Brewed coffee has a burnt or bitter taste.

Safety first: Avoid touching the hot plate; unplug the unit before internal checks.

• 1. Adjust brewing habits
  • Remove the carafe from the warming plate within 30 minutes of brewing.
  • Use a coarser grind and avoid overpacking the filter with coffee.
• 2. Reduce hot plate time
  • If your model allows, reduce the keep-warm time or temperature setting.
• 3. Clean oils and residue
  • Regularly clean the carafe and filter basket with hot soapy water to remove rancid coffee oils.
• 4. Check thermostat (advanced)
  • If the warming plate seems excessively hot, unplug and remove the bottom cover.
  • Inspect the thermostat controlling the plate; if stuck closed, it may overheat the coffee.
• 5. Replace thermostat if needed
  • Install a new Sunbeam-compatible thermostat if the existing one does not regulate temperature correctly.