A demitasse (; French: "half cup"), demi-tasse, or espresso cup is a small cup used to serve espresso. It may also refer to the coffee served in such a cup, though that usage had disappeared in France by the early 20th century.
A demitasse typically has a capacity of approximately , half the size of a full coffee cup (a tasse àcafé is about ). The Italian Espresso National Institute recommends serving espresso in a white china cup holding 50âÂÂ100 ml. They are typically ceramic and accompanied by matching saucers, but some coffeehouses and china companies also produce brightly decorated varieties. Another type of demitasse has a glass cup set into a metal cup-holder frame, called a zarf in Turkey.
Demitasse cups are small because they usually serve espresso, which is a stronger, more concentrated coffee, best served in smaller portions.
A demitasse-sized cup, known as a finjan, is traditionally used for serving Turkish and Arabic coffee.