I have no idea who invented the chocolate fountain, I also believe the first chocolate fountains were a failure because they used a pump to pump the chocolate up to the top, these soon clogged, so some one came up with the idea of using an Archimedes screw.

Archimedes screw

In short the Archimedes screw is a giant screw thread but kept inside a container or tube, so that what ever is being lifted can not escape. It is very simple in operation since all that is needed is for it to be  turned  from one end bringing up what ever the other end is sitting in.

How they work

Chocolate fountains have a small motor sitting in the bottom turning the Archimedes screw, so bringing the chocolate to the top. Surrounding this motor is a heating element to keep the chocolate warm, if it didn't it would soon solidify and no longer work.

Chocolate fountains do require a lot of chocolate since when they start the smaller ones can soon empty the bottom bowl. Not to mention people dipping fruit etc into the chocolate (which is the whole idea of them) Some of the bigger chocolate fountains can hold 20lbs of chocolate, there is now one that can hold 35Kgs of chocolate (around 87lbs) That's a lot of chocolate.

Chocolate fountains have become very popular you can get them in a variety of sizes, i have seen one that can have two kinds of chocolate at the same time, ie milk and white.

The chocolate

Let us look at that chocolate, is it really chocolate? well yes it is, BUT its not 100% chocolate, in order for the chocolate to flow like it does it needs to be very "runny" so all makers of chocolate fountains suggest using "good quality chocolate" by this they mean one that has a high cocoa butter content, if it has a low cocoa fat content you can add vegetable oil, yes, oil.  Not that there is anything wrong with vegetable oil, far from it, its great for cooking chips in.

Chocolate types

As well as milk, plain and white and you now get pre coloured chocolate in pink, blue, yellow, orange and red, all are made from white chocolate with added colouring. (sometimes flavouring too)

What ever you do, always clean your chocolate fountain after use, and above all, enjoy it.

Things you should never do.

Have a chocolate fountain outside, (it attracts flies etc and may get blown about)

Double dip (dip from one fountain into another)

Attempt to "drink" directly from the fountain, (people do, see you tube) its stupid and un hygienic. Always use skewers to dip food.

Re use the chocolate

How things work index

Since 20 12 07