Once reserved for high-end events and chocolatiers, chocolate fountains are now becoming commonplace in many homes for a variety of parties and events, or even just for the occasional treat. Of course, even owning a chocolate fountain is a treat for many people, and it can be a great conversation starter in any home. However, as they aren’t exactly the most common item on our shopping lists, it can be more difficult to figure out exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to getting the best chocolate fountain for your needs. Fortunately, we’ve put together this guide that will help you get the perfect fountain, no matter what the occasion might be. Read on for reviews of the best fountains on the market and helpful tips on how to choose yours.
Best Pick
Our best pick is the Wilton Chocolate Pro Fountain, which offers a multi-tier design, stainless-steel warming bowl, and the reputation of a brand like Wilton backing it
Budget Pick
For a more affordable chocolate fountain, we recommend the Nostalgia CFF986, which offers a smaller chocolate capacity but still has an impressive design that gives you the fountain that you want.
Quick Comparison: 8 Top Chocolate Fountains
Highlighted Features
This Chocolate Pro Chocolate Fountain is made by Wilton, a leader in baking and pastries, and features a variety of great settings for any party or home-use planning needs. It can hold up to four pounds of chocolate and has a longer cord so that you don’t have to be close to an outlet to use it.
The Chocolate Pro Fountain is among the best on the market in terms of affordability and quality, offering a simple design that is effective enough to produce professional-style results. This lightweight fountain operates quietly and can be used continuously for multiple hours without risk of scorching or overheating the chocolate, making it ideal for parties and bigger events where it will be on display for an extended period.Highlighted Features
The Nostalgia CFF986 fountain is a great choice for those who want a warming fountain that is a little smaller. Unlike some fountains, this model does state that it can also be used for things like nacho cheese, liqueurs, barbecue sauce and other liquids. It also has an auger-style design, which means there is no pump, making it quieter than other options.
This fountain is great for weddings and baby showers, birthday parties, and other events, offering a fun way for people to interact and enjoy some chocolatey treats. This is one of the larger models available from this brand, and although it doesn’t hold as much chocolate as some models, it has an impressive capacity and stylish finish. This fountain measures 18 inches in height, which is just enough to make a statement without overdoing it.3. Nostalgia CFF965 Chocolate Fondue Fountain
Highlighted Features
The Nostalgia CFF965 fountain is another product from Nostalgia, a leader in classic appliances and electrics for the home. This fountain features a sleek black base and can be used for a variety of events or even just as a fun item to have at home to enjoy every once in a while. The three tiers are enough to make a statement without overdoing it, and the unit includes a warranty for added peace of mind.
This fountain includes a stainless-steel bowl that is easy to clean and made from food-grade materials, so you will never have issues cleaning up or using the fountain safely in your home. This model can even be used with nacho cheese and other liquids.4. Nostalgia CFF1000 Stainless Steel Cascading Fondue Fountain
Highlighted Features
The Nostalgia CFF1000 offers a two-pound capacity, making it great for small parties and events, or even just as a fun family night investment. This fountain is even designed to hold other liquids, such as nacho cheese, liqueurs, barbecue sauces, and others, giving you plenty of unique options for any kind of fountain you may have in mind.
This fountain offers a similar capacity to other models on the market, but its design really stands above the rest—literally. This towering fountain is sure to impress at any event, offering a mesmerizing display with its beautiful cascading layers. It also disassembles quickly for easy cleanup, and the heat can be turned on or off for use with cold or room-temperature liquids.5. Sephra Select Chocolate Fountain
Highlighted Features
The Sephra Select Chocolate Fountain is an ideal choice for kids’ parties or home use when you want a chocolate fountain that can handle everything at once. The warming bowl can be turned on or off so that you can preheat your chocolate ahead of time. It is also compatible with nacho cheese, wing sauce and more.
This fountain is great for smaller parties and can hold about four pounds of chocolate in a single fill, giving you plenty to go around. The device is easy to take apart and clean, too, and even the base wipes up with ease. For those who entertain a lot or enjoy the idea of owning a fountain, this small model could be just what you need.6. Nostalgia LPF230 3-Tier Party Fountain with LED Lighted Base
Highlighted Features
When you want to pull out all of the stops, the Nostalgia LPF230 3-Tier Party Fountain with LED Lighted Base is a sure-fire way to get heads turning. This chocolate fountain holds up to 1.5 gallons, or eight cups, and can be used for punch or other liquids, as well. If you want to get a little creative, it can also make the perfect addition to cocktails at a party, milk at a kids’ event, and a variety of other events.
The illuminated base adds a cool touch for parties and events, and the set also comes with eight cups that can even be hung on the side of the bowl for use with liquids and beverages. There is a simple toggle switch that turns the fountain on and off, but it does not include a warming feature, so you’ll have to pre-melt your chocolate to use this fountain. It does include a satisfaction guarantee from the manufacturer, though.7. Sweet Fountains 22" Entertainer Home Stainless Steel Chocolate Fountain
Highlighted Features
The Sweet Fountains Entertainer series is all about showing off at your next party and event. This model includes a stainless steel finish and is easy to disassemble for cleaning. Plus, the warming bowl allows you to melt chocolate as you go, and you can choose to turn the heat on or off as needed. It can operate on 2.5 pounds but will hold up to four pounds of chocolate in total.
This fountain is made from high-quality materials and has sturdy, rubberized feet to ensure that it stays in place during use. This fountain also offers the best value for the money, with many great features for a reasonable price. Of course, it is in the premium collection and will cost more than many of the models on this list, but for those who entertain often or run event planning businesses, this could be the ideal choice.8. VEVOR Wedding Parties, 5 Tiers, Chocolate Fountain
Highlighted Features
The VEVOR 80cm/31.5-inch Stainless Steel Auto Temperature Control Fountain is one of the best models on this list, but it’s also the most expensive. For serious entertaining, event planning, and commercial use, this fountain delivers plenty of performance and can be used for any party or event where you want to leave a lasting impression. The evenly-spaced canopies give you plenty of room for dipping, and the unique bowl design ensures chocolate doesn’t overflow or drip out during use.
