A hot plate is a portable self-contained tabletop small appliance that features one, two or more gas burners or electric heating elements. A hot plate can be used as a stand alone appliance, but is often used as a substitute for one of the burners from an oven range or the cook top of a stove.
Coffee makers have built in hotplates to maintain coffee hot after brewing. In specialty coffee, the beverage is best consumed immediately after preparation. A hot plate is convenient because it maintains the drinking temperature for longer. But by doing so, the flavor and aroma are lost.