Abstract: A spacer for positioning intermediate the bottom of a beverage container and a planar heating surface of an electrically heated hot plate of a coffee maker is formed as a continuous heat conductive wire element positioned to rest immediately above and in contact with the planar surface to support a beverage container and to space said container a small distance above the heat source. The spacer may be fabricated of a stainless steel wire of suitable dimension such as one of approximately 1/16 of an inch in diameter, and may be bent in a form which provides uniform support for a coffee pot over the surface of the hot plate. The spacer is secured in place by means of lateral arms which are attached by means of a hinge to the base of the apparatus so that the spacer can be made to swivel upwardly about the hinge and out of the way to facilitate cleaning or to permit the option of nonuse of the spacer if so desired.