Renting a Chocolate Fountain

If you want to add a special touch to your next party or event, renting a chocolate fountain may do the trick. Most everyone gets excited when they see the melted chocolate flowing and smell the wonderful aroma that only a chocolate fountain can produce.

If you have more than 20 people coming to your event, it would be a good idea to rent a medium to large size fountain. The added benefits of renting are that you will have someone to set up and take down the fountain. A caterer will usually provide all of the treats for dipping as well as plates etc.

If do not have a caterer that will provide the fountain, then it is a good idea to get 2 or 3 quotes for a chocolate fountain rental so that you can compare rates and services. If it is a large event or an important one, you should make sure to check references.

The rental agreement should clearly state what is included in the fountain rental. You do not want to find out at the last minute that the chocolate or dipping items are not part of the deal. Find out what type of table you need to provide for the fountain and what size it should be. Also check to see how many hours are included in the price.

Many rental companies and caterers will offer a nice selection of both chocolate and dipping items. Usually the chocolate choices will include milk chocolate, dark chocolate, semi-sweet and white chocolate. Some people prefer to use dark or semi-sweet when most of the dipping food is sweet. You can often request a colored chocolate to match your theme or wedding colors. The colored chocolate will simply be white chocolate with food coloring added to it.

You should also be provided with a choice of items for dipping. If you are including fruit make sure it is in season or ask which fruit will be the best quality on your date. The caterer usually has a lot of good suggestions when it comes to treats for dipping.

Ask to see exactly what fountain you will be renting – in a portfolio or on a website – to make sure it looks nice and is the size that you want. Ask how tall the fountain is if you cannot tell from the photos. If you can also see photos of the company’s food display – all the better.

Once you’ve chosen the rental company and have made all your selections it’s time to relax and look forward to the cascading waterfall of chocolate!

Buying a Chocolate Fountain

If you are planning an elaborate wedding or function you might be planning to rent a large chocolate fountain. Sometimes a caterer will take care of all the details, from renting the fountain and setting up the display to the clean up after your event. The rental fee for a medium to large machine will run about $300 – $500. This may be worth it if you don’t have to worry about any of the details including the clean up!

However, if you think you may want to use a chocolate fountain at more than one party or event, it may make sense to buy one instead of paying the rental fee multiple times. You can get a quality chocolate fountain for home use for around $250. If you are just looking for a low cost alternative for a child’s party, the fountains in the $99 price range should suffice.

Here are a few features to look for when you are buying a good quality chocolate fountain. Quietness is very important. A noisy machine with a loud motor can kill the effect you are going for with the fountain as a lovely display. Also make sure that the unit is easy to set up, take apart and is dishwasher safe. Variable temperature settings are also nice, especially if you plan to use the fountain for other types of fondue.

Look for a fountain that has a removable basin for easy cleaning. This will make your life a lot easier. The models that are made of stainless steel tend to be more durable and are easier to clean than the plastic units. Some of the better fountains will also come with adjustable feet for leveling the fountain. Leveling ensures that the chocolate will flow evenly over the tiers.

The more you spend on a chocolate fountain, the more attractive the unit usually is. If you are going for a beautiful display, you should compare the looks of some of the higher end models to see which ones you like. The customer reviews may also come in handy when you are trying to choose between different fountains.

If you follow these guidelines you will be on your way to owning a beautiful chocolate fountain that will bring joy (and chocolate) to your family and friends for years to come. Read on to find more suggestions for buying chocolate and for ideas on just what to dip into your chocolate!