Mary_Fran, you've been doing it all wrong these past years - that electric thing in the bedroom is a kettle purely for boiling water - you'd never put the tea bag in as well !!

You'll find an electric kettle plus instant coffee and tea bags in virtually all rooms in British B&Bs and hotels for the simple reason that the establishment gets an additional star in its rating for providing them. So even a grotty old cheap B&B will give you tea and coffee in your room to get their one star.