A portable carafe has a reservoir (14) for holding a liquid, a hot liquid outlet (18) and a hot liquid flow path (22) connecting the reservoir to the hot liquid outlet. A heater (28) is arranged in the hot liquid flow path so that the heater can heat liquid passing from the reservoir (14) to the hot liquid outlet (18). The heater (28) may be inactive when no liquid is passing through the hot liquid flow path, and may be active only when hot liquid is to be dispensed. The carafe may include a battery (50) for powering the heater. The carafe may include a cold liquid outlet (20) and a cold liquid flow path (34), and may be arranged so that tilting the carafe in one direction causes hot liquid to be dispensed, whereas tilting the carafe in another direction causes cold liquid to be dispensed.