How to make hot chocolate in a coffee maker

Sometimes a caffeine boost is just not what you need. There are times when you crave something warm and chocolaty to make those cold evenings a little merrier. This is where hot chocolate is our favorite. Who doesn’t love a hot cup of chocolaty goodness on cozy evenings? Well, the good news is that you can easily prepare hot chocolate in a coffee maker. Follow our guide below to find more.

You can make hot chocolate in a coffee machine using the steam wand to heat the milk and chocolate together. You can also make hot chocolate in a percolator by substituting the coffee grounds for ground chocolate. If you have a coffee maker, add milk to the water reservoir to make hot chocolate.

Although you can use different types of powders, we will be using cocoa powder or chocolate powder for these recipes and not hot chocolate mix. Cocoa powder is different from a hot chocolate mix. Cocoa powder comprises cocoa beans with no sweetener or other additives. It may have a bitter flavor but will taste great once you add sugar.

In contrast, the hot chocolate mix is made from a mixture of cocoa powder (or chocolate), sweeteners, and other components such as dairy additives. You can even use your favorite chocolate bars for these recipes.

If you are making hot chocolate using an espresso machine or a coffee maker, use pure cocoa powder or chocolate powder (without dairy). If you are making hot chocolate using hot chocolate capsules or pods, do not add any milk or cocoa powder to the recipe. If you are using a percolator, you can use either of the two types of hot chocolate powders.

For this recipe, we are using cocoa powder without any dairy additives. The cocoa powder or chocolate powder should be pure chocolate without any creamer.

Requirements

• One cup (8 ounces) of milk.
• One tablespoon cocoa powder.
• One tablespoon sugar.

Instructions

Step 1

Empty the coffee ground / coffee beans compartment. Wipe the interior with a damp cloth to remove any traces of coffee.

Step 2

Take one tablespoon cocoa powder in a mug and place it under the coffee maker’s dispenser.

Step 3

Put milk in the water tank of the coffee maker and start the machine. Hot milk will pour into the mug. Mix the cocoa powder and milk. Your hot chocolate is ready!

Using your espresso machine’s steam wand, you can make hot chocolate in an espresso machine. This recipe is straightforward as it does not involve the espresso machine’s brewing feature. All you need is a milk jug and the steam wand.

Requirements

• Two tablespoons chocolate powder/cocoa powder.
• One cup milk (whole or skimmed).
• Whipped cream.
• 3-4 marshmallows (optional).
• A milk jug.

Instructions

Step 1

Fill the milk jug with one cup milk and add the hot chocolate powder.

Step 2

Turn on the steam wand and wait for it to be ready. Hold the milk jug under the wand and allow the steam to produce a creamy foam. Remove the jug from the wand when the desired foam consistency is reached.

Step 3

The chocolate and milk will be mixed by now. Pour the hot chocolate into a mug. You can now top it with whipped cream and marshmallows. This step is optional and hot chocolate tastes fantastic even without them.

Just like you can make coffee using capsules and pods, you can also make hot chocolate! You will find a variety of coffee pods and coffee capsules. Recently, coffee pod companies have started manufacturing hot chocolate pods and capsules as well.

You can use these pods in a compatible machine and get a mug of hot chocolate ready in no time! This recipe is for single-serve capsules. You can increase the amount of water (8 additional ounces per serving) if you are using capsules for larger servings.

Note that hot chocolate capsules already have dried milk in them. Do not add more milk to the mixture.

Requirements

• One Hot chocolate capsule or pod (single serving).
• One cup of water (8 ounces).

Instructions

Step 1

Pour water into the water reservoir.

Step 2

Open the capsule container and insert the hot chocolate pod/capsule. Secure the lid on the machine.

Step 3

Start the coffee machine, and the hot chocolate will flow into your mug as soon as it is ready. Remove the pod.

You can also make hot chocolate using an Italian coffee machine or percolator. The procedure is quite similar to making coffee in it. We only substitute the coffee grounds with the cocoa powder. You can use either cocoa powder or hot chocolate mix in this recipe.

Before we teach you how to make hot chocolate in a percolator, let us have an overview of what a percolator is. As it is an instrument everyone may not be familiar with, knowing the components of a percolator will make the recipe easy. Skip reading it if you are familiar with a Percolator.

What Is a Percolator?

A percolator is an old Italian appliance / pot of brewing coffee that was common before drip coffee machines were invented. This appliance looks a lot like a kettle. Boiling water is continuously cycled through the coffee grounds inside the percolator. This results in a more potent brew, the more it is circulated.

A stovetop percolator and an electric percolator are the two kinds of percolators available. They operate similarly but with different heat sources. The bottom of an electric percolator has a heat source that needs to be connected with a plug. A stovetop percolator requires fire or flame.

How Does A Percolator Work?

A percolator works by creating a vacuum and circulating the liquid between its two compartments. It consists of an upper chamber and a lower one. The lower chamber is supposed to be filled with cold water. There is a vertical tube that connects the upper and lower chambers. A sieve-like plate (the basket) is placed on the water compartment (lower chamber). Check the diagram below.

We put the coffee grounds or hot chocolate powder in the basket. We attach the upper chamber as well. When the percolator is heated, steam rises and creates a vacuum. The vacuum pushes the water into the upper chamber through the connecting tube.

Then, it pushes it back into the ground coffee chamber below. The steam and pressure continue working together and suck the water up and down between the chambers until you turn off the heat source.

Requirements

• 5 tablespoons of chocolate mix or cocoa powder.
• ½ cup of water.
• ½ cup of hot milk (if you are using cocoa powder)
• A percolator.

Instructions

Step 1

Open the lower chamber and fill it with water. Attach the sieve plate/basket.

Step 2

Add the hot chocolate powder in the basket. Turn on the heat source/stove.

Step 3

Wait for about 7-10 minutes for the water and hot chocolate to thoroughly blend in the percolator. When the mixture is in the upper chamber, and you feel the desired consistency has reached, turn off the heat.

Step 4

Take the hot milk in a mug and pour the hot chocolate blend into the mug as well. Mix thoroughly, and your hot chocolate will be ready. If you are using a hot chocolate mix, then skip this step.

Follow the safety tips below for safer preparation of hot chocolate since you will be working with a percolator and a steam wand.

• Do not touch the bottom of a percolator while it is on the stove, as the metal can be extremely hot.
• Do not touch the steam wand while it is on. The steam wand is one of the hottest components of an espresso machine and can cause serious burns.
• While using the milk jug, touch the top of the jug slightly with the tip of your finger to see if the process is complete. Use a cloth to hold the handle if it is made of metal.

Many coffee machines can make hot chocolate in one step. You just have to insert a pod and press the button to make it. The following coffee machines make hot chocolate.

• The Keurig K-mini coffee maker.
• The De’Longhi ECAM35075SI.
• The Nespresso by Breville.
• The Cuisinart CHW-12P1.
• The Capresso Froth Pro.
• The Nescafe Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine.

Hot chocolate is truly a drink for every occasion. Even if you are a lover of caffeinated, strong beverages, hot chocolate definitely has a place in your heart! Making hot chocolate is easy whether you are using a percolator, a coffee maker, an espresso machine, or even making it manually. Follow our recipes and treat yourself to a mug of chocolaty joy.

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