For 1 cup, pour the hot liquid back and forth between two cups. For more, put the hot chocolate in a pitcher or deep-sided pot and use an electric beater or hand mixer. A cappuccino machine also can be used. Or try using a molinillo, available at many Mexican grocery stores. Holding the handle of the utensil between your palms, twirl it back and forth until the chocolate in the pitcher becomes foamy.
Supermarkets carry a variety of hot cocoas designed to mix instantly with hot milk or water.
Some are fat-free. Goodnight Hugs and Goodnight Kisses, caffeine-free drinks with tiny chocolate or white chips that melt in hot water, are made specifically for kids. For a more intense chocolate drink, look for premium varieties that list chocolate as the first ingredient on the label. Whether you use luxury chocolate or an envelope of instant cocoa, it's easy to create your own signature hot chocolate. Take a cue from Manhattan's trendy City Bakery, which each year holds a hot chocolate festival.