Customer Reviews:
 Nice looking but do we really need this? July 31, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Bodum has tried to simplify our age old treat with this hot chocolate maker! The product, just like the picture is aesthetically pleasing and very easy to use. It's silent, mess free and also easy to clean. So what's the problem you ask?
Firstly, to make the kind of foam shown in the picture, you would have to whisk for quite a while with a lot of patience. The reason I know this is because I was at it for quite a bit but didn't get close since my arms were hurting by that time! Secondly, I'm not sure if this product is exclusive eneough to buy at this price since my battery operated frother does the same with no effort on my part. The glass pitcher is microwaveable and very good quality but I'm still not convinced if that justifies the cost of this product which makes you do all the hard work!
 Useful for Me, Others May Wonder July 29, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
My Bodum Chocalatiere arrived with the frother broken. Repeated requests to Amazon for a replacement went unanswered. I decided to try it anyway.
I mixed cocoa powder, milk and the rest in the glass carafe and blended them with my own battery-powered frother. (Oddly, I have used it for lattes, but never thought of cocoa). Then I put the carafe in the microwave, heated, and voila! Hot cocoa attractively served in a glass carafe.
Was this any better than mixing in a pot and pouring into mugs? Or microwaving (as I do my coffee) in a glass measuring cup?
For me, "yes". Because it allowed me to skip a step, save washing an extra pot, and prepare, heat, and serve it in the same container. It made a nice presentation and is good for coffee as well.
I liked it.
 The Sad Maiden and Only Voyage of the Bodum Chocolatiere July 29, 2008
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
Wrapped securely in giant bubble wrap, in a box within a box, she, my Bodum Chocolatiere, rested comfortably in a packaged womb as she found her way into my home. Her curves were undeniable, more svelte than the chocolate jugs made for ordinary use, bringing me hope. My use, though, was not plebeian.
Ground chocolate. Sugar. 2% milk. Vanilla. Filtered water. Heavy whipping cream. These were the ingredients of pleasure. These were to join as an elixir of morning ecstasy. These were what God designed, and what I would mix.
Mechanically, as I swished the plunger, all blended, but inefficiently. Chocolate powder remained at the bottom, unreached by the swirl liquid. At the top, other problems ensued: partially harmonized flavors pulled out with the plunger. All grace was lost as hot chocolate spilt upon my counter.
Though my struggle was true, my recipe was sure, and so, when all was meted generously between my Monday brunch guest and I, we enjoyed.
Was a better method of preparation available? Could the spillage be averted through a careful and exact portioning of ingredients? This I will not know. While drawing water to rinse, she clashed with a favorite coffee mug (Fiestaware White 149 18-Ounce Jumbo Cups, Set of 4) and left this world in several pieces.
Hot chocolate deserves to made with ease, and the Bodum Chocolatiere was not easy. Her virtue was her sophistication, but her vice was her fragility. She was beautiful to see, but not sturdy enough to love me back. There are better ways to make the hot chocolate you need.
--Brockeim
 Clever, easy-to-use product July 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The heat of summer did not prevent this intrepid reviewer from her task. This is a very nice product that is easy to use, cleans up beautifully, and has a very small footprint in the cupboard. The frother works well with our 1% milk. Sure beats hot chocolate in a saucepan or (heaven forbid!), those instant plastic hot chocolate packages.
I was a little conflicted on how to rate this chocolatiere. July 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It does what it is supposed to do. And does it and flawlessly. But...and this is a big but, it is a rather unnecessary piece of equipment. You get just as good results using a pot and a hand mixer or power stick. And if you have a microwave on the blink, as do I, then you have to dirty up an extra pan to heat the milk, or water if you are using a powder chocolate mix. It is a handsome jug and seals really well. The blender stick part is metal but the blades are a rather fragile appearing and feeling plastic. I think one reviewer called it cute but unnecessary and I agree wholeheartedly. Anyway if you like gadgets that are basically for one purpose only then buy away. The price is reasonable.
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