This fountain includes multiple heating controls and a professional-grade construction, along with a strong seal system to prevent leaks. It can hold up to 17.6 pounds of chocolate and has a longer cord that makes for easy heating, even when you’re some distance from an outlet.
How to Choose the Best Chocolate Fountain to Show Off at Your Next Party
Buying a chocolate fountain can be a lot of fun. However, it might not always be simple to choose the one that you want to spend your money on. After all, if you’ve never used or bought a chocolate fountain before, it could be difficult to understand the buying process and what’s available on the market today. Fortunately, now that you’ve seen what the best chocolate fountains have to offer, it should be much easier for you to get everything that you need. Keep reading to find out how to shop around for the best fountain and what factors to look out for when deciding which is the right fountain for your needs.
Does the Fountain Melt Chocolate?
There are two types of chocolate fountains. The first kind will only offer the fountain function, requiring you to melt the chocolate elsewhere and put it into the fountain while still in liquid form. These fountains typically don’t have heating elements, so they aren’t going to be ideal for long-term use with a substance like chocolate that will cool and harden without a strong heat source.
You’ll be happy to hear that most fountains do include a warming bowl so that you can melt your chocolate before you turn the fountain on, saving a bowl and a whole extra process. However, it’s something that you need to double-check so that you can get the most out of your fountain.
How Much Chocolate Does It Hold?
The other big concern with buying something like a chocolate fountain is the capacity. These fountains can hold anywhere from two pounds of chocolate to up to 15 or more pounds. You may have noticed that the last fountain on our list comes in at an impressive 17.6 pounds of chocolate capacity. If you’re having a small event or just want a fountain for home use, something smaller might do the trick. The two- to four-pound models are the most popular and have the most uses.
Check the Power Source
If a fountain requires a cord to generate power (which most do), you need to make sure that you have enough cord to work with, no matter where you are going. It's understood that these fountains are rarely going to be against a wall or near an outlet, so companies have been working hard to provide longer, more durable power cords to combat this issue. You can also consider using a heavy-duty extension cord if necessary.
Other Features to Consider
By taking the time to explore your options, you’ll quickly pick up on the various features that matter most in your purchase. However, to assist you with your purchase, we’ve compiled the most important factors below.
Size and Tiers
Of course, the fountain is the centerpiece of the event in most cases. Therefore, you’ll want to check to see how tall the machine is, as well as how many tiers it has. Most fountains have three or four tiers, although some may have five. Some fountains are compact and designed specifically for home use, while others are larger for big events, event planning companies and more.
Construction Quality
Investing in a chocolate fountain is tricky, because although it can be a fun investment, you still have to do your homework and make sure that you are getting the most out of your purchase. These machines are typically made of high-quality, food-grade stainless steel, for the most part, which means they are just as easy to clean as they are to use.
Assembly and Cleaning
Anytime you invest in something like a chocolate fountain, you have to make sure that you understand how to take it apart and put it back together. Fortunately, all of the fountains on this list (and most of the ones on the market today) are designed to be easy to take apart and clean, guaranteeing sanitary, long-lasting operation.
Adjustable Feet
A fountain has to be level to work properly and safely. The liquid chocolate will be warm, but not hot to the touch, but it still doesn’t need to be spilling everywhere. You can’t rely on the table or other surfaces to be entirely stable and level, so having adjustable feet that are stable and secure will ensure that your fountain works to its best abilities without the risk of tipping or other issues.
Other Uses
There are many different ways that chocolate fountains can be used, but not all models are multifunctional. Check to see if your preferred chocolate fountain includes the option to use other liquids like wing sauce, nacho cheese, or even ranch dressing. The versatility is a great benefit, but it’s also practical to buy something that will serve more than one purpose, and especially when it comes to something like a chocolate fountain.
Perks of Owning a Chocolate Fountain
A chocolate fountain is a lot of fun, but it also comes with a number of useful benefits. The first, and most obvious, perk is that this option is cheaper than renting a machine if you’re going to do it more than once or twice. If you just buy a machine instead, you can have a chocolate fountain for any and every occasion, or even for no occasion at all.
If you are considering investing in a chocolate fountain, here are some more of the most important benefits to consider.
Great Design Aesthetic
If you want to give your event some added flair or just provide a touch of decadence, a chocolate fountain could be a great choice. These are statement pieces as much as they are dessert tools, and they will add a unique look to any display table at your next event.
Fun Activity with Great Treats
Who doesn’t love fondue? Dipping treats into a chocolate fountain is a fun activity for all ages, from little kids to grown-ups that are kids at heart. There are so many different styles of fountains out there, but they can all be used with a variety of foods, from marshmallows to cookies, strawberries, and more. It's dessert and fun all in one, which isn’t something that you can find with just any party food.
Instant Entertainment
When you own a chocolate fountain, you aren’t going to have to worry about how to entertain people or get their attention. Owning a fountain allows you to show off in so many ways, making it a great choice for parties and even just for home entertaining on a smaller scale. Think about the last time that you went somewhere and saw a novelty like a chocolate fountain—don't you want to give your visitors that same excitement?
Guests Serve Themselves
You never have to worry about table service or making sure that everyone gets enough dessert. With a chocolate fountain, guests can help themselves to as little or as much as they want. People will enjoy the experience, but you will enjoy having less prep work to do since you’re not making big desserts or otherwise creating party food. Something like a chocolate fountain is a creative way to take some work off your plate.
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