 

As the machine’s whisk spins, its sleek petals cut through the liquid, naturally creating ultra-fine air passages within the milk. The Velvetiser’s InnerPod ridges then shape and compress the flow, knocking down larger bubbles as it mixes. Once the cycle finishes and the drink settles, the high-density crema rises and unifies, forming a smooth, cocoa-rich crema on top.One person craving cold, another craving hot? Seamlessly switch between hot and cold thanks to the Velvetiser’s thermodynamic programming. Simply turn the dial right and grab your Podcup™ for warming cacao bliss. Or, switch the dial left, pick up a Podglass™, and grab one of our finely milled real chocolate sachets to create something ultra-cool and refreshing.

How to use a Velvetiser to make drinking chocolate at home

Whether you have a penchant for Pewter, prefer the timelessness of Chalk, or adore the subtle charm of Pebble, with the Velvetiser, you’ll never make a drinking chocolate in the same way again, hot or cold.

For the perfect cup of drinking cacao, follow these three easy steps:

1. Add your choice of single-serve sachet to the Velvetiser, along with 220ml of milk (pre-chilled if creating cold chocolate) or your preferred dairy alternative.
2. Turn the intuitive LED-lit dial to the right for the hot setting, where it’ll glow red or to the left for cold, where it’ll glow blue. Press, then pause.
3. Leave the Velvetiser to work its magic. Then pour out your velvet-smooth drinking chocolate topped with its silky chocolate crema.

Sip, relax, and enjoy.

Stock up on comforting hot recipes

Adore our hot recipes? Why not stock up?

If you crave indulgences that are creamy and mellow, get to know our high-cacao Vanilla White Hot Chocolate Sachets or our Milky 50%. Light yet still indulgent, these picks are ideal as a 3pm treat. Or, if you prefer your sips with a kick, pick up a box of our fiery Dark Chilli Hot Chocolate Sachets and our tongue-tingling Ginger Hot Chocolate Sachets — they really do pack a punch. 

Vegan or dairy-free? When prepared with plant milk, our 45% Nutmilk Hot Chocolat Sachets are perfect for vegans* and taste every bit as good as our dairy recipes. Sometimes, the lack of milk in dairy-free hot chocolates tends to make them a little too intense, which is why we did things a little differently when creating ours. Made with milled hazelnuts, our nutmilk drinking chocolate has all the creamy mellowness of a classic milk hot chocolate, just without the dairy. Trust us, it will go down a treat with vegans and non-vegans alike.

Love a rich, indulgent sip that captures dessert‑inspired luxury? Discover our Black Forest Gateau Hot Chocolate Sachets. Picture the decadent combination of juicy morello and black cherries entwined with velvety dark and creamy white chocolate, a nod to the classic dessert, reimagined as a sumptuous drinking chocolate.

How about a moment of mellow-meets-indulgent bliss? Silky and satisfying, our Caffè Latte Sachets blend mellow coffee with chocolatey notes for a creamy, café-style pick-me-up — no barista required. Whether you’re looking to kick-start your morning, power through a slow afternoon, or savour a post-dinner treat, this latte brings effortless indulgence to any moment. Perfect for the Velvetiser, each single-serve sachet delivers just the right balance of indulgence and caffeine, with no mess or fuss. Simply sip, savour, and continue your day with a spring in your step.

*We believe this chocolate is suitable for vegans; however, as it is made in the same environment as our milk chocolate, we cannot guarantee it is free from milk.

Explore the Velvetiser library, featuring ALL-NEW cold sips

If you’ve mastered using your new machine, now comes the best bit: sampling our six revolutionary new recipes, specifically designed to be savoured cold straight from the ALL–NEW Velvetiser. These finely milled real chocolate sachets bring you chilled barista-grade drinking chocolate, just as a chocolatier would make it.

Like a cooler cup with a fruity edge? Discover the vibrant zest of Mandarin & Orange, cool off with the tropical taste of Banana, or embrace the lively zing of Cherry. Designed exclusively for the ALL–NEW Velvetiser, these cool and creamy sachets meld effortlessly with milk to give you maximum fruitiness with a mellow cacao edge. Serve a sachet of your choice in your Podglass™ and sip away on a deliciously smooth treat..

Not ready to give up on our original drinking chocolate recipes? You don’t have to. From Classic to Mint, in our ever-growing library of cold drinking chocolate creations, you’ll also find flavours you know and love, finely milled for seamless melding. Simply delightful.

Don’t scrimp on the final touches: tasteful toppings for your drinking chocolate 

If you want to take your drinking chocolate to the next level, you’ve got to get creative with your toppings.

A scattering of finely grated chocolate brings instant indulgence, but for something more refined, try finishing with shavings of our Chocolate Batons and a whisper of cinnamon. The warmth of spice and the depth of chocolate create a beautifully balanced moment.

Serving guests? Pair your drinking chocolate with one of our satisfying Selectors — pick out a silky-smooth truffle, an elegantly layered patisserie-inspired bite, or a fruity-filled chocolate that mirrors the notes in your drink. 

Gift the Velvetiser® — barista-style bliss in a cup

More cacao. Less sugar. Pure thoughtfulness. The Velvetiser® ticks every box. 

Why not gift our ALL–NEW Velvetiser system to someone you love? Complete with a Podcup™ for hot, a Podglass™ for cold, plus 10 single-serve sachets, it’s a thoughtful way to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary rituals. The elegant fluting and architectural handle on the OuterPod of the Velvetiser elevate any kitchen into a statement of refined taste. This is organic elegance, gifted.How about pairing it with a drinking chocolate subscription? Delight your giftee with new drinking chocolate discoveries delivered to their door. The perfect balance of rich indulgence and mindful sweetness, shared.