The Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker NRHCM32 is a countertop milk frother and hot chocolate dispenser with a 32 ounce, four-cup capacity, a 3-way selector and a dripless two-way faucet. Nostalgia lists it at $49.99 on its own US store in all colors. This page explains what the maker states, how it differs from a small jug frother, and how it compares with two frothers already covered on this site.
What is the Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker NRHCM32?
It is a vintage-styled appliance that heats and froths liquids in a removable pitcher and serves them through a faucet on the front. The maker's headline use is hot chocolate or apple cider, up to 32 ounces at a time. The page also lists frothy drinks such as hot cocoa, lattes and cafe mochas, and cold drinks such as iced tea or iced coffee.
That makes it a different kind of frother from the small cordless jugs that sit alongside a coffee machine. It is closer to a party dispenser than a barista tool: you add ingredients, set the selector to Heat and Froth, and the maker says it whips up chocolatey beverages in just a few short minutes. The pitcher is removable and has a pour spout, so you can serve through the faucet or pour.
Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker NRHCM32 specs
| Type | Hot chocolate maker and milk frother with dispenser |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4 cups, up to 32 ounces |
| Selector | 3-way, including heat and froth, and froth only |
| Dispenser | 2-way dripless faucet |
| Pitcher | Removable, with pour spout |
| Dimensions | 9.0 x 6.0 x 11.5 in |
| Weight | 2.7 lb |
| Cleaning | Parts removable, hand washed |
| Storage | Disassembles, cord storage beneath the base |
| Colors | Aqua, White, Black, Red (Red sold out on the maker's store) |
| Model numbers | NRHCM32AQ6A, NRHCM32WH6A, NRHCM32BK6A, NRHCM32RD6A |
The maker does not publish a wattage, a heating temperature, a cycle time, a froth-only capacity, a material list or a warranty on this page. Those stay blank here instead of being guessed. The third position of the 3-way selector is also not named, so only heat and froth, and froth only, are described.
How the Nostalgia heat-and-froth selector and faucet work
The selector is the control that matters. The maker says to use the 3-way selector to heat and froth, or to only froth, for different beverage styles. Heat and Froth is the mode for hot cocoa and lattes. Froth only is the setting you would reach for with a drink that should not be warmed, such as the iced tea or iced coffee the maker mentions. Nostalgia does not describe the frothing mechanism, so the page does not say whether it uses a whisk, a spring or another part.
The faucet is the other defining feature. The two-way dripless faucet is described as a mess-free, non-drip dispenser, so a person can fill mugs at the front of the appliance and not lift a heavy pitcher each time. When the drink is done, the pitcher also lifts off for pouring. For cleaning, the maker says the parts are easy to remove and wash by hand, and it lists disassembly and a cord storage spot beneath the base.
One thing to note is the amount. A 32 ounce maximum is a large batch for a milk frother, which is why a 4-cup model suits several mugs rather than one. The maker does not publish a minimum fill, so check the manual, which the page links, before making a small portion.
Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker vs Nespresso Aeroccino 3
The Nespresso Aeroccino 3 is listed on this site at $99, which is $49.01 more than the Nostalgia's maker price. It is a small cordless jug with three modes, 121 ml of cold or hot foam and 240 ml of hot milk, 450 W and a non-stick interior. Its manual says there is no hot chocolate mode and not to add chocolate powder, syrup or sugar into the jug, and it is not dishwasher safe.
The Nostalgia is the opposite on those points. Hot chocolate is its headline use, and its capacity is 32 ounces, about 946 ml, versus the Aeroccino's 240 ml of hot milk. The Aeroccino is the compact tool for a cup of foam. The Nostalgia is the larger appliance for serving several drinks. The Nostalgia's page publishes no wattage and no non-stick or auto shut-off detail, which the Aeroccino does.
Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker vs DREO BaristaMaker
The DREO BaristaMaker is listed at $99.99. It has an 800 ml jug, froths 150 to 250 ml of milk, stirs up to 450 ml, offers a hot chocolate mode with cocoa powder or flakes at 170 F, runs at 600 W and has a dishwasher-safe jug. The Nostalgia holds more, at about 946 ml, and costs $50 less, but it publishes far fewer details: no temperature, no wattage and no dishwasher safety, since the maker says to hand wash.
The DREO is the controlled, specified option and the Nostalgia is the large-batch, retro-styled one. If you want to know a temperature and a stir speed, the DREO publishes them. If you want to serve a table of mugs from a faucet, the Nostalgia is built for it.
Is the Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker worth it?
Nobody tested the NRHCM32 for this page, so there is no claim about how thick the froth is, how quickly it heats or how long the appliance lasts. The maker states a $49.99 price, a 32 ounce capacity, a heat-and-froth selector, a dripless faucet, removable parts and cord storage. It is well below the other two frothers on this page, and the trade-off is the number of details the page leaves out. For serving hot chocolate or cider to a group, that capacity is the main reason to buy it.
Who should buy the Nostalgia Retro Hot Chocolate Maker (and who should not)
It suits a household that makes hot chocolate or cider for several people, a person who wants a retro-styled appliance on the counter, and anyone who likes serving from a faucet.
It does not suit someone who wants a small, specified frother for a single cappuccino, a buyer who needs a dishwasher-safe pitcher, or anyone who wants wattage and temperature figures before buying. The Red color is also shown as sold out on the maker's store at the time of reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Nostalgia hot chocolate maker hold?
The maker lists a 4-cup capacity, up to 32 ounces of hot chocolate or apple cider.
Can it make cold drinks?
The page says you can brew a variety of frothy beverages, or opt for cold drinks like iced tea or iced coffee.
Is it dishwasher safe?
The page does not say so. It states that the parts are easy to remove and to wash by hand.
Does it have a dispenser?
Yes. It has a 2-way dripless faucet described as a mess-free, non-drip dispenser, and the removable pitcher also has a pour spout.
How big is it?
The maker lists 9.0 x 6.0 x 11.5 inches and a weight of 2.7 lb.
Which colors does it come in?
Aqua, White, Black and Red are listed. At the time of reading, the Red version was sold out on the maker's store.
