Apparatus for preparing hot beverages with auto-power-down mechanism

An apparatus (1) for preparing hot beverages, comprising: -an electric heater (16); -a latent heat storage provision (30) that is in thermal contact with the heater (16), and that contains, or is configured to contain, a phase-change material (38); and -an electric circuit (40) for powering the electric heater (16), comprising a switch assembly (44) that is configured cut power to the heater (16) when a temperature of the latent heat storage provision (30) fulfills a predetermined auto-power-down condition.