As defined in the Merriem-Webster dictionary, a HOT-SHOT is “a showily skillful person.” Well, you’ll think you have one of them right on your kitchen counter if you use a “Sunbeam Hotshot.” I was surprised to find it listed here under coffeemakers! It’s really not, you know.

It’s a very small appliance 5”w x 5”d x 10” high, with a 3 ft. two-pronged cord attached. It takes up hardly any room at all on the counter, and just sits around waiting to show off.

The Sunbeam Hotshot has only ONE purpose. It is to boil your water for you, quickly, effortlessly, and skillfully!

Why I got a Sunbeam Hotshot

For many years, I used to travel between Arizona and New Jersey, to visit my parents and my brother. One of the highlights of my brother’s day was his little Hotshot.

He’d step into the kitchen and return momentarily with his cup of instant coffee, all the while praising his Hotshot. I got a little tired of hearing about it. LOL. Then he gave Mother one for Christmas, and she started on the same kick. Oh, she loved her little Hotshot!

Things change. Life changes. And there came a day when I inherited my Mother’s little Hotshot! I dutifully brought it home with me and it sat quietly in a box for quite a while.

Why I started using the Sunbeam Hotshot

I drink more coffee than my husband does. We have a 12-cup coffeemaker, (actually about 7 mugs-worth). By dinnertime, I’m ready for another cup or two, but my husband doesn’t want any.

I got tired of heating up the old morning coffee in the microwave. It tastes horrible, really it does. And to make a new pot at that time of the day, was so wasteful, it was out of the question.

One happy day, for me, a light dawned in my brain! I decided to put Taster’s Choice Instant Coffee to the test, along with my little Hotshot.

More about the Sunbeam Hotshot

This little appliance, like I mentioned, does only ONE thing. It boils water. It has only ONE switch on it. You push the switch UP to HEAT & you push it DOWN to POUR.

It holds 2 1/4c of water. You lift the lid on the cute little thing and fill it with water. I keep a 4-cup measuring cup near it, which makes it handy for filling the water well.

Then, I push the button (lever) UP, an amber light comes on, and this little guy takes off. It starts crackling, then starts sounding like a slightly active Mt. Fesuvius, and in 105 seconds, the light goes off, and it comes to a halt! That figures out to less than 2 minutes! Neat, huh?

The best part of it is that I can start it and go about my kitchen duties, and should I forget it, the water remains HOT for about 2 hours!

I’ve got the instant coffee in my cup, set it in the well on the base of the Hotshot, push & hold the lever down until my cup is full!

That’s all there is to it.

Other Uses for the Sunbeam Hotshot

At the risk of sounding like my brother, I’ll say that this Hotshot is wonderful.

Maybe you don’t like Instant Coffee, but how about Instant Cocoa that takes only water, or tea? It’s perfect for either of them and so much more convenient than using a teakettle or heating water in the microwave.

Also, I often make instant gravies. Generally, they call for 2 – 2 ¼ cups of water. This is perfect for them.

I make instant rice, also, and prefer making it in the microwave. My rice recipes call for 1 or 2 cups of BOILING water, before even putting it in the microwave. Can you guess what I use for this application? My little Hotshot!

Anytime I read “boiling water” or “hot water” in a recipe, I call on the Sunbeam Hotshot to make it for me. Instant soups and Jello also come to my mind right here.

Upkeep

There’s not much to it. The pretty white Bakelite exterior merely needs to be wiped with a dishcloth to be kept pretty. The water well is aluminum, and as in all appliances that use water, the hardness will create a calcium buildup.

I merely run white vinegar through the heating cycle, use the POUR lever, and, then, run 2 cups of clean water through the cycle. I do this about once a month.

In closing

I highly recommend this Sunbeam Hotshot. It’s not only wonderful to have in a kitchen, but it’s also great to take on trips for making boiling water right in the motel/hotel room.

It’s cute, it’s practical, it does what it says it will do, and I will run out to replace it should it ever break!

Like my microwave, I don’t know what I’d do without it. I truly do love it! It is truly a skillful little Hotshot!

Thanks for reading my Review. I hope it’s been helpful to you.

Lorace
©2003

G.E.Digital 12-C CoffeeMaker



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