Abstract: A machine for brewing coffee or other hot beverages has a hollow base which is open at the underside and has a top portion provided with an opening for a warming plate. The warming plate is assembled with a ring-shaped insulator, an electric heater and a bridge into a unit which is thereupon inserted into the base by way of the open underside before the underside is closed by a detachable bottom. The bridge biases the heater against the warming plate, and its ends are received in openings of the insulator. The central section of the bridge has elastic fingers which engage the toothed peripheral surface of a post at the underside of the warming plate to ensure that the bias of the bridge upon the heater remains unchanged. The base has integral coupling members which extend into openings of the insulator, and the latter has prong-like detent members which engage the marginal portion of the warming plate.