Tea maker with luminous brewing progress indicator

A tea maker comprising:

• a power base including an upper portion that provides a user interface panel that includes both a vessel reception location, which location is adapted to receive thereon a vessel that is detachable from the power base, and an illuminable brewing progress indicator;
• and
• a controller that is configured to control the brewing progress indicator during a tea brewing process, such that a user is notified of progress in said process by a change in illumination of the brewing progress indicator;
• wherein the brewing progress indicator extends around said vessel reception location, such that an area of the user interface panel bounded by the brewing progress indicator defines the vessel reception location, and such that at least a portion of the brewing progress indicator is visible from any position around the power base when the vessel is received on said vessel reception location.