We think there's no better way to end a big meal or even a simple gathering of friends than with a nice warm cup of coffee! Not only is it exactly what we want after eating a lot of rich food, but it's a way to slowly wind down the festivities and signal the evening's end. Do you like serving coffee and tea after dinner?
We're actually tea drinkers for the most part, but with so much entertaining going on this time of year, we make sure to keep several post-dinner beverage options stocked. We keep half-pound bags of both regular and decaf coffee, along with our normal selection of teas.
If you're not a tea-drinker, think about picking up a box of assorted teas next time you're out. Leftover packets can always be transformed into stocking stuffers for adult family members!
How do you like to wind down a dinner party?
Related: Dinner Parties: Five Great Tips for Newbies
(Image: Flickr member blhphotography licensed under Creative Commons)
We often close down with grappa or brandy (my boyfriend is a distiller), but invariably we make coffee and ask who would like coffee or tea. It's a great way to wind down the evening.
view krister's profile
I love coffee after dinner. My family always makes a big pot of it post-dinner. It's a good accompaniment to rich desserts and the perfect pick-me-up after a large meal. No one drinks tea in my family with any sort of regularity, but we keep a box of Typhoon tea, green tea, and fruit teas on hand -- I especially like ice cold fruit tea with slices of lemon.
view SarahBerneche's profile
It's a tradition with my family to have coffee after dinner. I can't remember a big meal where it wasn't served, or at least offered. I always thought it was a Southern thing.
view somewhiteguy's profile
It may be a Southern thing. My Southern grandmother always does (regardless of the size of the gathering) but my New England family does not. I tend to offer and see if anyone is in the mood. My grandmother even keeps a spare coffee maker in her linen closet to pull out at large gathering so she can brew regular and decaf simultaneously.
view michelleb's profile
I love to have coffee in the evening to relax. For some reason my husband's family never wants coffee or tea after a big meal. :(
I've never hosted a party for my family (except for my parents), but
view Melissa23's profile
I can't imagine *not* having tea/coffee after dinner! I just assumed everyone did that; guess I need to rethink my assumptions. :)
(michelleb - give than I don't even live in the US, I don't think it's a Southern thing....)
view island_monkey's profile
We always offer coffee and tea to our guests after dinner. Most seem to prefer tea.
view heather77's profile
I looooove coffee after dinner but I can only do it if it's decaf, lest I stay up all night.
view syrupandhoney's profile
We always serve coffee with dessert, or at big gatherings. My favorite is to brew espresso or Turkish coffee if we're having a rich sweet dessert, and regular drip or french press if we're having something lighter. Mmmm.
view mlleErica's profile
I always serve coffee after a dinner party, and tea, too if my guests prefer it. It is offered after a digestif, usually plum brandy or framboise. It's to signal the end of the evening and to signal there will be no more alcohol. I offer regular coffee and espresso.
view dksbook's profile
I can't remember a meal in my family where we haven't ended with tea or coffee. It's not even just after a dinner party, it's after dinner period!
view Noogs's profile
Coffee after dinner... perfect, especially with some baileys =)
view dreagail's profile
Where I'm from (Ontario), it would be entirely weird *not* to be offered tea or coffee after dinner. I was even surprised to see this as a "entertaining tip", because I just assumed everyone did this!
I guess you learn something new every day ;)
Kitchenist
view Ele (@Kitchenist)'s profile
Coffee or tea along with something small and sweet.
view dcirene's profile
my husband always insists on offering turkish coffee and raki to guests after dinner. my new england grandmother always offers coffee or tea after supper (which to her is the evening meal).
view nenasadije's profile
Depends on the guests. With family, always coffee and tea. But most of our friends aren't really coffee or tea drinkers. I thought it might be a generational thing (we're in our 20s).
view MrsCatbird's profile
I love coffee or tea after dinner. Usually, though, my friends would rather just crack open another bottle of wine, not that I have a problem with that. At my next dinner party, I plan on also offering port, so maybe there will be a few people who take me up on the coffee.
view Mlle. Cara's profile
Maybe because I've always been raised around older people but I always offer sambuca garnished with a few coffee beans. I'll do coffee is requested but sambuca is definitely on the menu.
view wdplyr's profile