Subdeacon Joe Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 ‘Why did you pour that tea into your saucer?’ asked Washington. ‘To cool it,’ said Jefferson. Quote Though the practice has fallen out of habit at many modern coffee shops such as Starbucks, it wasn’t very long ago that just about every roadside eatery and hole in the wall establishment that served breakfast would present the coffee cup to patrons atop a small saucer — this is common knowledge, but have you ever given the thought as to why this is the case when no other beverage is served in these establishments with a saucer? Though saucers were invented during the medieval times, it became popular to serve them with a cup of hot beverages during the colonial America period in an effort to allow those drinking the tea or coffee to not burn their mouth — the person being served the saucer and coffee cup would separate the two and pour small amounts of the beverage into the saucer plate. The thin layer of steamy drink would then cool considerably faster than the beverage contained in the cup, allowing the person drinking to enjoy warm but not scalding coffee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 This is how my maternal grandfather drank his coffee at breakfast, and I learned to love coffee sipping from his saucer. Thanks for reviving a great memory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perro Del Diablo Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 I will drop an ice cube in to cool just enough not to get scolded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Louis Suomi SASS #31905 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 I thought this was the way to drink coffee until I came to the city . We would place a sugar cube in between our lips and front teeth and sip the coffee through it. I think the older generations remember/do this. Not so much anymore. STL Suomi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 As a teenager, I had a friend who drank coffee from a saucer. As for myself, I prefer coffee as hot as possible without actually being hot enough to raise blisters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 1 hour ago, St. Louis Suomi SASS #31905 said: I thought this was the way to drink coffee until I came to the city . We would place a sugar cube in between our lips and front teeth and sip the coffee through it. I think the older generations remember/do this. Not so much anymore. STL Suomi I've seen Russians drink their tea and coffee that way. Some would use candied cherries the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nasty Newt # 7365 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 The only family member I ever saw do it was very old, and I was very young. It was a long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 28 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said: I've seen Russians drink their tea and coffee that way. Some would use candied cherries the same way. I've heard of Russians doing that with strawberry jam. Never seen it, but I've heard of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Uncouth sez I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 An interesting bit from the article: Quote This custom was so widely practiced that when the US Constitution was first created and George Washington was attempting to explain to Thomas Jefferson the purpose for having two houses of Congress, he used this practice as a metaphor. “Upon his return, Jefferson visited Washington and asked why the Convention delegates had created a Senate. ‘Why did you pour that tea into your saucer?’ asked Washington. ‘To cool it,’ said Jefferson. ‘Even so,’ responded Washington, ‘we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.'” This exchange has been published by the US Senate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choctaw Jack Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 I learned to"saucer" hot coffee as a small child ,while sitting on my Papa's knee.One of my very earliest memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 I remember Grandpa doing that when I was still small enough to sit on his lap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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