Customer Reviews

Sunbeam 6131 Hot Shot Hot Water Dispenser

5 star:		(317)
4 star:		(106)
3 star:		(44)
2 star:		(24)
1 star:		(39)

 

 

I've used a Hot Shot a whole lot for heating up water for drinking various types of tea and other beverages. If it's right for what you're brewing, it really is a great product--the water is heated within a minute or two, which is way faster than a kettle, and it holds the perfect amount for a large mug.

There are a couple things to note though. Like other reviewers have said, because of the product's design, some taller mugs (especially large vacuum-sealed caddy mugs) won't fit in to receive the water, so you either can't use them or have to dispense the water into another container first and pour it from there. Also, you definitely should empty the excess water after you're done--you might even want to open the lid while it's still warm to let the extra moisture evaporate. This is because the inside is metal, and re-re-reheated water that's been sitting in there gets a bit gross and might not be the healthiest.

The last issue, which affects me more than it may others, is that the Hot Shot heats the water to boiling or very near to boiling. This is great if you're drinking black tea, hot chocolate, or hot cider, but if you're drinking green tea (which takes hot water that is well below boiling), the water from the Hot Shot can be too hot and make the tea bitter. If it's right for the beverage you want to make, though, I can't recommend a more convenient or quick option.

Sunbeam 6131 Hot Shot Hot Water Dispenser, Black

We have used a Hot Shot for many years, replacing the first two because they eventually stopped heating water sufficiently (only up to 160 degrees F). Since they had become a mainstay in our kitchen, used several times a day, we were eager to replace the last one, and ordered the sleek new black model, which is of a somewhat different design than the original.

The first one we received from Amazon leaked considerably if we didn't use up all the water that had been heated, so we sent it back (Amazon paid for the entire return postage and sent us a new one at no extra cost). The second one leaked just like the first one, through the dispenser spout, when water was left to sit in the heating chamber. We never had this problem with the older model.

I am giving it two stars instead of only one, since some people may not mind being sure to empty the heating chamber after each use. (If it didn't leak, I would give it 4 stars -- and 5 stars, if it were also tall enough to accomodate taller cups).

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 while, but eventually bought another one because I like the concept... put in cold water, press a button, come back to boiling water. I bought the cheapest I could find because it won't last. I'm just glad I don't have to replace all my other appliances every year.

There is an ON button but no OFF button so if you plug it in and press on before filling it with water, the water heating area will singe. Uh oh. This works so much faster than putting a kettle on that it really hits the spot especially in the middle of the night when you just feel like a hot tea.

This product has been around for over a decade, and for good reason: it works, and works well. My mother bought me one in Fall 1993 when I went off to college and lived in a tiny dorm room. It has served me well ever since. Nearly 12 years later, it still works as well as the day I got it. It really does heat 16 ounces of water to boiling in under 2 minutes. It's insulated so the outside does not get hot. Just remember to only heat water inside of it, not other liquids. It has a nice, clean look and a modern design which I'd even call "cute". The cord stores underneath the base when not in use, for a clutter-free appearance. I'd recommend it to everyone for a wide variety of situations.

I had originally purchased a cordless electric kettle for heating water. While it did work, it required a minimum amount of water which was more than I ever needed and took a few minutes to heat. This is SO much more convenient! I can premeasure just the amount of water I need before I add to the dispenser and it literally heats it to boiling in mere seconds!! This is so handy for any "instant" food...oatmeal, cup of noodles, mashed potatoes, and hot cocoa to name a few. This is definately one of the best and most used appliances I own. I highly recommend it!!

Absolutely love this product! I made the purchased two weeks ago - with the intention of using it to make hot water for tea in the office. For the simple purpose of heating water VERY quickly, you can't really get a better deal. A couple things to note: 1. It can NOT warm up soups, etc. 2. All hot water must be drained after every use 3. You can not adjustable temperature (Boiling water only). That's fine w/ me ... since I can definitely wait a minute or two to cool down before putting my sencha tea in my cup : )

Amazon didn't publish my last review so I am rewriting it from memory.

I owned this for 150 days and then it quit. We took it apart, basically this design is living on borrowed time as the unit will eventually fail.

Sunbeam placed the actual electronic switch below the aluminum bowl part and on top of the plastic housing. The grey button on the top is nothing more than a lever to another piece that actually depresses the electronic switch below the aluminum bowl. The real electronic switch is less than an inch from where the water flows from the aluminum bowl and out the dispenser. That switch, also sits right next to the heating element. Now you don't need to be an engineer to know that electronics don't care for heat and they don't care for water. In our case the heat killed the electronic "on" switch. I am not sure where the previous model's (3211) actual "on" switch was, but it had to be in a smarter location that this for it to last TEN years.

So the old design, built in the US apparently lasted 10 years and the new design, made in China lasted 150 days. I should have read the 1-star reviews as I would have found that just about every owner of the previous model have had nothing but bad experience with this model. Don't discount the opinions of those that owned the previous model. I don't think I will ever buy another Sunbeam product again, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

P.S. The only reason we replaced our ten year old 3211 model was because the rubber or plastic seal in the dispenser part had worn out and the unit would leak while dispensing.

I'd had my previous hot shot for almost 10 years. I decided it was time to retire my old one and get a new one. This new redesigned one was made very cheaply- not solid at all - and lasted only 4 months before it just stopped working completely. I am very disappointed and will not buy sunbeam products in the future.

I like it a lot, especially the speed -- there's no need to walk away and come back when the water's boiling. The only drawback is that although it's plenty big enough for a normal mug, some of my taller ones don't fit.