The Teasmade

This brew-making gadget brought joy to many a bedroom

- JANE KEMP

A morning cup of tea in bed is always a treat, and in the 60s and 70s, having a Teasmade on your bedside table became an affordable luxury. This innovative tech was heavy, cumbersome and noisy – but what did that matter when a steaming cuppa could be in your hand before you'd even stepped into your slippers?

With its sleek, faux art deco design, integral lights and alarm clock, the Teasmade was smart and desirable. The product's name itself played on the idea that an electrical 'maid' was serving you.

Early days