We put the new Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser to the test

When the very first Velvetiser launched in 2018 it instantly became a cult classic, promising barista-grade hot chocolate, and spawned many imitations in its wake. Its ability to bring a professional-style hot chocolate to your kitchen meant it gained countless fans.

Now there's a new gadget on the block. Hotel Chocolat has unveiled a brand new edition which is set to be just as popular, if not more.

So what's the difference? Well, this one now has the ability to produce both hot and cold drinking chocolate, the result of years of research behind closed doors.

So, how different is it from the original, and is it worth buying? I tested the all-new Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser to find out.

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser design – what's the difference between the original and new models?

While the size is fairly similar, there are a few discernible differences. The device itself has a slightly more rounded shape, with a fluted design compared to the tapered rectangular shape of old, taking inspiration from the cacao pod.

While both versions feature a dock for your Velvetiser to sit on, the clickable button to turn it on now sits here, as opposed to the side of the machine.

Hotel Chocolat All-New Velvetiser

Now 20% Off

£120 at Hotel Chocolat

£150 at Amazon

Credit: Hotel Chocolat

The button also acts as a dial, so you can twist it depending on what drinking chocolate you want to produce – turn to the left for cold, or to the right for hot, then click down to start the process.

The handle is also different. While the one on the original sat perpendicular to the machine, it's now wooden and positioned parallel, which I found a lot easier to handle and store away.

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser sachets and accessories

There are new details inside the machine, too. While the old Velvetiser had a hooped metal whisk, this one is petal-shaped (again, inspired by the cacao flower).

Hotel Chocolat

The other big difference is the cold drinking chocolate sachets. Rather than a one-size-fits-all formula, the cold drinking chocolate comes as a powder formula, in contrast to the iconic flakes available in the original hot chocolate format.

The new cold chocolate sachets are available in mint, classic, banana, mandarin & orange, cherry and creme brûlée flavours.

How to use the new Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser

The whole process is just as simple as the original, with user-friendly features including a max-fill line to add your milk to, and a magnetised lid that makes opening and closing the machine easy to work.

Hotel Chocolat

Once the hot or cold option has been selected, it's just a click of the button and off you go. The machine itself is fairly quiet, with a low-level whirring and light signal acting as the telltale signs that it's actually working.

Both cold and hot drinking chocolates take about two minutes to make, and the light flickering off is the signal that it's done.

Can I make the cold drinking chocolate using the hot chocolate flakes (and vice versa)?

While there's probably nothing stopping you, Hotel Chocolat advises against doing this, explaining that its recipes have been made with their temperature in mind, so the flavour might be impaired.

Hotel Chocolat Hot & Cold Drinking Chocolate Selection Box

£16 at Hotel Chocolat

Credit: Hotel Chocolat

While I didn't risk experimenting, the chances are that because the cold drinking chocolate packs are formulated as powders for a reason, the hot chocolate flakes might not dissolve as well if made on the cold function.

When can I buy the new Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser?

Hotel Chocolat

Buy Hotel Chocolat's All-New Velvetiser

You can buy the new Velvetiser on Hotel Chocolat's official website now for £149.95 as part of a package which includes the Velvetiser, a Drinking Chocolate Selection Box, Podcup and Podglass.

If you don't want to buy the whole package, you can buy the gadget and drinking chocolates separately.

You can buy the new Velvetiser in three colourways – pebble, a light brown shade, pewter, a silver colour, and chalk, an off-white design.

Hotel Chocolat new Velvetiser review – the verdict

So what does the cold drinking chocolate taste like? In a word, delicious. I tested all available flavours using semi-skimmed milk (you can use any milk of your choice), and found the powder dissolved completely in the process, leaving a smooth finish with a frothy top reminiscent of what you'd get in a cafe.

If we're ranking the new cold flavours, mandarin & orange takes the top spot for its sophisticated take on the classic chocolate orange flavour, while the mint and banana options felt like a real throwback to retro, feel-good flavours.

My only gripe is that there are currently only six cold flavours available, but if Hotel Chocolat is anything to go by, that number is bound to increase soon enough.

At £149.95 for the package, it's an investment, especially for something that has two variations. But for ease of use and quick results, it's a definite thumbs up and worthy of adding to your Christmas list.