Chocolate fountains are the ultimate addition to any small gathering or party. It was not that long ago when chocolate fondue fountains were mainly large, commercial appliances that were rented for special occasions. That is not true anymore.
Today, personal sized, chocolate fondue fountains are becoming more common in the market. With so many choices, it can be difficult to choose what brand or model to choose. The following guide can help you make the right choice. It will help inform you of the different costs, features, and reliability of 7 different models for sale right now in 2018.
Every chocolate fondue fountain on this list is different. While each of these has different sizes, features, prices, and qualities, each chocolate fountain on this list is perfect for different budgets, homes, and occasions.
Contents
- 1 Sephra 17302 The Select Fondue Fountain – Easiest Chocolate Fountain to Use
- 2 Wilton Chocolate Pro 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain – Best Chocolate Fountain for Parties
- 3 Nostalgia CFF986 4-Tier 2-Pound Capacity Fondue Fountain – Best All-Around Chocolate Fountain
- 4 Ovente 2-Tier Chocolate Fondue Fountain – Best Value Chocolate Fountain
- 5 ClearMax CF-892 Electric 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain – Best Chocolate Fountain for Small Parties
- 6 Disney DCM-50 Mickey Mouse Chocolate Fountain – Best Chocolate Fountain for Children
- 7 Chef’s Star Electric 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain – Best Value Chocolate Fountain for Special Occasions
- 8 Buyer’s Guide
- 9 Conclusion
Sephra 17302 The Select Fondue Fountain
– Easiest Chocolate Fountain to Use
The Sephra 17302 chocolate fountain is one of the best machines on the market. The stainless steel design makes it an elegant looking machine for any occasion.
The parts on the machine are easy to remove, clean, and reassemble. All parts are dishwasher safe to make cleaning up after your dinner or party easier.
Many chocolate fountains require you to melt the chocolate in a pan or microwave before pouring it in the fountain. Having the basin heated allows you to melt the chocolate in the machine and avoid any extra messes.
- Parts are easy to assemble and clean
- Heated basin
- Stainless steel construction
- Includes 10 skewers
- Higher price than similarly sized fountains
- Can only be used for chocolate
- Larger and heavier than other fountains
Wilton Chocolate Pro 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain – Best Chocolate Fountain for Parties
Wilton is a well-known brand when it comes to home baking. They are known for their quality products and that quality extends to their “Pro 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain.” Compared to most models on this list, this fountain uses four pounds of chocolate instead of two. This makes the machine great for large parties or special occasions.
There are some downsides.Instead of being made of stainless steel, it is made of plastic. Preventing this model fountain from being the best overall machine is the confusing directions.
- Uses 4 pounds of chocolate while many use 2
- Easy to assemble, take apart, and clean
- Dishwasher safe
- Adjustable levels on the feet of the machine
- Chocolate requires pre-melting
- Many parts use cheaper plastic instead of stainless steel
- Confusing directions
Nostalgia CFF986 4-Tier 2-Pound Capacity Fondue Fountain
– Best All-Around Chocolate Fountain
The Nostalgia CFF 986 chocolate fountain is our choice for the “Best All-Around” fountain for a number of reasons.
There are some downsides. Great quality and great features often mean higher prices, and that is true with the Nostalgia CFF986.
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Heated basin
- Auger style fountain allows use of cheeses and barbeque sauces
- Easy to assemble, clean and use
- Machine makes more noise than other machines
- More expensive than similar fountains
Ovente 2-Tier Chocolate Fondue Fountain
– Best Value Chocolate Fountain
For chocolate fondue beginners looking for a decent fountain for a low price, this is their fountain.
Similar to the Nostalgia machine above, this fountain uses an auger style pump that allows you to use liquids other than chocolate, so any substance as thick as butterscotch will work in the machine as well.
- Compact design is perfect for small gatherings or tight spaces
- Cheaper price makes it perfect for budget parties
- Auger style fountain allows use of cheeses and barbeque sauces
- Machine is loud when in use
- Small motor is easy to wear out
ClearMax CF-892 Electric 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain
– Best Chocolate Fountain for Small Parties
The best feature of the CleanMax CF-892 fountain is its’ small size.
The lightweight and small design make this machine the absolute best for small dinners or parties.
- Lightest and smallest fountain on this list
- Durable machine built with all stainless steel
- Like other smaller models, chocolate requires prior preparation
- Too small for large gatherings
- Small motor can burn out easily
Disney DCM-50 Mickey Mouse Chocolate Fountain
– Best Chocolate Fountain for Children
One of the most surprising fountains on the list is the Disney DCM-50. Instead of being like the typical, lower quality licensed appliance, Disney’s fountain is shockingly a good chocolate fountain.
