Home > Consumer Reviews > Nostalgia CFF-965 Mini Chocolate Fondue Fountain with 2-Tier Tower

We received The Helman Group Chocolate Fondue Fountain as a 2007 Christmas present. First tried to use it July 26, 2008. Motor turned too slowly to adequately lift the liquid, then quit entirely.

Called the Helman Group July 29, 2008. Customer no-service rep admitted motor and/or gears were defective. He informed me the model was no longer made. Also informed me the warranty was 90 days from date of purchase, which although bogus, we understand.

I suggested we would pay the difference for the newer, upgraded unit. In all fairness, he did try to resolve the situation with his superior(s), but no go. Therefore we have a brand new unit that is going in the trash.

Do not purchase anything from the Helman Group, www.helmangroup.com; they do not stand behind their product!

I bought a version of this fountain last year at the after xmas sales for $16. I finally used it twice this month at a couple of parties. It was a tremendous hit! The second time I ran it for about an hour, and then I noticed that it smelled like the motor was beginning to overheat, so I turned it off. So maybe like the other reviewers have complained, it is not going to last very long. But, this fountain is great fun for chocoholics.

Here's how it works: Assemble, level, and preheat the fountain. Get two 12-oz bags of chocolate chips, add 1/4 cup canola oil and microwave it (with occasional stirring) about 3 minutes, until almost hot, in a 4-cup glass measuring cup. A spout is essential to pour it into the fountain. Turn on motor. Voila, joy from your eager audience!

Here are the tips: semi-sweet chocolate was a little too sweet the first time. About half was leftover, so I poured it back into the glass measuring cup and it hardened overnight. Reused it a week later and added a bag of dark chocolate chips. Don't use toothpicks to skewer nibbles, because the chocolate is too heavy and knocks the nibble off the toothpick. Cut the nibbles large enough that people can pick up and dip.

Cleanup is not simple but not too bad. To reduce cleanup, it's a good idea to put a plastic tablecloth around the base (and covering the cord), because chocolate splatters and people drip. The tier disassembles easily and can be soaked and then put in the dishwasher. The base gets pretty messy, I have to use a lot of paper towels to get all the chocolate off of it.

I looked at getting a better one that would last longer, but this mini size is really ideal because you don't need so much chocolate. Frankly, I had 50 people for the 2nd party, and there was ~2 cups of chocolate left over. I poured it into paper cups (to harden and toss) so I could clean the fountain, and people still kept dipping nibbles into the liquid.

Oh, and warn fans not to double dip!

I purchased this item from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It worked for 5 minutes and then quit on me. I used expensive chocolate as recommended which cost me another $30 so the whole experience cost over $50(not including the fresh fruit )and I threw the whole mess away. It is impossible to clean and if it worked it would be worth it, but the motor isn't big enough to keep the chocolate warm and moving. What a disappointment.

I bought this for a girlss' 10 yr old birthday party. The kids had a ball with it but it never did work like it looked on the picture. The third fountain tier just dribbled chocolate. I thought it was because there wasnt enough chocolate but even when we filled it to capacity, the third "fountain" never flowed. The kids didnt seem to mind though...the chocolate tasted great and they thought it was wonderful.

I got this as part of a Christmas gift to be used at a New Years party. we had all kinds of fruit and cakes and treats cut up and ready to go before i set it up, only to find that the motor would not work. normally I would have just taken it back but as time was short I listen to the encouragement of my sons telling me to just fix it.

so I opened it up ready t o trace it out with my volt-meter when I quickly found that there was no ground plugged in for the motor. After looking I was able to see that one was there but it was not able stay in place, so I gave the plug a squeeze with some pliers and that was all it needed.
After I buttoned it all back up I was able to run it for a few hours with no issues. I have used it a few times now with no problems.

yes clean up is a little work, but it comes apart well so it is not that bad. after all, what do you expect with you are pushing melted chocolate around.

so, if you have one and the heater is working but the motor is not, take a look at the ground wire to the motor before you just toss it out. you don't need to have an engineers degree, just make sure you unplug it first ;)