Sunbeam 6170 Hot Water Dispenser with Hot Shot Technology

MA: This my third one. I literally wore out the other two. The others were black. I bought this one in white because my son keeps unplugging my Hot Shot, so I figured the white plug would let him know which is the wrong plug to unplug. I work from home and am drinking hot liquids all day long and need my Hot Shot plugged in at all times. You fill your coffee mug with water, pour the water in the top of the machine, push the button on top, and in 30 seconds the water boils and shuts off. You push the button down on front and it pours into your mug. Make instant hot tea, hot chocolate or coffee. My sons use it for hot chocolate. I use it for tea and coffee. No more tea kettles, boiling water in microwave which always makes the mug too hot to drink, or getting hot water from a coffee maker. I have bought this machine for everyone I know and everyone loves them. My friend who has a craft room upstairs (I bought her one as a surprise gift) says she doesn't have to run up and downstairs to get a cup of hot tea. She was thrilled. She loves hers. I have bought 8 of these so far and everyone loves them. Low price, auto shut off, just the right amount of water, so...

United States on Jan 22, 2019

Frank R. Richards: This is a great little appliance. It is quicker and easier than a microwave for brewing a single cup of coffee or tea.

I bought it for my cognitively impaired, 83 year old mother, who has a tendency to walk away from the stove while cooking, even just boiling water.

She has trouble figuring out where the button is and how the dispenser lever works. Obviously, that reflects her impairment as much as the product design. However, the on/off is a little awkward and concealed. I think it's design could be easily improved. Similarly the dispenser lever isn't big enough or obvious enough.

It is a great product. However, I think these little design tweaks would make it a better one.

United States on Jun 27, 2011

JC: The Sunbeam hot shot is a must have for every home, I even took one to work and keep it on my desk. I have owned one for many years and made sure my children had one in their college dorm rooms as well! This is an excellent product with great new upgrades to the design. I love that they moved the on button to the top so that there is now no chance to accidentally press it when dispensing your hot water. Another great feature of this product vs using a microwave is that the handle of your mug doesn't heat up, just your water. If you've been heating your water in a microwave you know that the handles heat up on your mug, ouch!! You can enjoy your hot water with this item and not worry about burning your hand on a hot handle. The speed at which your water is heated (and it's hot!) and the convenience of this item is fantastic. I hope Sunbeam never stops manufacturing this product as I plan to always have one in my home. Thanks Sunbeam for a great product!!!!

United States on Sep 11, 2010

F. Mitchell: This little item takes up a small area on your counter and boils water very quickly to dispense into a cup that you place on the little flat spot you see. A quick way to make tea, or hot chocolate, and I use it for coffee. I bought one of those plasic cone shaped things that you put a #2 coffee filter in and set it on top of your coffee mug, put your ground coffee into the filter and , using a different cup to dispense the hot water ( I use a pyrex measuring cup) you can pour the water into the cone filter and have a FRESH cup of coffee in minutes, every time you want one. No more coffee with that slightly bitter, burned taste that you get when you make a full pot and dont drink it within the first 30 minutes. I found it saves me money too. I use less coffee each day than when I used to make a pot. I think this is a very good thing to have for a reasonable price. My mother had one and it lasted for 12 years. Very good product.

United States on Jul 23, 2010

S.R.: I've used a Hot Shot for at least 20 years and won't go without one. But they are made real cheap now. My son is still using the one he bought over 10 years ago. I had this less than a year when it leaked, and is getting worse. Put water in, press the button. Before you get the water poured in and put the cup under the spout it is dripping, real fast now. By the time the water is heated, if I grab it real quick I lose about 2 tbsp. (in about a minute). If I don't catch it right away it will leak enough so I have to warm up more water to make a full cup. I keep a towel under the spout now. This worked good for a few months. Think about it, if every small appliance in your kitchen had to be replaced within a year......
Also, a tall cup/mug won't fit under the spout. So I pour the water from one cup to another. I do like the old hot shot, saves time and electricity.I gave it one star because I do like the hot shot water heater, I just don't like this one.
UPDATE: A couple months after I wrote this review, there was a burning smell--the cheap thing burned out. Meanwhile it leaked water into the cabinets below and spoiled the food.
I went without one for a...

United States on Dec 17, 2007