DEMITASSE

A 'demitasse' (Fr.) or 'demitazza' (It.)'' is a small cup (typically about 2 or 3 fl oz / 60 ml) used to serve turkish coffee or espresso. It is half of a full coffee cup, a ''tasse'' (Fr.) or ''tazza'' (It.), about (120 ml / 4 oz). The word means ''half cup'' in French and Italian. A typical design in the West is a white pottery or porcelain cup (appearing similar to the cups in a child's tea set) with matching saucer which is generally larger than child size. Some coffeehouses and many china companies also sell brightly decorated varieties. Some coffeemakers, such as Illy and designer Thun, have made the cups into art objects. Another type of demitasse/tazza is a glass cup set into a metal frame. All demmitasse are very collectible.