Serve drinks in an espresso cup to keep kids happy at restaurants

My daughter would love her own little demitasse. From Christy:

On a recent trip to a restaurant my family discovered a hack for my 2.5 year old daughter. I asked for cream with my coffee and they served my fresh cream in a straight-sided shot glass. My daughter immediately claimed it for her own, thinking that it made the perfect tea glass. When I asked for some additional sugar, they delivered it in a tiny espresso cup. That one joined the tiny bread plate and the tiny shot glass to make a tiny place setting. She drank "coffee" and "tea" during the whole meal and I didn't have to worry about her spilling the entire contents of her beverage. Now, if I see espresso on the menu, I will ask for an espresso cup just so she can have an adult-like cup with her meal, just like the grown-ups!

Related: More kids-in-restaurants tips at Parent Hacks

Comments

[Tracy]

We often ask for a "fluffy" for each of our kids when we go to cafes -- it's a demitasse cup filled with the really frothy steamed milk. It's become sort of an art form in some NZ cafes; we've had them served with smiley faces made from chocolate syrup on top, with marshmallows on the side normally and sprinkled with chocolate powder. They're sometimes free (if I'm buying a coffee) but usually a dollar.

I bet if you went to a coffee shop and asked for an espresso cup of foam for your little one, they'd be mildly surprised but make it easily.

[Dolls Clothes Gal]

Great idea - getting kids to behave "grown-up" always helps with manners and behavior.

[Ilene]

I love this idea. My kids are generally quite well behaved at restaurants but this will make them extra happy too. Thanks for the tip.

[Ilene]

I love this idea. My kids are generally quite well behaved at restaurants but this will make them extra happy too. Thanks for the tip.

[nutterbutter]

Tracy mentions a NZ "Fluffy". In OZ they are called babycinos and are standard fare in almost all coffee shops-sometimes served with a wee surprise like a jellybean on the side or even better a bit of fairy bread (that's buttered bread with sprinkles). And definitely with some "cocoa art" on top. Here in the US we are amazed to find that this is unheard of - how do mothers here get their coffee in peace when out with their young? Maybe it's because a good cup of coffee in OZ can cost so darn much that the extras are so important to us? Why aren't they catering to their future clients? BTW I also use our expresso cups at home for mini hot chocolates for kids of all sizes...I even have extremely cute polka dotted cups . Hmmm maybe the NYC Max Brenners in Union Square can do a Babycino? )

[flynn]

Steamed milk (sometimes with vanilla syrup) seems to be the kid fare of choice when the mommy brigade hits the coffee shop around here. Most of the cups are disposable, even when you drink in, so no nice espresso cup there. I'd like to see some of that fairy bread!

[John]

I'd like to follow up on nutterbutter's comment.

When we were in Sydney visiting a couple years ago, our friends hung out with us. Their oldest, two going on three, insisted on having an adult beverage along with the rest of us having morning coffee. The staff at the restaurant immediately made a babycino. My wife and I were the only ones surprised at the concept.

I wish we had the same mentality here in the US and wouldn't have to explain the idea every. single. time.

[trinipastrychef]

Having recently returned to Trinidad from the US I had never seen anyone served a "fluffy" but I love the idea. As a mom of two high energy young girls I appreciate the chance to teach them how to sit back, settle down and relax for a few minutes. This is something that I will be implementing at my new bakery/coffeeshop when we open and I'm sure it will be a hit! I know it's something that I would appreciate if the tea-shop would do it for me here.