Sunbeam 6131 Hot Shot Hot Water Dispenser, Black

This product is excellent. Just what I was looking for and the auto shut off is one of the best features.

Can't boil water? The Sunbeam Hot Shot will ensure the survival of even the most inept young adult - yes, all it does is boil about 2 cups of water, but that is what the kids need. Make your coffee, tea, hot cocoa, ramen, mac & cheese...without the size and complication of a microwave and without the danger of the traditional hot pot.

I've given these as gifts to graduating high school seniors for several years now; throw in a few bucks for the ramen and now the kids will eat for a month! Also, I've checked many college websites for prohibited items, and have never found the Hot Shot on any list. You should of course do your own checking before sending any item off to college.

For the $, this is an excellent appliance; it lasts a long time if used as recommended. I've had mine for 5 years, no problems. Coffee, made fresh every time with a Melitta cone filter - delicious! Buy one now!!

This is a great time and energy saver when you need a cup or 2 of boiling water. Only 1 negative but it comes into play every time I use it: Unlike the older model, the cup area is too short for very tall mugs, and when dispensing, you can't tell when a mug is full because the top of the mug is too close to the dispenser. If you need that functionality, try to find the older model... it's taller and white.

I came here to write essentially what Elliot wrote below -- the Hot Shot product description does not seem to indicate vertical space for your mug, and the photos do not really show scale. So if you have a tall mug or thermos and do not feel comfortable modifying your Hot Shot, you might want to consider other options. (However, it does come apart with a screwdriver so all you really have to do is mount it to something taller).

The point about not plugging it in before pressing the power switch is correct -- for the first use, that is. The device shuts itself off when it finishes, and you can actually leave it plugged in at that point. At least, this is what I've been doing for the past week since I first got it and I'm still happy.

One final comment: If you're in a hurry, be sure to contact the third-party seller if you can before ordering this product. Amazon showed it in stock when I had placed my order a while back, and it took the third-party (Polsteins Home & Beyond) over a week to inform me that they did actually not have any in stock.

Great product! I've owned one of these for probably 5 years, and I go through 10-15 cups of tea a day (at least!) I have no complaints about my old one wearing out- it still heated water just fine, but had slowed a bit over the years, and the plastic grommet at the dispenser hole developed a leak. Bought a second one for our summer home too!