momee Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I'd like to host a nice evening coffee... I have a few $1.00 coffee mugs - not quite what I'd like to use. Have any suggestions for affordable serving options? Also, if anyone has a site that reviews serving etiquette I'd love to read it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snickelfritz Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Are you going for fun or elegant? Fun would be to buy some funky coffee mugs from Target or a similar place. Or to have each person bring their favorite/most unusual mug with them. Elegant.....I don't tend towards elegant, so can't help you much.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brasilmom Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I would serve in cups with the plate (like a tea cup). Have some cookies of the butter cookie type to go along, unless of course you are serving other finger items. I also would make sure to have small cups, like express cup, just in case someone prefers it. HTH. Be well Miriam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momee Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod43110041&ecid=HCCIShoppingFeed&srccode=cii_13736960&cpncode=19-7753391-2 I was definitely thinking elegant, nice fire, soft music, kids in bed, adult conversation type elegant. Though the set above is quite expensive (that's just the serving pieces, not the mugs) I'd like something that can sit on the table and be nice to look at. The mix n match idea might be fun if I can't find something I can afford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Last year my little homeschool lady's group hosted a tea. I had gone to a craft/antique store and found many lovely china tea cups with saucers, all individual and not part of a matching set, but beautiful. I tried to match them to the personality of the lady, so the one with beautiful roses went to my friend who loves her rose garden, while the cup with green clovers went to the lady who adores Ireland, etc. Very inexpensive, like a dollar or two per cup/saucer. Ginger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I know that at many of my different functions, coffee is served in not matching cups. Sometimes they are casual- fun coffee mugs; sometimes they are more formal- non matching china. Almost never does anyone serve all matching cups unless it is a very small gathering. One great place to pick up either are estate sales. I still have a few favorite coffee cups from such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticamethyst Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I second getting matching cups to saucers but not to each other; ecletic. You could go to garage sales and thrifts stores and clean them out. I think that it would end up looking very fancy. Have planning your coffee.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasharowan Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 When my dd wanted a tea party birthday, we found a lot of mugs/tea cups in thrift stores for about $.50 a cup. Since we had about 5-6 5yo girls, we wanted something that it wouldn't matter if they broke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Just wanted to second the thrift market idea. One of my dd's is a tea party queen (hosted 2 formal ones for girls her age last year complete with elegant gowns :)I try to get her something tea party related for her bday and Christmas. I have found many very affordable and beautiful cups and saucers (china), complete sets of 4 "trendy" mugs, teapots, etc at thrift stores and garage sale. You might also list on your Craiglist "WTB." I found several great books on tea parties at Barnes and Nobles but I am sure that a good library would have a ton of info and my dd has found TONS of stuff on-line, including how to brew correctly. There is a real art to it :) There is also a ton of stuff on coffee on line and books available. Both of my older dd's have worked in coffee shops and they can make anything at home that they've made there, including steamed milk and we have NO fancy equipment (I don't even own a coffee pot, just a drip filter!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Little chocolates are a perfect accompaniment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momee Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 Thanks for your suggestions. I went ahead and bought some nice big mugs (no saucers) and multicolored serving plates. I'll just put the creamer and sugars by the coffee maker and they can make their coffee there. In the living room, we'll have some candles and our big mugs - some great conversation and be able to go back to our families refreshed. I'm very excited about this. Our first topic will be to talk about the verse saying Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. Great subject, great friends. Great idea! Try it yourselves, your friends will thank you~~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I am NOT a coffee drinker--can't stand the stuff. I've gone to several evening 'coffee' parties (and even women's brunches)and I've been disappointed that no alternative beverage was available. I now always bring my own. I'm a TEA person. I LOVE tea--hot or cold. I have a tea collection with over 30 different flavors/types at any given time. I love to socialize just as much as my coffee drinking friends--but I don't like to feel left out because I HATE coffee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momee Posted August 15, 2008 Author Share Posted August 15, 2008 Thanks Jann, as a tea drinker myself, it'll be there in plenty as an option. Appreciate the reminder I'm not the only one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I'll just put the creamer and sugars by the coffee maker and they can make their coffee there. Enjoy! And, don't forget to put out enough spoons. Maybe people I know drink it black, but it seems like spoons are often forgotten for those of us who like cream &/or sugar in our drinks. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieAir Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I prefer a nice hefty mug, weighted just right, the right thickness at the rim, and with the right size and shape handle over china. I also prefer having different coffee mugs so guests can tell theirs apart from everyone else's. It sounds like you have a good plan going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmac Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Enjoy! And, don't forget to put out enough spoons. Maybe people I know drink it black, but it seems like spoons are often forgotten for those of us who like cream &/or sugar in our drinks. :001_smile:[/quote Great suggestion! And if you don't want a bunch of spoons to wash afterwards take a mug 3/4 full of clean water and put a spoon in it. Everybody can use it and the water in the cup will rinse the spoon when they put it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 I'd like to host a nice evening coffee... I have a few $1.00 coffee mugs - not quite what I'd like to use. Have any suggestions for affordable serving options? Also, if anyone has a site that reviews serving etiquette I'd love to read it. Thanks I know it's too late, but I've had events where I didn't have enough cups, so I had people bring their favorite from home. They were welcomed to share the cup or mug's "story" if there was, indeed, a story involved in its acquisition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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