The smaller size, lower price, and Mickey Mouse design make this chocolate fountain the best fountain to use if you have children. In addition to chocolate, you can use other sauces like caramel or butterscotch.
There are some drawbacks. The Disney design might limit the number of occasions it can be used it. What also could limit its use in the motor. Like so many other smaller fountains, this one also suffers from a weak motor. It might be too loud to use indoors without it occasionally be distracting.
- Mickey Mouse design is great for children and birthday parties
- Can use cheese, caramel, and butterscotch as well as chocolate.
- Includes six-piece skewer set
- Chocolate needs to be melted in a pan first
- Machine sometimes does not keep chocolate melted evenly
- Motor is loud when in use
Chef’s Star Electric 3-Tier Chocolate Fountain
– Best Value Chocolate Fountain for Special Occasions
For entertaining plenty of people on a budget, no machine is better than the Chef’s Star Electric 3-Tier chocolate fountain. It’s’ larger, sturdy, stainless steel body is great for occasions where the machine is going to see some wear and tear. The polished steel body of the machine will look fantastic during any special event.
Another plus for this fountain is the price. It is considerably cheaper than fountains of similar size and function.
The fountain is perfect for parties on a budget. If you are looking for a small, family sized chocolate fountain, other fountains on this list will be much better.
- Polished stainless steel design gives the machine an elegant look
- Larger design makes it great for large events
- Cheaper than similarly sized fountains
- Not convenient for small, personal use
- Larger design requires frequent chocolate refilling
- Difficult to clean
Buyer’s Guide
Picking the right chocolate fountain for your home or occasion can be difficult with the many different sizes and features the different machines have. No worry, the following information can help you narrow down your choices and choose the best one for you.
Prices
When it comes you chocolate fountains, the old saying of “you get what you pay for” fits perfectly. Smaller and cheaper machines are less expensive because either the building material is cheap or the electric motor and heating element are underpowered. As tempting as a cheap model can be, choosing a slightly higher priced machine might save you some frustration.
Chocolate and More
While every machine on the live above will use chocolate, many machines can use other liquids like melted cheese, marshmallow, caramel, barbeque sauce, or salad dressing. If you want your machine to do more than chocolate, you will have to spend a little bit more. Smaller, less pricey machines have small tubes and pumps that do not handle thicker liquids very well. Before buying, check with your individual model to see if it can handle ingredients other than chocolate.
Materials
The chocolate fountains on our list are either plastic or of stainless steel. Plastic machines, while usually cheaper, do not last as long as ones made from metal. Stainless steel machines are less prone to cracking or snapping. Steel made machines are also easier to clean and look more elegant on special occasions.
Motor Noise
One way you can possibly tell a high-quality machine or a poor one is by how much noise they make when running. Fondue sets use a heating element to keep the chocolate warm enough to stay liquid. The machines then use a motor and pump to move the melted chocolate from the basin to the spout at the top.
If you have ever seen or heard a home water fountain, you already know how loud they can be. Lower quality machines use smaller, inefficient motors. These motors need to work harder to pump the melted chocolate and will make more noise. In smaller, indoor, quieter, or more romantic settings, a loud machine can be an annoyance. Higher quality, longer lasting machines will have descriptions like “whisper quiet” on their packaging or reviews.
Size and Weight
Machines come in all different sizes, tiers, weights, and heights. To pick the best fountain, you might want to think about how and when you are going to use it. For small house parties or for people with not a lot of storage space, there are plenty of tiny, compact chocolate fountains.
Chocolate Capacity
Different machines can hold different amounts of chocolate. Smaller machines and the machines on this list can hold either two or four pounds of chocolate. Choosing what capacity is best for you depends on two things; how many people will be using the machine and how long do you need to run it.
Levels of Tiers
Another option to consider when picking the best chocolate fondue fountain is the number of tiers on the machine. For smaller, non-commercial machines, they are essentially just decoration. More tiers generally mean taller fountains and more chocolate but for small machines like the ones on this list, it is purely a personal preference. Choose however many tiers you think will look best for your event.
Adjustable Feet
Chocolate fountains need to be stable and level when running. You do not want a fountain that wobbles. Wobbly or unleveled fountains can cause the chocolate stream to flow unevenly. A major appeal of chocolate fondue fountains is the sight of the cascading chocolate flowing down the fountain. If you are choosing a fountain for a special occasion, an unsightly chocolate fountain can distract from the appeal and taste of the chocolate.
