If you have recently acquired an espresso machine or if you are thinking of getting one then you might be wondering whether or not they can make hot chocolate.
So, can espresso machines make hot chocolate? While espresso machines are not designed to make hot chocolate, they can be used to make hot chocolate. You can make it by using ground cocoa in place of coffee in the espresso machine.
With that being said using ground cocoa in place of coffee could cause the burrs of the espresso machine to clog. Additionally, the result will likely not taste like hot chocolate that you are used to.
Instead, it would likely be better to use the brew method where you use the steaming pitcher to froth the milk and then add it to a mug with cocoa powder in it.
How to make hot chocolate with an espresso machine
To make hot chocolate using the more recommended brew method you will need:
- Milk
- Hot chocolate mix or cocoa powder
- Espresso machine
- Milk jug
Method to make hot chocolate using an espresso machine (brew method):
- Pour milk into your milk jug
- Add 125 grams milk to the milk jug
- Add 25 grams of cocoa powder to the milk jug
- Stir until well mixed
- Foam the mixture using the steam wand placing it just below the surface of the mixture
- Tap the base of the milk jug on the surface below to remove any large air bubbles once your mixture has reached the desired temperature and foaminess
- Pour mixture into a mug and add any other toppings that you want
To see how this is done watch the video below.
The benefit of using this method is that you will be able to make the hot chocolate taste the way that it usually does at coffee shops and you will be able to avoid risking clogging up your espresso machine.
Risks of making hot chocolate in an espresso machine
If you decide to make hot chocolate the same way that you make an espresso then it can be done.
If you do decide to do it that way then make sure to use roasted, ground cocoa in place of espresso when doing it.
The risk of making hot chocolate this way is that the cocoa has a higher fat content which could result in the burs of the espresso machine becoming clogged.
You could avoid this by using a blade grinder to grind the cocoa to be as fine as you can get it to be.
What else can an espresso machine make?
There are a number of other drinks that espresso machines can make in addition to espresso and hot chocolate.
These can include:
- Americano (espresso diluted with hot water)
- Cappuccino (espresso topped with some steamed milk and a lot of foam)
- Latte (espresso topped with a lot of steamed milk and some foam)
- Macchiato (espresso shot added to steamed milk)
- Ristretto (an espresso made with half as much water)
- Lungo (an espresso where it is brewed with more water)
Alternate ways to make hot chocolate
Instead of using the espresso machine to make the hot chocolate you could also heat the milk up by placing it in a pan and heating it up then adding it to the hot chocolate mixture.
You can watch the video below to see a number of other ways to make hot chocolate.
Which hot chocolate is best?
When making hot chocolate with an espresso machine it will be necessary to consider the type that you are using.
It will be necessary that the powder is coarse so as not to clog the burr of the espresso machine.
This is why it is recommended that you use roasted, ground cocoa if you are going to try to make hot chocolate the same way that you would normally make an espresso.
However, if you are planning on making hot chocolate by just mixing it with milk and then steaming the mixture then you can use any type of hot chocolate powder that you want.
Which espresso machine is best for hot chocolate?
Assuming that you would be making the hot chocolate using the steamer then any espresso machine would work well and you should select the espresso machine that would best suit your needs and give you the espresso that you like the most.
If you’re unsure of which one to get then a popular choice would be the Keurig K-Cafe.
You can watch a review showing you how to use it here.
Why not use a hot chocolate maker?
If you just want to be able to make hot chocolate and you are not interested in espresso or if you already have an espresso machine then consider getting a milk frother instead.
By doing so you will be able to make hot chocolate more easily as you will simply be able to add the powder and the milk to the machine and let it do its work. Milk frothers can also be used to make latte’s and cappuccinos so if you don’t already have an espresso machine you will still be able to make them more easily than doing it all manually.
Related
Can coffee machines make hot chocolate? You can use the coffee machine to make hot chocolate. It would be more effective to use the coffee machine to heat up water and then to mix the heated water into a mug that has the hot chocolate powder in it.
Can you get hot chocolate pods for Nespresso? There are some companies that do make hot chocolate pods specifically for Nespresso such as https://mugpods.com/. However, there are not many companies selling them in
What is hot chocolate with a shot of espresso called? Caffè mocha. You can make it by making the espresso the normal way and then adding steamed milk mixed with hot chocolate powder to it.
