Sunbeam Hot Shot Beverage Machine
by Sunbeam
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List Price: Our Price: $19.46 You Save: $2.42 (11%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Sunbeam Hot Shot Beverage Machine
Customer Review: 10 stars if ya had 'em/just another POSITIVELY RAVE review
Summary: 5 Stars
We were given a Sunbeam Hotshot beverage machine as a housegift possibly the first year it came on the market -- anyway we've had the very same one since back in the early to mid 1980s ::: ~~ It's STILL going strong -- utterly and totally reliable.
~~ Actually keeps a large mugful of water hot for a decent time 'til you get around to pouring, because of the metal interior (hope this newer model still has it).
~~ No exposed element inside or out. Interior of ours has never needed cleaning (although we did treat it to a lil vinegar run maybe twice in nearly two decades!).
~~ Exterior is plastic so never any accidental finger or hand burns.
~~ GREAT for all those recipes calling for just a small amount of hot water which of course one always forgets to heat ahead of time.
~~ Low, small, tidy, fits ANYWHERE : kitchen counter or island, desktop at work, basement workbench, etc etc etc etc.
Quite a shame that we Americans have almost completely defected to those larger British-style electric water kettles, making the wonderful Hotshot VERY tough to find any more. I suppose those elec kettles are okay if you simply *must have* more than a mugful of hot water -- or if you get old and forgetful like me and completely burn up your poor old traditional stovetop whistling kettle. HOWEVER, as far as we can recall, also according to our experience -- the Hotshot was the first and we think still the absolute best of the "just-hot-water-nothing-else-&-fast-please" appliances on the American market.
We prob'ly better get another one here quick before it disappears off the market entirely. And if the one we have poops out, we'll just have to inform the manufacturer about what a shoddy product it was to have lasted 'only' 20 years, lolol. Hmm now I think about it though, that COULD be why it's so hard to find :: maybe it NEVER breaks or stops, no 'planned obsolescence,' so nobody really needed another one?!
Customer Review: My favorite kitchen appliance
Summary: 5 Stars
The Hot Shot is my favorite kitchen appliance ever.
Pros:
1) Small--takes up little counter space
2) Simple--only 2 controls: "Heat" and "Dispense"
3) Fast--boils water faster than a microwave
4) Efficient--only heats the amount of water you actually use
5) Long lasting--I've had them for years
6) Inexpensive
7) Automatic--turns itself off when water boils
8) Neat--has built-in excess cord storage
Cons:
1) Can "scorch" the bottom of the boiler area if you turn it on with no water in it. (If this happens, unplug it immediately, put some water in it, and plug it back in.)
2) The hinge construction is less than sturdy and can pop out or break if you're not careful
3) If you use it and immediately open the lid, the steam can burn you--just be careful
4) Can only be used for water
5) 16-oz capacity
Some people pour a random amount of water in it, then boil it and take out what they need. This is the wrong way to use it. You fill your teacup, measuring cup, or whatever, THEN pour it in the Hot Shot and boil it. That way there is no excess water left in the Hot Shot
I originally bought a Hot Shot back in the 80s and bought several as gifts. Then they became unavailable for a while when Sunbeam, one of the most highly-repected small appliance manufacturers, went through a traumatic restructuring under "Chainsaw Al" Dunlap. After he almost ruined the company, Sunbeam is back, and we have the Hot Shot again. My first model was made in the USA. The current model is made in, you guessed it, China.
Customer Review: Convenient and easy to use!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had a Hot Shot for many years. I never had a problem with it, and we used ours for everything. Water for tea, coffee, cocoa, instant soups and oatmeal, and other hot drink mixes. The water boils so fast that the only time I use a kettle is if I am making a pot of tea. For a couple of cups of tea, filling the Hot Shot twice is still faster!I did find that some mugs don't fit under the dispenser, and some mugs dribble when you pour into the compartment. Also, sometimes with a mix like cocoa, when you pour the water into the cup, the inside of the cup area gets dirty. However, I solved all these problems. I got a 2 cup glass measuring cup. It fits perfectly under the dispenser, pours with no drips into the water compartment, and will leave no mess behind. Simply measure the water you need, pour it into the dispenser, dispense the water back into the measuring cup, and pour it where needed. I leave the measuring cup in the Hot Shot when not in use.
I had my Hot Shot for seven years and it worked like new until I accidentally melted the cord. If I hadn't done that, I am sure it would still be working. My new one works fine, too, and I wasn't going to buy one until I quickly remembered how long the kettle took!
Customer Review: Elegant in its simplicity
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a marvelous appliance because it is just so darn simple! I bought one to keep in my office at work for making tea, and it has worked out great!
There isn't even an on/off switch. Just put water in it, plug it in, and a red light goes off when it is ready to pour. Put a mug under the dispenser, push the lever, and there you go!
One reviewer said that it does not have a fill-to line, and so water can spill over. I don't see this as a problem. Just heat as much water as you need. I fill up my mug with hot water, pour the water into the appliance, and dispense the water when it is hot back into the mug. Oddly enough, I get out exactly the same amount as I put in! Don't try to heat more than 16 ounces at a time.
The Hot Shot does only one thing, but boy does it do it well! Easy to use, simple to clean, and attractive on the counter. Love having hot tea without fussing with heating water in the office microwave!
Customer Review: Perfect for the tea lover
Summary: 5 Stars
If you love tea but don't like your water microwaved and fussing with the tea kettle is just too time consuming the Hot Shot is your answer. Water is boiled very quickly. Simple to use, just premeasure your water in the cup you are going to use, lift the lid of the hot shot, pour the water in, close the lid, place your cup under the dispencer, push the heat lever and then wait until the light goes out and then push down on the dispense lever to deliver your boiling water into your waiting cup.
Wish I had this in college, would have made final week so much simpler.
My eleven year old loves it. She feels very grown up making tea for herself and anyone that accepts her offer for a cup of tea.
Also great for heating water for hot cereal, cocoa, and soup.
I even bought one to have at work to make tea during break time.
You can not go wrong with the Hot Shot. Makes a great gift for the tea lover/snob in your life.