Guide · Milk frothers
The best milk frother for hot chocolate in the UK
Milk frothers and hot chocolate makers with a chocolate setting, from Lakeland, Salter, Dualit, Hotel Chocolat and Smeg, compared on capacity and chocolate type, prices checked 3 Oct 2026.
The best milk frother for hot chocolate UK shops sell is one with a proper chocolate setting, which heats and whisks long enough to melt chocolate into the milk rather than just frothing it. Several frothers now have one, and a few machines are built mainly for hot chocolate. This guide compares six, from a £45 Lakeland frother to the Smeg MFF11, on capacity, what chocolate they take and whether they do cold drinks too, with prices checked 3 Oct 2026. We haven’t tested this in person. Picks are based on maker and retailer specs and current prices. Read how we compare.
Best milk frother for hot chocolate UK: what to look for
- A chocolate setting. A dedicated setting usually stirs longer and more gently than a froth setting, so the chocolate melts in.
- What chocolate it takes. Some makers say any chocolate works, from flakes to powder. Others are designed around their own sachets.
- Capacity. One mug or two? Listed capacities vary from 250ml to 600ml.
- Easy cleaning. Melted chocolate sticks. A non-stick jug or dishwasher-safe parts help.
For a broader view, see our guide to the best milk frother.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who only uses instant hot chocolate powder made with water. A kettle does that.
Budget pick: Lakeland Milk and Hot Chocolate Frother
The Lakeland Milk and Hot Chocolate Frother is £44.99 at Lakeland, checked 3 Oct 2026. Lakeland lists four settings, including a chocolate milk setting “for delicious hot chocolates and mochas”, milk heated to 60 to 80°C, a hot froth setting that makes about 450ml of foam, and a non-stick interior.
More options under £50 are in our milk frother under £50 guide.
Who it isn’t for: anyone wanting cold chocolate drinks. Lakeland’s listing focuses on hot settings.
Biggest jug for the money: Salter Chocolatier EK6527
The Salter Chocolatier is £57.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys lists a 500ml capacity, a cordless jug and 4-in-1 functions, including warming and frothing milk, with copy aimed at hot cocoa.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants clear guidance on what chocolate to use. The listing doesn’t say.
Best for using any chocolate: Dualit Hot Chocolate Maker & Milk Frother
The Dualit Hot Chocolate Maker & Milk Frother is £84.99 at Dualit in chrome or copper, or £79.99 in black, checked 3 Oct 2026. Dualit says its VortecS system creates a high-speed vortex for smooth mixing and that there’s “no need to buy a special brand”, so you can add your favourite chocolate. Currys lists a 250ml capacity, enough for one full mug, and says it works with segments, buttons, grated chocolate or powder.
Who it isn’t for: households making two or more mugs at once. 250ml is one serving.
Larger Dualit pick: Milk Frother Max
The Dualit 84150 Milk Frother Max is £98.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change. Currys lists a 580ml capacity and a hot chocolate function that takes any type of chocolate, from segments and buttons to grated and powder.
Who it isn’t for: people short on cupboard space. It’s a larger jug than the single-mug Dualit.
Best for chocolate shop drinks: Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser
The Velvetiser is £119.95 at Hotel Chocolat, checked 3 Oct 2026, in Pebble, Chalk or Pewter. Hotel Chocolat describes it as a complete hot chocolate system for hot and cold drinking chocolate at the touch of a button. It’s designed around Hotel Chocolat’s own single-serve drinking chocolate, and comes as a set with a cup and glass.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to froth milk for coffee. It’s a chocolate machine first.
Best for all-round use: Smeg MFF11
The Smeg MFF11BLUK in black is £149.97 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change. Smeg UK lists a hot chocolate function among six pre-set programmes, cold froth settings, a 600ml milk and chocolate heating jug and a 250ml froth capacity. The carafe is dishwasher safe.
Read more in our Smeg milk frother MFF11 review.
Who it isn’t for: anyone on a budget. Colour affects the price, and the white version was £179.00 at Currys on the same day.
How to make hot chocolate in a frother
The exact steps depend on the model, so follow the manual, but most work like this:
- Add cold milk up to the hot chocolate line, not the froth line. They’re often different.
- Add the chocolate. Flakes, buttons or grated chocolate melt faster than large chunks. Powder works too.
- Choose the chocolate setting and let it run the full cycle.
- Pour straight away and rinse the jug while it’s warm, before any chocolate sets.
Start with the maker’s suggested amount of chocolate, then adjust to taste.
Who it isn’t for: owners of handheld wand frothers. Melt the chocolate in hot milk on the hob, then froth.
Downsides
- Chocolate settings take longer than a froth cycle.
- Melted chocolate can leave residue that needs cleaning straight away.
- The Velvetiser is designed around Hotel Chocolat’s own drinking chocolate.
- Prices can change.
FAQ
Can a normal milk frother make hot chocolate? Yes, by heating milk and stirring in powder, but a chocolate setting melts real chocolate more smoothly.
What chocolate works in a hot chocolate frother? Dualit says its models take any chocolate, from buttons to powder. Check the manual for others.
Can plant milk be used for hot chocolate in a frother? Often, but makers vary. Check the manual. Results depend on the milk.
Which frother makes cold chocolate drinks? The Velvetiser and Smeg MFF11 list cold settings.
Can these frothers also make mochas? Yes. Lakeland mentions mochas, and our mocha at home guide shows how.