If you’re still using the microwave to heat up water or milk for hot chocolate, you might want to invest in a dedicated hot chocolate maker or milk frother.
Of course microwaveable hot chocolate is actually totally delicious too, but a hot chocolate maker is made to make hot chocolate. That’s why milk frothers are also great hot chocolate makers because they’re made to heat up milk, and some of them can even handle chocolate syrup and cocoa powder, too.
Hot chocolate makers and frothers aren’t only limited to making hot chocolate either. Some can heat up milk and simultaneously mix in chocolate or other ingredients, and others will froth up and warm your milk for the most soul-hugging, airy, delicious hot chocolate you’ve ever had or the smoothest latte you’ve ever made at home.
There aren’t too many great all-in-one hot chocolate makers out there, but there are lots of milk frothers and we’ve found some great picks for both. We also included a great hot water kettle for those who don’t like milk in hot chocolate or who are lactose intolerant.
Now if you’re ready to get your hot chocolate game on, check out our round-up of hot chocolate makers and milk frothers below. They’ll help take your hot chocolate game to the next level and definitely work to warm your bones when the weather gets unbearable outside or when you just want a warm, chocolate pick-me-up.
1. Mr. Coffee Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker
BEST OVERALL
For the true hot chocolate connoisseur, there’s only one hot chocolate maker: the Mr. Coffee Cocomotion Hot Chocolate Maker. This maker is specifically designed to make hot chocolate and couldn’t be easier to use. Just pour in milk or water, add chocolate powder or syrup, secure the lid and press play to get your chocolate party on. In minutes you’ll have up to four cups of delicious, frothy, toasty hot chocolate.
This hot chocolate maker also features an auto-shutoff mechanism and it cleans up easily because you only need to clean the mixing impeller, the lid and the jug.
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The only downside to note is that Mr. Coffee no longer produces this hot chocolate maker. Two immediate consequences of that? The price for new units is jacked up like crazy because this is such a popular hot chocolate maker and there’s also no warranty if it breaks.
But if you have the extra cash or don’t mind buying a used model you can get one of the easiest to use, best hot chocolate makers around.
2. Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker
RUNNER-UP
In the same vein as Mr. Coffee’s hot chocolate maker, the Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker is a great one-stop-shop for all your hot chocolate and milk frothing needs.
Like the best overall hot chocolate maker, all you do is throw the milk or water inside with the chocolate and let the machine take care of everything else. The base can froth up beverages, hot or cold, and the maker can produce up to 32 ounces of hot chocolate, approximately four cups worth.
You can lift the jug up to pour out the hot chocolate or use the convenient spigot on the side for easy dispensing, and each of those components can be cleaned easily with soap and water.
On the downsides, you have to monitor this machine while you use it because it doesn’t have an auto-shutoff feature, which is a bit inconvenient. The hot chocolate maker is also crazy loud, like, a blender on puree loud, which isn’t a dealbreaker but certainly is not a mood enhancer when you’re about to get down with some sweet hot chocolate. Users who didn’t like it generally just thought of it as a cheaper machine and a poor substitute for Mr. Coffee’s maker.
But for every one of those users there were at least two who praised the Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker for its cheapness and ease of use, and we’re confident it’ll get the job done for you.
3. Secura Electric Automatic Milk Frother and Hot Chocolate Maker
HONORABLE MENTION
The Secura Electric Automatic Milk Frother and Hot Chocolate Maker is a great machine for those who want to easily make hot chocolate but don’t necessarily want a specific hot chocolate-making machine.
This maker basically consists of a jug, a heating base with a motor and four different kinds of whisks to use so you can have hot or cold frothing, hot chocolate frothing and just straight heating with no froth.
That makes it highly versatile in a way the top two picks just can’t match. It’s also quiet, easy to clean and features auto-shutoff settings for convenience.
On the other hand, unlike the top two picks, this jug only holds enough milk or water, 250 milliliters or about 8 ounces, for a single cup of hot chocolate. So it’s definitely a great option to just throw the milk and chocolate into for easy mixing and frothing, but if you’re making cocoa for more than just yourself on a regular basis you’re going to find yourself pretty busy.
4. HadinEEon Milk Frother
BEST MILK FROTHER
Ultimately, a hot chocolate maker is a machine that does three things: heat, mix and froth. Seeing as the mixing is easy enough to do manually or even with a blender, you’ll get by just fine with an excellent milk frother to heat the milk you’ll need.
With just the push of a button on the HadinEEon Milk Frother you can heat milk up to the perfect drinking temperature in one to two minutes. Using the two different whisks, a heating whisk and a frothing whisk, you can do cold frothing or hot frothing for whatever beverage you’re trying to make.
A transparent lid makes it easy to monitor the milk and a rotating base and jug spout make grabbing and pouring a cinch too.
This frother is also widely approved by users, with more than four out of five giving it five stars on over 12,000 reviews, so you can trust if it works well for everyone else that it will serve you well as a hot chocolate maker.
5. Miroco Electric Milk Steamer and Soft Foam Maker
SIMPLEST DESIGN
So many appliances are big, clunky and complicated, but something like a hot chocolate maker shouldn’t be so complicated. If you agree, you might like a simple, compact milk frother like the Miroco Electric Milk Steamer and Soft Foam Maker.
It’s basically one cylinder that will fit easily on to any kitchen counter or tuck into a drawer for one-touch hot and frothy milk for hot chocolate and coffee drinks. You can make hot dense foam, hot airy foam or cold milk froth in just a minute or two.
The Miroco steamer also features an auto-shutoff feature, which is always convenient so you don’t burn the milk.
If you’re looking for a hot chocolate maker that will make the warm frothy milk you need without taking over the counter or offering too many settings, the Miroco steamer will be right up your alley.
6. Bonsenkitchen Electric Milk Frother
BEST HANDHELD FROTHER
Small apartments have small kitchens and you won’t always have room for every appliance and machine you might want, whether milk frother or proper hot chocolate maker. That’s where a handheld milk frother like the Bonsenkitchen Electric Milk Frother can help. This small electric frother can easily tuck into a drawer so it’s out of sight, out of mind until you’re ready for some hot chocolate or a latte.
All you do is stick the whisk about a third of the way into the milk, push and hold the button and froth away.
Because this frother is small, compact and not too sophisticated, it’s not very expensive either. The only downside is the fact that the frother is battery powered, but at least it comes with a set so you can get to frothing and making that hot chocolate immediately.
7. AmazonBasics Electric Hot Water Kettle
BEST FOR HOT WATER
Though you can probably get away with using some of these hot chocolate makers and frothers to heat up water, we would recommend getting a proper hot water kettle if you’re not a fan of milk in hot chocolate or you’re lactose intolerant.
The AmazonBasics Electric Hot Water Kettle is an excellent, basic kettle that will give you hot water in just a few minutes. So not only is it great for quick water hot chocolate, it’s perfect for coffee or tea too.
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