I just adore demitasse cup and saucer sets. Their petite size brings back memories of tea parties as a child. The other day I was asked about these cups and the etiquette around them. Many know these cups as an espresso cup, which is also correct. Espresso and demitasse are very similar as both are brewed with a finely ground dark roast. A traditional espresso is made with an Italian roast, while a demitasse is made with a French roast.
Actually, the word demitasse is French and when translated to English it means “half cup”. This is because the demitasse cup is quite literally half the size of a regular coffee cup, making it the perfect drink to serve after dinner.
The demitasse cup is not included in the place setting of a meal. Instead, it’s reserved for after dinner. You can serve it with dessert or you can wait to serve it after dessert. After leaving the dining room table you can lead your dinner guests to a seating area to enjoy a cup of coffee and continued conversation, think Downton Abbey!
Many people think a cup of coffee after dinner will cause them to lose a night’s sleep. Although true for some, you can rest easy knowing that a cup of demitasse coffee may be stronger in flavor, but it has less caffeine than our everyday breakfast coffee. I have seen people brew delicious cups with an espresso maker or pressure pot.
A pressure pot allows you to brew enough coffee for multiple cups and it’ll travel easily from room to room. You should serve it with sugar and cream, or if you prefer, serve it alongside boiled milk. Combined in a larger coffee cup, the demitasse and boiled milk create a Café au Lait. However you choose to use your demitasse set, I hope you enjoy every sip!
Do you have a demitasse set?
