Stirring Developments

A hot-chocolate machine you didn’t know you needed; a secret-agent-worthy pair of wireless headphones; the recipe for better flavors; and more

By Jonathan Margolis

The Smeg Hot-Chocolate Maker

Look no further than this “milk frother” for the hot chocolate of your dreams

We need to talk about hot chocolate.

Whether you think of it as an all-purpose winter warmer or a holiday-specific treat, it is demonstrably America’s favorite source of cold-weather comfort and joy. A YouGov Direct poll in 2020 showed a third of 1,000 U.S. adults chose hot chocolate as their holiday drink of choice. (Only eggnog came close, and that was mostly among people 65 and over.)