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 roundup, 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.
Contents
- Pods vs. Powder: Which is Better?
- Comparison Chart
- A Detailed Review on the 7 Best Coffee Machine for Making Hot Chocolate
- 1. Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95 10-Cup Optimal Brew
- 2. Mega Cocina Single Serve Compact K-Cup Brewer
- 3. Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Coffee Maker
- 4. Cuisinart CHW-12 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker
- 5. Ninja Hot and Cold Brewed System, Auto-iQ Tea and Coffee Maker
- 6. Espressione EM 1040 Espresso Machine
- 7. Nespresso Pixie by Breville
- Parting Shots
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 is usually very sweet and has 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
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
| 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. | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
| 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. | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
| 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. | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
| 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. | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
| 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! | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
| Espressione EM 1040 Espresso Machine | This espresso machine from Espressione is the perfect coffee machine if you want some hot chocolate sometimes instead of coffee. | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
| Nespresso Inissia by Breville | Nespresso Inissia by Breville offers an impeccable single serve coffee or espresso cup every time,thanks to its automatic operation and patented extraction system which delivers up to 19 bars of pressure. | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON |
A Detailed Review on the 7 Best Coffee Machine for Making Hot Chocolate
1. 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.
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
- Efficient water filtration system
- Easy to clean
- Stainless steel thermal carafe
CONs
- Plastic parts feel flimsy
- Water pump leaks
- Durability issues
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2. 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 it 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.
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
- Quick brewing time
- Easy to use
- Compatible with any standard K-cup pods
- The water tank is made of BPA-free plastic
- The water tank stores up to 12oz. of water
CONs
- Breaks easily
- Have durability issues
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3. 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
It is affordable and gives great value for money.
Functionality
Easy to use but the machine leaks water and can be difficult to clean.
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
- The enclosed brewing system keeps drinks hot for up to 4 hours
- Large brewing capacity
- Removable water reservoir for easy cleaning
- Does not need a separate carafe
CONs
- All plastic parts
- Tall and bulky
- Water condenses inside the brewer and leaks
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4. 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
It has a great price point but it has disappointing customer service if something goes wrong with your machine.
Functionality
It’s easy to use but be careful with the temperature control because it can burn the plastic parts.
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
- Elegant design
- Large carafe holds up to 12 cups
- Hot water on demand
- Precise temperature control
CONs
- Unreliable water level sensor
- Plastic parts feel flimsy and can affect taste of the drink
- Poor customer service
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5. 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
It is somewhat pricey and the customer service is disappointing.
Functionality
It makes great hot chocolate but difficult to clean afterward.
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
- Modern and stylish
- Adjustable size and strength of the brew
- Milk frother included
- Easy to operate
CONs
- Difficult to clean
- Poor customer service
- Bulky and takes up a lot of counter space
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6. Espressione EM 1040 Espresso Machine
This espresso machine from Espressione is the perfect coffee machine if you want some hot chocolate sometimes instead of coffee.
Value
It has both a coffee maker pot and an espresso maker with a milk frother wand. With a price of $273.50, it is definitely worth it.
Functionality
You can make espresso shots and you can also make hot chocolate with this espresso machine. You can use coffee beans or pods so it is very flexible in terms of what you can do with it.
Overall Rating
This espresso machine is a good buy for every coffee lover’s home. It doesn’t just serve brewed coffee and espresso machine but you can also use it for hot chocolate.
PROs
- Modern and stylish
- Brewed coffee and Espresso Machine
- Milk frother included
- Easy to operate
CONs
- No timer
- Cannot work simultaneously
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7. Nespresso Pixie by Breville
The Nespresso Pixie by Breville can make a lot of hot beverages you want with just the simple touch of a button. This coffee machine uses pods with different flavors like mocha, cappuccino, and even hot chocolate.
Value
At $200, this coffee machine has limited use unlike the others but it produces great quality coffee. If you purchase this machine, you also get a complimentary starter set of Nespresso capsules.
Functionality
It makes great hot chocolate and espresso especially if you’re on the go and you need some hot beverage quickly.
Overall Rating
The Nespresso Pixie by Breville is a great coffee machine that can also create hot chocolate. Overall, the price is worth it even if buying Nespresso capsules is a bit pricier than buying K-Cups or coffee beans.
PROs
- Fast brewing
- Adjustable cup size
- Industrial Design
- High-quality and durable pump control
CONs
- Capsules are expensive compared to other options
- No other options
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Parting Shots
That’s our rundown of the best coffee machines 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 fits your budget, your drinking preferences, and the space you have in your kitchen!