For more tips on using the Podster and Velvetiser in harmony, take a look at our guide on becoming a home barista. Here, you’ll find expert advice on preparing the finest espresso drinks and mastering classic barista-grade recipes.

For foamed latte milk, just pour in 220ml of milk (dairy or plant-based), and push the button. Or, if you’re making hot chocolate, add a single-serve sachet or 35g of hot chocolate flakes to your milk and do the same. In both cases, the Velvetiser will work its magic and be ready to sip and savour in under three minutes. When it comes to making a cup of coffee, there are plenty of different methods and gadgets available. From filter machines to instant coffee, we all have our preferred way of rustling up a cuppa. Our personal favourite way to brew coffee is with one of our very own soon-to-be-released coffee machine – the Podster. Once you’ve found the blend that particularly appeals to your taste buds, it’s time to find the right coffee machine to make it with. Whether you’re a caffeine fiend or hot chocolate connoisseur, getting the most out of your home barista tools starts with top-quality ingredients. At Hotel Chocolat, we pride ourselves on sourcing only the finest coffee beans and cacao beans. Doing so ensures that every sip of your coffee or hot chocolate is brimming with complex, nuanced notes. Ultimately, we believe this makes for a far more enjoyable and satisfying drinking experience.You can get specially-designed coffee cleaning capsules that contain detergent to clean the inside of your machine. They look just like your usual coffee pods and you use them in the same way: pop a capsule in, press the button, and wait for the machine to dispense the liquid. Just don’t drink this one! What about the coffee grinds? The same goes for hot chocolate. You may notice that many hot chocolate powders are high in sugar and have a low cacao content. While these may be cheap and easily accessible, excess sugar masks the cacao bean’s layered notes. We use real grated chocolate for our hot chocolate pouches and single-serve sachets. And, as you might expect, that grated chocolate is high in cacao. Wake up to the most delicious cup every day. Keep your coffee pod machine in tip-top condition with these maintenance guidelines

With a textured handle for a secure grip and soft-touch buttons that make the process almost as smooth as the coffee it pours, it’s the little subtleties that give this coffee machine the edge over other, more basic machines. And the metal engraved pod loader tops off its stylish appearance to reassure you that your brew is in safe hands. Quality varies, of course, but, depending on the make and model, most coffee pod machines should have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years. Most are designed for everyday use — and if you’re anything like us, your machine certainly will see daily action! So with good care (and top quality coffee), you should be able to enjoy irresistible, barista-grade drinks for the best part of a decade. Why it’s important to clean your coffee pod machine regularly I also didn’t want something with too many buttons or that was complicated to operate, as first thing when I need my coffee the last thing I want to do is remember how to programme it! Descaling is one of the most important and effective ways to care for your coffee pod machine. Just like a kettle, all coffee machines tend to build up a layer of calcium or limescale. This chalky deposit is completely normal but can diminish the quality of your drinks. x Cashmere coffee pods – Ever-so-slightly sweet, Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot Estate Cashmere blend has hints of caramel crème and freshly-baked brioche for a mellow, soothing cup of coffee.We pride ourselves on being an ethical company with a transparent supply chain. We source our coffee from small, sustainable farms where the farmers receive equal treatment and fair pay, so you can enjoy our coffee with peace of mind. Coffee Machines

Quite simply, a coffee machine – sometimes known as a coffee maker – is an appliance used to brew coffee. Found in households around the globe, they are kitchen staples for coffee lovers and come in many different shapes and sizes. We love coffee machines and offer our very own version – the Podster. If you have a coffee machine with a built-in milk frother, you need to make sure the milk reservoir and spout stay clean. The last thing you want is sour milk remnants tainting your cappuccino or flat white. Not only will it taste terrible, but spoilt milk could also cause you to feel unwell. Let's take a closer look, shall we? Imagined by Hotel Chocolat and engineered by Dualit (so you know it's going to be good), the Podster coffee machine lets you use up to five different blends and comes complete with a pod recycler that makes easy work of disposing of your used pods in the household recycling.Italian inventor Angelo Moriodno invented the modern espresso machine in 1884. As the name suggests, espresso machines make espresso, which forms the base of cappuccino, lattes, and a variety of other café favourites. The Podsters measure between 71 and 75 inches in circumference and have dimensions of approximately 23.75 x 21.5 x 8 inches. They have a padded insert and a removable cover. The covers come in a variety of prints and are either 100% polyester or a cotton/polyester blend. The covers also contain an elastic center made of a nylon/spandex blend. Approximately 180,000 Podsters have been sold.