To avoid the unsightly chocolate wobble, look for machines that have adjustable feet. Higher priced and higher quality models of fountains do have adjustable feet. Some cheaper models do as well, but other leave it off.
Assembly
Chocolate fountains work by placing pre-melted chocolate or chocolate pieces in a basin to warm. Once it melts enough, you turn on the pump. The pump pushes the chocolate to the top where it flows down back down to the basin to reheat and continue the cycle. There is a lot of potential for messes so having a good quality fountain that is easy to put together and take apart is essential.
Cleaning
Cleaning up afterward can be the trickiest part of choosing a model. Almost every model machine will tell you that cleanup is easy, but they are not all correct. The construction on each machine is different. There are features you can look for when comparing models to help you pick a chocolate fountain that offers hassle free clean up.
Chocolate Preparation
Do not think that every chocolate fountain works the same. Every model handles chocolate different so it is important that you read and follow all instructions carefully. One slight misstep can ruin your entire batch of chocolate.
Higher end machines will handle the melting and pumping of the chocolate, others do not.
Smaller machines will require you to heat the chocolate separately and then pour the melted chocolate into the basin. If melting the chocolate beforehand sounds like too much of a hassle, then be sure to choose a machine that will melt it for you
To see if a machine will melt the chocolate for you, look for fountains that have different heating settings. Machines with a high and low heat dial will let you melt the chocolate chips in the basin on the high setting, then keep them warm enough on low.
Other Liquids
A great feature of some machines is that they can use liquids other than melted chocolate. If you want to use barbeque sauce, melted marshmallow, butterscotch, caramel, ranch, or cheese, you need to be certain that your machine can handle those fluids. Just because a machine is good at flowing chocolate, it does not mean it will be good for other uses.
Conclusion
Personal chocolate fountains have changed quite a bit over the recent years. They are becoming smaller, easier to use, more efficient, and cheaper. While chocolate fountains continue to evolve, the machines and models on this list are the absolute best chocolate fountains on the market today.
Remember to check all features, sizes, and prices of each machine to make sure you pick the best one for your need. Using the above guide to compare and contrast the best chocolate fountains of 2018 will save you money, will help you pick the right fountain, and help you throw the best party you can imagine.
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Sephra 17302 fountain is very quiet (quieter when it’s full) and worked without fail. I didn’t have any problems getting it started. Melted 4lbs of chocolate which just barely fit in the container and turned it on. It ran for 6 hours straight before I was finally able to get everyone away from it to shut it off and clean it. Would recommend to anyone who wants to add a touch of flare to a get-together.
I used the Disney DCM-50 fountain for my daughter’s birthday party again yesterday and once again it was a HUGE hit! I used the same Sephra real milk chocolate and had several people comment about how great it tasted. The fountain worked just as great this year, and we went through 4 pounds of chocolate again with about 20 kids and 15 adults. It has been worth every penny!
The Nostalgia Chocolate Fondue Fountain works great, and is quiet! Demo’d it at Easter, and can’t wait to use at the grad party in May. I did all my online research for running tips, which are: bought the recommended chocolate, melted the chocolate ahead of time, burped the fountain once running, did not allow any drips of water or big crumbs into the fountain, ran the fountain non-stop until it was time to clean it.
Wonderful! We dipped, strawberries, pineapple, marshmallows and pretzel sticks.
Perhaps it is just that it takes a minimum of 4-6 pounds of chocolate in order to achieve the perfect flow without gaps and clumps. It is; however, Sephra Home Fondue Fountain Chocolate Fountain is easy to clean and to assemble. Takes a bit longer than one might think to heat but this process will prevent scorching. The issue lies in one having to stay close to prevent clumps and gaps and to maintain the perfect amount of chocolate for a visually effective presentation.
Hi Teresa! What is the minimum amount of chocolate can i use on Sephra Home Fondue Chocolate Fountain?
Dear Jesse!
Sephra chocolate fountain requires a minimum amount of chocolate fountain chocolate to create a full curtain of chocolate over each tier. You will need to take the difference between the maximum amount your chocolate fountain will hold and the minimum it needs to flow and deliver the complete chocolate curtain. This number will be the amount of servable chocolate your guests will eat from before you start to lose the “curtaining” effect of the chocolate flow.
I recommend you start off with more than the minimum your chocolate fountain needs because once guests start dipping, the flow will not be like the pictures, smooth and perfect, but you will have gaps in the chocolate curtain. You can always add more chocolate to your chocolate fountain throughout the event to feed more hungry dippers, so it’s better to have too much than not enough