A method of operating an apparatus comprising heating means and means for dispensing a predetermined volume of a warm liquid, said method comprising the steps of: measuring the temperature of the liquid upstream of the heating means; and characterised by: calculating an amount of energy required for the heating means to heat the predetermined volume of the liquid from the upstream temperature to a desired final temperature; calculating a period of "ON" time required for energisation of the heating means to deliver the calculated amount of energy; energising the heating means for the calculated period of "ON" time; dispensing a first volume of directly heated liquid from an outlet of the apparatus during a first calculated period of time, wherein the first period of time is at least partly contemporaneous with the calculated period of "ON" time; de-energising the heating means; and dispensing a second volume of liquid from the outlet of the apparatus for a second calculated period of time subsequent to the first period of time, the second volume of liquid being indirectly heated by removing residual heat from the heating means, the first and second volumes together providing the predetermined volume, wherein the average temperature of the first and second volumes of the liquid is the desired final temperature after the predetermined volume has been dispensed. measuring the temperature of the liquid upstream of the heating means; and characterised by: calculating an amount of energy required for the heating means to heat the predetermined volume of the liquid from the upstream temperature to a desired final temperature; calculating a period of "ON" time required for energisation of the heating means to deliver the calculated amount of energy; energising the heating means for the calculated period of "ON" time; dispensing a first volume of directly heated liquid from an outlet of the apparatus during a first calculated period of time, wherein the first period of time is at least partly contemporaneous with the calculated period of "ON" time; de-energising the heating means; and dispensing a second volume of liquid from the outlet of the apparatus for a second calculated period of time subsequent to the first period of time, the second volume of liquid being indirectly heated by removing residual heat from the heating means, the first and second volumes together providing the predetermined volume, wherein the average temperature of the first and second volumes of the liquid is the desired final temperature after the predetermined volume has been dispensed. calculating an amount of energy required for the heating means to heat the predetermined volume of the liquid from the upstream temperature to a desired final temperature; calculating a period of "ON" time required for energisation of the heating means to deliver the calculated amount of energy; energising the heating means for the calculated period of "ON" time; dispensing a first volume of directly heated liquid from an outlet of the apparatus during a first calculated period of time, wherein the first period of time is at least partly contemporaneous with the calculated period of "ON" time; de-energising the heating means; and dispensing a second volume of liquid from the outlet of the apparatus for a second calculated period of time subsequent to the first period of time, the second volume of liquid being indirectly heated by removing residual heat from the heating means, the first and second volumes together providing the predetermined volume, wherein the average temperature of the first and second volumes of the liquid is the desired final temperature after the predetermined volume has been dispensed.