The 5 Best Coffee Machines For Making Hot Chocolate
Even if you love drinking coffee every day, there are times when you want something a bit more luxurious and decadent. During those times, you probably want a rich cup of hot chocolate. So if you love drinking both coffee and hot chocolate, you need to have the best coffee machine for making hot chocolate in your kitchen!
In this round up, we’re going to look into how you can find the best coffee machine that can produce both great coffee and delicious hot chocolate, as well as what you need to know to be able to make authentic hot chocolate with your coffee machine.
Pods vs. Powder: Which is Better?
There are generally two ways that you can make hot chocolate with your coffee maker: you can either use pods or cocoa powder.
If you prefer speed and convenience, pods are the way to go. There are multiple brands out there that make hot chocolate pods that can be used with most coffee machines that accept standard-sized pods. However, the most popular brand is the Keurig K-cup. Pods are easy to use and easy to clean, but you will be limited to the flavors available in the pods and you won’t be able to tweak the taste of the hot chocolate to your specific taste. What’s more, some people have reported that hot chocolate made from pods are usually very sweet and have that “packaged” taste.
If you want a bit more control when it comes to the taste of your hot chocolate, using cocoa powder is the better option for you. You can use either a pre-made mix or you can go all the way and make your hot chocolate from scratch by making your own hot chocolate mix. Making your own hot chocolate mix from scratch allows you to get the perfect flavor profile but it requires more effort and time on your part. It also involves a lot more cleaning up after!
Comparison Chart
Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95 10-Cup Optimal Brew
The Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew Coffee Maker has an amazing water filtration system that will give you clean-tasting drinks.
Mega Cocina Single Serve Compact K-Cup Brewer
This coffee maker is easy to use and is the best coffee partner at home, at work, in the dormitory, and even for travel.
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Coffee Maker
Do you have a large family who loves drinking hot chocolate? The Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Brewer can easily brew a batch that can satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth in a single brewing cycle.
Cuisinart CHW-12 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
Whether you want to make your own hot chocolate from scratch inside the machine or you just want hot water to mix hot chocolate in your mug, the Cuisinart CHW-12 does both jobs without breaking a sweat.
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System, Auto-iQ Tea and Coffee Maker
Having a Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System is like having your own barista at home: simply pick your drink and let the machine do all the hard work!
Detailed Reviews of the 5 Best Coffee Makers for Making Hot Chocolate
Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95 10-Cup Optimal Brew
The Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew Coffee Maker has an amazing water filtration system that will give you clean-tasting drinks.
Value
The Mr. Coffee makes a great cup of hot chocolate and it’s affordable.
Functionality
While it’s easy to use, the plastic parts of the machine feel like they will break easily.
The Earls Overall Rating
For great-tasting hot chocolate AND coffee that you can make from scratch, the Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew is our top pick.
PROs
CONs
Mega Cocina Single Serve Compact K-Cup Brewer
This coffee maker is easy to use and is the best coffee partner at home, at work, in the dormitory, and even for travel.
Value
This machine is affordable and makes great coffee and hot chocolate. However, some users complain about it breaking after a few months of using daily.
Functionality
It has an individualized single serve brewing system that ensures your coffee or hot chocolate is fresh in just a few minutes. It also has an Auto Shutoff technology which allows users to save on power consumption and ensures their safety.
The Earls Overall Rating
Mega Cocina Single Serve Compact K-Cup Brewer is ideal for coffee or hot cocoa lovers who live alone or love to travel.
PROs
CONs
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Coffee Maker
Do you have a large family who loves drinking hot chocolate? The Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Brewer can easily brew a batch that can satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth in a single brewing cycle.
Value
Affordable and gives great value for money.
Functionality
Easy to use but the machine leaks water and can be difficult to clean.
The Earls Overall Rating
The Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Brewer is great for large groups and the internal drink reservoir keeps the beverages hot and fresh for hours!
PROs
CONs
Cuisinart CHW-12 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
Whether you want to make your own hot chocolate from scratch inside the machine or you just want hot water to mix hot chocolate in your mug, the Cuisinart CHW-12 does both jobs without breaking a sweat.
Value
Great price point but disappointing customer service if something goes wrong with your machine.
Functionality
Easy to use but be careful with the temperature control because it can burn the plastic parts.
The Earls Overall Rating
One of the best things about the Cuisinart CHW-12 is that you can program it the night before so that you can wake up to a fresh cup of hot chocolate in the morning!
PROs
CONs
Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System, Auto-iQ Tea and Coffee Maker
Having a Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System is like having your own barista at home: simply pick your drink and let the machine do all the hard work!
Value
Somewhat pricey and the customer service is disappointing.
Functionality
Makes great hot chocolate but difficult to clean afterwards.
The Earls Overall Rating
Do you love hot chocolate? What about iced hot chocolate? The Ninja Hot & Cold Brewed System can make those of you with just the touch of a button AND froth your milk!
PROs
CONs
Parting Shots
That’s it, our rundown of the 5 best coffee machine for making hot chocolate. We know that you’re excited to go out and get one for yourself so that you can start enjoying delicious coffee and hot chocolate. Whether you want something easy to use like the AICOK Single Serve or coffee machine that allows you to customize your drink like the Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew, make sure that you choose a machine that fit your budget, your drinking preferences, and the space you have in your kitchen! Find out more about coffee machines.