Everyone Owned It In The '70s – The Colorful Coffee Maker We Wish We Still Had

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The kitchens of the 1970s had some iconic moments that live on in TV re-runs: The Brady Bunch, The Jeffersons, and That '70s Show all exemplify the design aesthetic of the day: wood paneling, harvest gold, avocado, and coppertone brown adorning the room that was just beginning to embrace the open kitchen concept. On just about every countertop in those days was the coffee percolator like the Mirro-Matic Cup-A-Minit available in the signature hues of the day, as well as red poppy, and almond colorways, some with decoration. This model, which is immersible for cleaning, is particularly rare, so snap it up if you see one.

The era's nostalgic decor can instantly bring back all the good vibes, and Mirro-Matic Cup-A-Minit percolators can still be found in good condition online and in thrift shops for around $30 and up. They were made in the USA by the company that's still producing kitchen items under the "Mirro" brand. The most common size is the 22-cup "Party Perk" variety, an essential for home entertaining and a fixture at church and community potlucks, alongside stacks of Styrofoam cups and platters of donuts. 

As coffee culture evolved, the percolator fell out of favor, but it's one of the forgotten '70s kitchen appliances that were so convenient. Back before we were all interacting almost solely on our screens, face-to-face gatherings were a chance to catch up with friends and family en masse, sharing a cuppa over sugar-dusted treats and Formica tabletops. As everything old tends to come 'round around again, Hostingcore has at-home entertaining making a comeback and colorful retro service items like this can set up your home for a memorable dinner party or dessert drop-by.

The portability and large capacity of a retro electric percolator has the same appeal today as it did in the '70s: it travels to wherever your guests are, eliminating the need to run back and forth from the kitchen. Its automatic features free up hosts from monitoring the brewing progress, too. True to the moniker "cup-a-minit," it brews quickly and has a built-in stop function once brewing is complete, automatically switching to "keep warm" mode. The 22-cup capacity urns even have a front valve dispenser for self-service. The lightweight aluminum body makes it easy to clean when guests have made their way out the door. For gatherings large or small, this is definitely a vintage brand to keep an eye-out for to "perk up" your entertaining aesthetic.